Ben on the Job. J. Farjeon Jefferson

why didn’t you tell me?’ cried Maudie. ‘What’s the matter with everybody today?’

      Her shrill voice penetrated to the parrot, and as she snatched the note and began to read the bird fluttered its feathers as though sharing her indignation.

      ‘You’ve only been home a few minutes, dearie,’ her mother reminded her. ‘I should have told you. But he’s coming back, and till he does—’

      ‘Yes, I’m reading it, I’m reading it, can’t you see?’ snapped Maudie.

      For the first time Ma Kenton turned to Ben directly and they exchanged understanding glances, although Ben had not the least idea what he was supposed to understand. When Maudie had finished reading she crunched the paper up and threw it into a corner. The parrot, growing more and more interested in the drama outside its bars, fluttered its feathers again, and eyed the scrunched paper balefully to see that it did not come back.