Learning to Fly You bin playing my DS? You broke mine! written by Martin Jacobs Illustrated by Sam Felix Joseph Stanley lived with his dad and older brother Kyle. His dad was never around and Kyle picked on Stanley. Yeah, 'cause you lost my skateboard! I can do what I like! I'm bigger, fart breath! Get me a drink! Get it or you're dead! Get stuffed! Get it yourself! Someone took it. Doesn't mean you can break my DS. As if he'd care. And Mummy's not here! Don't kick me. Take that you little toss! I'm telling Dad. I hate you! Stanley's best friend was his mum. But she died two years ago and Stanley was lonely. He climbed high into the branches away from the world far below. Stanley ran out of the house and down to the big fig tree at the bottom of the yard.
Hi Stannerley. Who s your friend Stannerley? Hey Stannerley is that you? Maybe.. She s stupid Thinks she s clever. Stanleys friend Bonnie came down the garden. Stanley had lived next door to Bonnie since they were little. But he ignored her at school because she wasn't cool. Stanley s mean. Doesn t matter. Has Kyle been horrid again? Want to hear a joke? Your jokes are stupid. It s been tough for him and he needs to fit in. Bonnie liked to tell jokes to cheer Stanley up. You re stupid! I was just trying to make you feel better. Mum said it s hard since your mum died that s all. I didn t ask you. I was happy before you came. Go home, stop annoying me. Your mum s a big know all, you re stupid. At least I m not a scaredy cat and hide in trees and not talk to my friend 'cause of what other people say. Stanley felt angry. His face went red and without thinking he shoved Bonnie. Bonnie fell backwards landing in the branches below.
She deserved it. Very clever. Thought she was your friend! Crying, she climbed down leaving Stanley sitting alone looking out from the branches. Stanley looked around but couldn't see anybody. Up here birdbrain. I mean boybrain. This here tree s where we come for a bit of peace. That s different. Thats a screech! Did you ask Kyle for it? An old cockatoo with tatty feathers was staring through the branches. Not my fault. She asked for it Make your mother cry you would. She doesn t know. She used to sit up here when she was little. And your grandfather. And his. Thought that s why you came. I t was true. Stanley always felt safe in the tree. He could feel The Old People all around. I could fly once. Did something stupid and fell off my perch and here I am. You ll never fly if you do stupid things, bullybrain! Don t call me that. Sometimes he even felt he could fly. Stanley didn t like being called a bully.
My mum didn t think I was stupid. She does now. Sat up here with her special things. Make her feel strong. Shoving girls means your brain must be smaller than mine and I m a bird, and that means you must be stupid. Did you really know my mum? Learnt to fly right here. Right where you are. She was a bright one. Brought you up here. Sing to you. Send your friend up to tell you jokes. Stanley felt he could see his mother standing next to him, her arms stretched out like a bird about to take flight. You ruffled her feathers some. And her mother's too I surmise. What ll she do? Bonnie won t want to be my friend anymore. Stanley was scared. Bonnie s mum would be mad at him. Reckon a big man would have to find out. Hey there were 10 copybrains perched in a tree. One fell out how many were left? None. Get it? Nine of course. Could I learn to fly?
Open it. The suspense is killing me. See that old hole there? Something in there I been looking after. Stanley reached into the old possum hole as far as his arm would go. His fingers felt something cold and hard and slowly he pulled out a rusty old tin. Stanley prised open the old tin and looked inside. There was an old carved bone haircomb. A glass marble with a swirl of bright blue like a beady eye. And a sparkling crystal pushing out from a dull rock. I deduce she won t be needin them no more. Time to heal a few people round here. Take them. Keep them close. Maybe you ll fly one day. Were they really my mum's? Be more room in that hole for me now. Right I m winging it. Gotta fly. Just joking! Goin to be a good day tomorrow. See you later. I thought you couldn t.
With a screech Cocky took off into the sky leaving Stanley staring at his precious things. Slowly he put the treasure back into the tin. You can do it son. Stanley could hear his mother. He stood tall and clutching his tin, spread his arms......and launched himself into the air. He flew high over the giant fig tree. Soaring higher and higher he could see his world far below, past his house to the big road, all the way to the schoolyard. Hey Bonnie. I m flying no joke, I m flying! He looked down over Bonnie s house. Bonnie lay on her bed, cradled in her mothers arms. Stanley flew down and into his house.
Past his dad snoring loudly in his chair and into his room. He landed on his bed next to Kyle who was fast asleep. He tucked his tin under the pillow......lay down and fell fast asleep, a big smile over his face. Next morning Stanley woke late and looked beneath his pillow. He opened the tin and took out its treasures. He took the beady eye marble and slipped it into the sleeping Kyle s hand. He put the sparkling crystal into his pocket... I wonder if she ll come?...the carved haircomb into his bag......and hurried off to school. As he walked towards the big road he looked back anxiously for Bonnie.
Hey, Stanley! You OK? I m sorry Bonnie. I m really sorry I shoved you. Hurry up! I ve got the footy, man. On the other side the boys were waving at Stanley, calling him over. Behind Bonnie was limping towards him. That really hurt. Stanley felt really bad. M y mother says you shouldn t hit or shove anyone. Bet she really hates me. Hitting is stupid. I know. She wants to talk to you and your dad, but she doesn t hate you. Are we friends again? This is for you. My mum said to keep it close. What about your friends? Stanley took the precious haircomb from his bag and gave it to Bonnie. I ll play with them at recess. Want to hear a joke Stannerley? Sure. Overhead a flock of cockatoos screeched as Stanley and Bonnie made their way to school. For more information about building positive relationships visit theline.org.au Stanley took the crystal from his pocket and smiled.