Nick and Marjorie walked along the shady, tree-lined streets to Prospect Park. It was cool and quiet there. No cars were allowed in the park during the summer, except at rush hours.

Four ducks were swimming near the shore of the lake. Nick ran over to get a better look at them. The ducks swam away toward the little island.

A young man jogged down the roadway. Two old ladies sat on a bench and talked. Marjorie stopped to watch a pair of squirrels playing tag.

“Hurry up, Marge.” Nick began to walk around the lake. Marjorie ran to catch up with him. They started up the path that went around Lookout Mountain.

“What are these things on the ground?” Nick bent down and picked up a purple berry.

“That looks like a blackberry,” Marjorie said, “but there aren’t any blackberry bushes here.” She caught sight of a small tree that overhung the path. “That’s where they’re coming from.”

Nick stared at the tree. It was covered with berries. A bird sat on one of the branches. “Here’s another starling, Marge. You’re right. They do all look alike.”

The bird stretched its wings and glared at Nick. It opened its beak and said, “How can you be so stupid? I’m not in the least like any other bird.”

Marjorie took a step toward the little tree. “Then you must be the same starling that was in our yard this morning.”

“What if I am?” The bird fluttered to a higher branch and pecked at a berry.

“Are those things good to eat?” Nick asked.

“Of course, stupid,” the starling said. “Don’t you know a mulberry tree when you see one?”

Marjorie decided not to waste her time talking to such a rude bird. “Come on, Nick. I thought you wanted to climb that tree.”

Nick followed Marjorie along the path.

The starling came flapping after them. “Didn’t you say your mother doesn’t want you to climb trees?”

Marjorie didn’t answer.

“Mom doesn’t want us to climb the magnolia,” Nick told the bird. “She thinks we’ll break it. We’re going to climb a much bigger tree.”

The starling flew down onto the ground in front of the children. “Why don’t you go to the zoo and watch the sea lions? That’s much more fun than climbing trees. Those animals do tricks at feeding time.”

“We saw the sea lions last week.” Marjorie stepped off the path to walk around the bird. Nick came after her.

The starling fluttered up into the air again. It flew just over the children’s heads. Now and then the bird sat on a tree branch beside the path. All the time it kept watching Nick and Marjorie with bright dark eyes.

They made their way through a tangled patch of honeysuckle and around a bend in the path.

“Here it is!” Nick pointed to a large beech tree growing on the side of the hill.