Chirp, chirp, chirp! That was the sound coming from a cozy little nest, tucked high in the branches of an old apple tree. Inside, Mama Sparrow was very busy. She had four tiny, fluffy babies, and oh, were they hungry! Their little beaks were always open, like tiny, hungry caves.

"We're hungry, Mama!" chirped Pip.
"So hungry!" squeaked Squeak.
"Me too!" peeped Flit.
"Food, food, food!" cheeped Wobble, who was the smallest.

Mama Sparrow smiled. "Alright, my little fluffballs," she said. "Stay warm, and Mama will find you something delicious." She fluffed her feathers, took a deep breath, and flew off.

First, she spotted a juicy green caterpillar wiggling on a big leaf. "Perfect!" she thought. But just as she was about to grab it, a big, stomping human boy with a net came running by, trying to catch butterflies. Whoosh! Mama Sparrow had to quickly dart behind a rose bush until he passed. Then, quick as a flash, she snatched the caterpillar and flew back to the nest.
"Yummy!" cried the chicks as they shared the treat.

But they were still hungry. So, off Mama Sparrow went again. This time, she saw some tasty breadcrumbs near a picnic blanket in the park. "Wonderful!" she chirped to herself. But oh dear! A bouncy, waggy-tailed dog spotted her and came bounding over, barking playfully, "Woof! Woof! Wanna play?" Mama Sparrow wasn't scared, but she didn't have time to play. She quickly flew up to a low branch, waited for the dog to get distracted by a rolling ball, then swooped down, grabbed the biggest crumb, and zoomed back to her babies.
"More, more!" they cheeped, gobbling it down.

They were *still* a little bit hungry. Mama Sparrow sighed, but off she flew once more. She spied a shiny red berry on a bush near a quiet road. "Just the thing!" she thought. But then, rumble, rumble, clippety-clop! A big horse pulling a noisy cart came trotting down the road. The cart was very wide! Mama Sparrow held her breath, waited until the horse was right beside the bush, then, with a brave flutter, she zipped under the horse's belly, plucked the berry, and flew out the other side just before the big wheels rolled past.
Back in the nest, the four little sparrows ate the sweet berry. "Delicious!" they all agreed.

Finally, their little tummies were full. Mama Sparrow snuggled them close.
Day by day, Mama Sparrow bravely found food for her growing babies. She dodged swooping hawks, tiptoed past sleepy cats, and always brought back something tasty.

The little sparrows grew bigger and stronger. Their fluffy baby feathers were replaced by sleek, grown-up ones. Soon, they started to hop to the edge of the nest, flapping their wings.
"I think I can fly!" said Pip one sunny morning.
"Me too!" said Squeak, Flit, and Wobble.

And one by one, they took a little leap. Wibble, wobble, flap, flap, flap! They were flying! They circled the apple tree, chirping happily.
Mama Sparrow watched them, her heart full of pride. Her nest felt a little empty now, but she knew her job was done. Her four little birds were ready for their own adventures.
"Fly high, my little ones!" she chirped softly, a happy tear in her eye. And they did.

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