Jack
and the
Bird
Jack was a big boy. He
played full forward on the
football team. He liked
hanging out with his mates,
riding his bike, eating fish
and playing drums.
Written by Michael James Rowland
Tom by
lived
the
Illustrated
Samon
Felix
Joseph
far side of town.
It was a big secret
but he also liked
girls. He didn't tell
anyone, especially
his mates, because
girls were strange.
Sometimes when
he saw a girl his
spirit would dance
and his skin would
shiver.
I like Rachel's hair, the
way it curls and
bounces as she walks.
She's pretty and funny.
The girls he knew
didn't play footy,
they wore
different clothes,
looked different,
talked different,
smelt different,
were different −
but Jack still
liked them.
and there was
Jackmouth who
spoke when he saw
a girl. There was a
big difference
between the two.
Unfortunately Jack
had two people inside
him. There was
Jackspirit who danced
when he saw a girl
Wanna go
behind the
bike sheds?
When Trish walks, her
dress swirls like long
grass in the wind. Her
walk is as beautiful
as she is smart.
Shake it baby
shake it.
I like Helen's eyes. They're
bright and sparkle like
the sun on water. Helen
has beautiful eyes. She's
such a kind person.
Show us
your booty!
As much as Jack hoped girls would like him, they
didn't. Instead they thought he was a nasty
creep because of how he spoke to them.
Jack is a rude pig.
Sometimes
Jack
noticed
this.
He was
confused...
He grunts like
an animal.
After school he had
home.
Jackais long
creepy.
walk
He enjoyed walking but not if
big boys were at the crossing.
They always picked on him
His spirit danced when he saw the girls
but then his mouth opened and the
girls would go away. He didn't want Girls didn't play
this to happen. He wanted to be
footy, they wore
It was a big secret
different clothes,
noticed.
He
wanted
the
girls
to
like
but he also liked
Hetell
thought he was being funny. looked different,
girls. Hehim.
didn't
talked different,
smelt different,
where different −
but Jack still
liked them.
anyone, especially
his mates, because
girls were strange..
Jack wanted to understand
what was wrong. Jack tried to
talk to his Nan about it.
Sometimes when
he saw a girl his
spirit would dance
and his skin would
shiver.
Girls tried to avoid Jack
because of the rude
things he said. When they
couldn't avoid him, they
ignored him.
Nan, when I talk to girls
they don't like me?
Unfortunately Jack
had two people inside
him. There was
Jackspirit
What dowho
youdanced
when
he
saw
a girl
say to them?
Jack's Nan knew he wasn't telling the truth. She also
knew she couldn't help him unless he was honest. She
suggested Jack go for a ride and think about it.
Jack knew he couldn't say of the
rude or insulting things he said to
the girls to his Nan without her
getting angry,
so he lied.
Nothing
bad, just
stuff like
hello and
how are
you But
they won't
answer
back.
Jack went for a long ride
out to the edge of town.
He liked riding. It cleared
his head.
He rode for a long
time and found
himself in a place he
had never been
before. Up the road
he saw a girl walking
towards him.
She is the most
beautiful girl I have
ever seen.
As he peddled closer, he could see
she was beautiful and his spirit
began to dance. Her dress moved
like leaves in the wind and her
skin glowed like honey. Her eyes
looked right into him and she
smiled with a beautiful smile.
Jack's spirit began to dance, but
then his mouth started talking .
Suddenly the girl's hair
and dress turned into
smoke and blew away.
What a class
piece of booty!
Her smile turned into a white bird which
flew straight at Jack's head.
Her body became a
thousand bees. Her
eyes fell like raindrops
to the ground.
Jack, why are
you such a tool?
The bird landed in a tree
and sat looking at Jack.
What do you
mean?
It's good that your
spirit dances when you
see something beautiful
but your mouth is like
a broken toilet.
What
I can't you say
help it. is true
OK, teach me...
What can
a stupid
bird teach
me!
The bird swooped
and picked up
Walk home
Jack's bike.
like a girl!
You must learn.
Now Jack had to walk all the
way home. It would be dark
when he got home. Nan would
be worried.
And with that the bird flew
away , taking Jack's bike.
Shaken and confused, Jack
started walking. What did
the bird mean 'Walk home
like a girl' and who was the
bird anyway!?
He was hoping for a lift home. He
saw a car of a friend’s older
brother. He waved and shouted.
The car stopped. Some much older boys looked at him.
shake it baby, shake it!
Show us the booty!
Hey bro, can I
catch a lift with
you into town?
The driver leant out his window. He looked hungry
and stared at Jack's legs like they were food.
I'll give you a
lift. Get in.
All the boys stared at Jack like
they were hungry dogs. Jack felt
creeped out.
Stupid tart.
You don't know what
you're missing chick.
No thanks
I think I'll walk.
The boys were slow to get back
into the car and stared at Jack
while they did. Finally, they drove
off. Jack was worried the car
would come back.
What did they mean 'chick'? He'd
only ever used that when he
talked to girls. Jack ran across the
road and looked at his reflection.
What Jack saw horrified him.
Somehow he'd become a girl.
I'm a girl!
How did this
happen?
You insulted
that bird!
Jack decided to run a back way home, past the
river and across the oval. If he was lucky, no one
else would see him.
I have to get
home quick.
As he ran he became smaller and
lighter. He couldn't run as fast. when
he got to the river it was hard to
climb up the bank. He didn't like this.
The football team was practising at
the oval. Instead of cutting across
Jack walked around the far edge,
hoping no one would notice him...
... but the boys noticed
Jack straight away.
They all stopped to
watch him stumble
over the oval fence.
A few began whistling and making
noises. It was the most stupid,
embarrassing thing Jack had ever
experienced.
The sight of an annoyed girl stomping
around the edge of the oval made
the boys laugh. They whistled louder.
Jack got more angry.
What are you
whistling at,
fool?
What a
bunch of
jerks!
This only made the boys laugh
and stop practice completely.
They stood in a group watching
Jack try to escape through the
bushes.
Some of the boys
moved into the car
park to whistle more.
Jack emerged onto
the street just as
Rachel, Trish and
Jessie were walking
by. They saw Jack
being whistled at and
felt sorry for him.
The girls laughed at Jack.
They're always
like that.
You can
join us if
you want.
Why are the
boys such jerks?
Jerks.
What do
you mean?
Everyday, it's the
same, it's like
they've never seen
a girl before.
Worst, if you talk to
them, they think you
immediately want to
be their girlfriend.
Some of them
seem nice but
when they open
their mouths they
can only grunt.
Where do you live? We'll
walk you there.
As if.
They asked who he was, he said Jack‛s
cousin. They were kind, and at last he
Jack was surprised to be walking home with
girls. This was as close as he‛d ever been to
Rachel, Trish and Jessie.
They complained a lot about the
weird things boys did, but now Jack
could see what they meant.
Blah, blah, blah, blah,
blah, blah, blah
Finally they started talking about
normal stuff, stuff Jack was into.
I play guitar and
I like THE LAST
KINECTION'S music.
So
do I!
My uncle plays for Port
Power. I'm a mad fan.
So am I.
felt safe walking through town.
I love fishing. I go
all the time with
my cousins.
So do I.
Rachel, Trish, Jessie and Jack walked all through
town, right to the end of Jack‛s street.
They talked all the way and
Jack didn't say anything stupid,
rude or insulting. Amazing!
The girls were fun and he
liked how gentle they were.
Blah, blah, blah,
blah, blah
Jack thanked them for helping
him home and they all said
goodbye. The girls left and
Jack turned towards home.
Blah, blah, blah
blah, blah, blah
Blah, blah, blah,
blah, blah Blah, blah,
blah, blah
At the front gate of his
house he saw the white
bird and his bike. She
looked at him with bright
eyes full of curiousity.
He could see the light on in his house.
Nan was going to be mad with him,
but what would she say when she
saw he was a girl?
How was
the walk?
What did
you learn?
Awful.
And for the first time ever Jack
answered with one voice.
Boys can be jerks and
girls are people, same
as me.
Hard.
Good enough.
For more information about
building positive relationships
visit theline.org.au
And as the
bird flew
off Jack
turned back
into a boy.