Mrs. Aves had four strange, colourful and very loud birds balanced on her arms and another one on her head. “Class, today is Crazy Critter Day. Let me introduce you to my five pets. This is Gabby, Skittles, Gizmo, Bonbon, and Noodles.”
She placed each one carefully on her desk while the students asked questions. It was almost recess when,

the birds began to make a lot of noise.
“Look!” Arjun pointed, “They have just laid two eggs each!”
“Two, four, six, eight, ten,” counted Mei-li.

“Oh goodness! Eggs cannot be moved!” panicked Mrs. Aves. “My pets will have to stay here until their eggs hatch!”

The next morning ten chicks flapped around the class, hopping from desk to desk, scooting between the legs of students.
Just as they finished rounding them up,

A loud screech came from the cloakroom.
Chenoa went to investigate. “Mrs. Aves, your pets have laid five more eggs each!”
“Five, ten, fifteen, twenty, twenty-five,” counted Rodrigo.
“Oh my,” sighed Mrs. Aves.

By the next morning, all of the eggs had hatched! Some of the chicks were swinging upside down on the lights. Others were making nests out of library books.

“Twenty-five new chicks, plus ten from yesterday. Let’s see... that’s thirty-five chicks!” added Dylan. “I brought some food for them because I thought they might be hungry.”

They had finally finished feeding them and cleaning the classroom when,

“I think we’re going to need more birdseed. Your pets just laid ten more eggs each!” Maya announced.
“Ten, twenty, thirty, forty, fifty,” counted Yoshi.

“Oh no!” Mrs. Aves moaned. “Our class is going to the birds!”

The next day the classroom was a disaster! There were more chicks than students. The chicks had found crayons and were scribbling all over the walls and ceiling.
“Fifty new chicks, plus thirty-five from yesterday. Let’s see…that’s eighty-five chicks!” counted Amara.
“I think it’s time for all of us to fly the coop!” decided Mrs. Aves. “We’ve got to find our winged friends new homes. Can anyone do a bird call?”

First, a group of fifty chicks followed Arjun, Mei-li and Chenoa outside.
Ten flew to an elm tree, leaving forty.
Ten more settled in a pine tree, leaving thirty.
Ten more swooped into an oak tree, leaving twenty.

Ten more glided into a maple tree, leaving ten.
The final ten hopped into the rosebushes, chirping happily.

Second, a group of twenty-five chicks followed Rodrigo, Emilia and Dylan outside.
Five fluttered to the elm tree, leaving twenty.
Five more flapped into the pine tree, leaving fifteen.
Five more soared into the oak tree, leaving ten.

Five more landed in the maple tree, leaving five.
The final five disappeared into the rosebushes, cheeping happily.

A third and final group of ten chicks followed Maya, Yoshi and Amara outside.
Two whooshed into the elm tree, leaving eight.
Two more dove into the pine tree, leaving six.
Two more darted into the oak tree, leaving four.

Two more hurried into the maple tree, leaving two.
The final two scampered into the rosebushes, tweeting happily.

The home time bell rang.
“Well done everyone!” Mrs. Aves collected her pets. “What crazy critters I have! They really are quite a handful. Come now Gabby, Skittles, Gizmo and Bonbon.” They flew to their places on her arms while Noodles settled on her head.

Emilia giggled, pulling a feather from behind her ear, “Mrs. Aves, it might be easier if we had a Crazy Hair Day next time instead.”

Mrs. Aves smiled, “You know what Emilia? I think you’re right.”