Totally Tom: Tough It Out, Tom - Jenny Oldfield

If there's one thing in Tom Bean's life that he's always been able to rely on it's Chippie the budgie. The steadfast little bird has always been there with the cool advice and support when Tom's been in trouble. Solid as a rock, that's Chippie. But now, just when Tom is facing the hardest challenge of his life - being nice to people and cutting out the practical jokes - Chippie goes quiet on him. At first Tom thinks that Chippie is sick - measles perhaps? Or flu? But then Chippie starts losing his feathers and Tom starts to worry big time. Harry, Tom's dad is flummoxed, too - Chippie doesn't seem to have any proper symptons apart from going bald, but he does seem very down in the dumps . . .Maybe it's Dave, Harry's new budgie, who's the problem? After all, he is a bit lary? Tom and his dad are contemplating this sad fact in the shed, when Tom catches sight of something that knocks him for six: Chippie is perched on top of an egg . . . Chippie has given birth . . . Chippie is a lady budgie, not a 'dude', after all. Never mind, now that she's a mother, Chippie will be even better at handing out the wise advice when Tom needs it . . .