Max has a pet parrot named Charlie.
Charlie is colorful, with green feathers and a red beak.
But Charlie has a big problem: He always tells lies!
One day, Max comes home and asks,
“Charlie, did you eat my sandwich?”
Charlie says, “No! I didn’t eat your sandwich, Max.”
But Charlie’s beak is covered in ketchup!
Max says, “Charlie, you have ketchup on your beak!”
Charlie replies, “Oh, that’s not ketchup. It’s… um… paint!”
Max is not happy.
“I can see it’s ketchup! You ate my sandwich!”
Charlie flaps his wings and says, “I didn’t! The mouse ate it!”
Max laughs, “We don’t have a mouse!”
Charlie shrugs. “Well, then… the cat ate it!”
But Max doesn’t have a cat either.
The next day, Max leaves a cookie on the table and goes outside.
When he comes back, the cookie is gone!
“Charlie! Did you eat my cookie?” Max asks.
Charlie says, “No! The cookie just disappeared. I don’t know why!”
Max looks at Charlie, who has crumbs on his feathers.
“Charlie, I know you ate the cookie!”
Charlie says, “No, no! A magic bird came and took it!”
Max starts laughing.
“You are a funny parrot, but you can’t lie forever!”
The next day, Max makes a plan.
He puts a cookie on the table and hides behind the door.
Soon, Charlie flies to the table and eats the cookie.
Max comes out and says, “Aha! I caught you!”
Charlie looks sad. “Okay, Max. I’m sorry. I ate the cookie. But I promise, I will never lie again!”
Max smiles and says, “Good parrot. Just be honest next time.”
Moral: Lying is funny at first, but the truth is always better!
