The Bird and the Zebra

I’m really good at science. My best friend Ari is too. We’re going to be scientists when we grow up.

Our teacher, Mr. Chen, says we’re starting a new science project. It’s about animals helping each other. I’m so excited. I grin at Ari.

Mr. Chen shows us pictures of animals helping each other. First is a badger and a coyote. They help each other hunt.

Behind me, I hear a loud howl. It’s Cody.

He’s pretending to be a coyote. Everyone laughs, even Mr. Chen. Cody is in theater club. He’s always putting on a little show. It’s annoying. I roll my eyes.

Mr. Chen says we will work on our projects with partners.
I raise my hand.

“Yes, Willa?” says Mr. Chen.

“Can I be with Ari?” I ask.

“I’m going to pick random partners,” Mr. Chen says. He pulls out the craft sticks with our names on them. I cross my fingers and hope I’ll be with Ari. I cross my arms and my legs too. I even try to cross my toes.

“Willa and . . . Cody,” Mr. Chen says. “Your project will be about zebras and birds.”

This is bad. Cody will be the worst partner ever. I slump down in my chair. I’m so mad.

“Howdy, partner,” Cody says, like Woody from Toy Story. I frown.

“Hi,” I say glumly. I’m upset. I scoot my chair away from Cody. I read about zebras and birds. I take notes. I write:

Birds called oxpeckers help zebras. Zebras help them too.  

Oxpeckers eat bugs that land on zebras.

The birds get food. Zebras get the bugs cleaned off them.

Mr. Chen passes out pieces of posterboard and markers.

“I’ll start working on the poster,” Cody says.

“No!” I yell. I grab the poster from him.

“Willa, I want to help,”
Cody says.

“I don’t need your help. Just read your joke book or something,” I say.

Cody loves his joke book. He’s always reading it instead of paying attention.

I expect him to be happy, but he looks sad. I didn’t mean to hurt his feelings. It’s just that I’m great at science. The project will be better if I do it myself.

Mr. Chen stands in front of the class.

“At the end of the week, you’ll do a presentation about your animals,” he says.

Oh no. I’m not good at giving presentations. I look at Cody. He’s smiling.

“Maybe we could dress up as a zebra and a bird. We could talk about how we help each other. It could be like a play,” he says.

“I can’t do a play! I’m bad at that stuff,” I say.

“I’ll help you,” says Cody. “Let’s go to my house after school tomorrow and practice.”

I gulp. “OK,” I say.

My mom brings me to Cody’s house. When I walk in, he’s wearing an oxpecker costume. He has a feather boa around his neck, flippers on his feet, and a paper beak taped to his face. I giggle.

“You look great,” I say.

“Squawk! I know,” Cody says.

Cody has made a zebra costume for me. It’s a striped shirt, a tail, and a headband with ears. I put it on and smile.

Cody teaches me some games from theater club. They are really fun. He jumps around like a bird. I run through the room like a zebra. We write a script together. That way, we’ll know just what to say.

We work on our project all week. Finally, it’s time for the presentation. We put on our costumes. I’m nervous.

“Just pretend like we’re at my house. Have fun,” Cody whispers. I take a deep breath. We walk into the classroom and start.

“I’m hungry! Squawk!” Cody says.

“I’m so itchy! Get these bugs off me!” I say.

“Squawk. Yum, yum! I’d love to,” Cody says. He pecks me with his paper beak. 

Everyone claps at the end of our presentation. I hear Ari cheering. I’m so happy.

“Thanks for your help,” I say to Cody.

“Thanks for letting me help,” he says.

“I guess we’re like a zebra and a bird. We’re different, but we’re good at helping each other,” I say. “We’re great at cooperating.”

“Squawk. For sure!” says Cody.

Animals can help each other, just like people. Zebras and birds called oxpeckers are great at this.

Bugs land on zebras. The oxpeckers eat the bugs. Zebras get the bugs cleaned off them. Birds get food. The animals help each other!

Oxpeckers help zebras in another way too. They let  zebras know if they see a predator like a lion. They call out a warning. It sounds like “Kriss, kriss!”

The zebras run away to safety. These animals make a great team!