Jacob sat on an old log and tried not to cry. He wiped away a little tear.
"Crying won't help," he thought,"my Mum and Dad aren't here to help me now."
His Mum and Dad were back at the picnic ground. The path into the woods had looked so interesting and his Dad had called after him, "Don't go far Jacob." He could hear the words in his head but it was too late now, he was lost. The trees were starting to look scary and he didn't know what to do.
"What's the matter?"
Jacob jumped. He looked around but there was only a blue jay sitting on a branch nearby. Jacob stared.
"Cat got your tongue," said the blue jay.
"N-n-no," replied Jacob
."My name is Crafty" said the blue jay, "What's yours?"
"Jacob, Jacob Gold."
"So what's the matter Jacob Gold?"
"I'm lost," mumbled Jacob suddenly feeling a bit silly.
"What did you say," replied Crafty, "I didn't hear you".
"I'm lost," said Jacob louder.
"Cawk! Is that all." said Crafty, "You mean you don't know the way back home".
"Yes," replied Jacob mournfully.
Crafty hopped closer. "Don't cry," he said kindly, "I'll help you. I know all of these woods like the feathers on my wing. I'll show you the way ".
Jacob felt a little piece of happiness in his tummy. "Would you?" he said.
"Wahk! Of course I will," said Crafty. "Come on, follow me." And he flew off low along the path.
"Wait," shouted Jacob and ran after him.
Crafty flew so fast that Jacob had to run at top speed to keep up with him and he got very tired and out of breath. He had to stop and sit down on a stump.
Crafty came back. "Sorry," he said, "I forgot you can't go as fast as I can". Crafty could see that Jacob was too out of breath to reply so he just hopped onto the stump right by him. Jacob hardly dared look; he had never been so close to a wild bird. Crafty was a lot bigger than he had seemed before and had lovely shining and sparkling wings.
After Jacob had got his breath back he said, "You are very pretty."
"Awk! Thank you," said Crafty, proudly bobbing his head a bit
"Why are you called Crafty?"
"Why are you called Jacob?"
"It's the name my Mum and Dad gave me."
"Wahk, It's the same with me," laughed Crafty flying ahead again.
That wasn't what Jacob had meant and he felt a bit cheated but all he could do now was run after Crafty or he would be lost again. Very soon Jacob could hear his Dad calling his name and Crafty had stopped on a high branch. "Cawk! Come back and see me soon," he called and swooped off into the trees. Jacob didn't have time to thank him and just had to run on down the path towards his Dad's voice.
