Morning Preparations

Anna bounced on her toes as she watched Miss Clara set up the styling station in the common room. Haircut day was finally here! The bright purple ribbons in her long blonde pigtails danced as she turned to her friends.

"I can't wait to get mine trimmed," Sabrina whispered, running her fingers through her brown curls.

"Me too!" Mandy giggled, while Juliana and Michelle nodded eagerly.

From across the room, Hana rolled her eyes. "You girls are so childish about haircuts."

Anna ignored her and glanced toward the boys' dormitory hallway. Strange sounds echoed from behind their closed door - furniture scraping, whispered arguments, and what sounded like someone trying to flatten something down.

"Where are all the boys?" Miss Clara asked, looking puzzled.

The Feathered Visitor

Anna crept toward the boys' dormitory door and pressed her ear against the wood. Inside, she heard Blaze's muffled voice: "Nobody can see us like this!"

"My hair looks like a hurricane hit it," Jack groaned.

"Mine's worse," Michael added. "It's standing straight up!"

Through the crack under the door, Anna spotted something moving. A small gray parrot hopped into view, tilting its colorful head curiously.

"Hello there, little one," Anna whispered, kneeling down. The parrot squawked softly and flapped toward the boys' room.

Suddenly, the bird squeezed under the door gap. Chaos erupted inside - crashes, shouts, and the parrot's loud screeching filled the hallway.

"Get it out! Get it out!" Ollie's panicked voice rose above the noise.