One spring morning, a crow swooped down and grabbed one of seven eggs from a treetop nest. As it proudly flew away, an eagle suddenly appeared above. Startled, the crow dropped the egg, which tumbled through the branches and landed in the middle of another nest. This one was filled with parrot eggs. And that, being an almost impossible scenario, is how Olive Owl came to be part of a parrot family.

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From the moment she hatched, Olive knew she was different. She looked, sounded, and even ate differently. While parrots were colourful and loud, Olive was quiet and preferred sleeping during the day. However, being raised by parrots meant one thing: when you were old enough, you became a pirate's parrot. That day had come!

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Her siblings excitedly put on their pirate outfits and practised their “Who’s a pretty boy, then?” But Olive, wearing an eye patch and pirate hat, just felt silly. Her mother beamed with pride as they lined up for a photograph, but Olive felt very out of place.

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She had no idea what to expect aboard a pirate ship. Her mother, knowing Olive was nervous, hadn’t shared too much.

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When Olive arrived, she was surprised. The pirates were wild and loud, constantly singing and fighting. It wasn’t her scene. She preferred quiet, so she flew to the crow’s nest and dozed off.

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At night, however, everything changed. The world was calm, and Olive loved the peace.

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At first, the pirates were disappointed. Olive didn’t act like a typical parrot and she slept through most of the day. But soon, they discovered her value. She was the perfect night lookout. If danger appeared, she would swoop down and wake the crew.

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However, Olive soon realised the pirates weren’t good people. They stole from others and cared only for treasure. She dreamed of a different life.

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Each evening, she spotted a small boat passing by with an elderly man, his dog, and a fishing rod. The dog barked, and the man smiled and waved. Olive longed to be a real parrot just to say, “Save me.” Over time, she learned the man was the lighthouse keeper. One day, the boat passed again, but this time there was no dog, and the man looked sad.

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Soon, food became scarce aboard the pirate ship. The crew grew hungry and irritable. One evening, Olive overheard them plotting.

“Tonight, we raid the lighthouse and take everything the old man has. The bird will wake us once we’re close.”

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Olive’s heart sank. As the ship neared the lighthouse that night, Olive faced a choice. Normally, she would have woken the pirates. But this time, she stayed still. She refused to be part of their wicked plan.

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Instead, she quietly flew down and nudged the ship’s wheel, steering it slightly off course. Then, she soared through the sky and tapped on the lighthouse window.

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The man opened it, surprised. He brought her inside, wrapped her in a blanket, and just in time, noticed the pirate ship veering towards dangerous rocks. He called the coastguard, who arrived to find the pirates fast asleep among stolen treasure. The ship was seized, and the crew arrested.

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Olive learnt that the man’s beloved dog was growing old and now preferred to stay by the warm fire rather than go on boat trips. So, Olive became his new companion, joining him at sea and serving as a sharp-eyed lookout at the lighthouse.

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Sometimes, Olive would spot a sibling aboard a pirate ship, perched proudly on a captain’s shoulder. She would smile, happy they had found their place.

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As she rested on the kind fisherman’s shoulder, she knew that she had found hers too.