Jim the Partridge

While shooing the child off the tree, Jim places his arms around it - and the world looks different. It is a lot bigger. He falls into the tree and spreads his arms to break the fall - no, they are now wings. So the spell works. Oh, no. He cannot talk to anybody. All he can do is grab a branch with his feet. So is this guy going to help him or not?

The man delivering the tree looks at him, and says, "Good luck, Bud," and rings Sharon's doorbell.

Sharon answers, and the man says, I have a tree for you, from Jim.

"Oh, thank you!" replies Sharon. "I know just the spot for it. It will give me a nice bit of shade. Do you help plant the tree, too?"

"Sure, it is part of the package."

Jim flies out of the tree, absolutely helpless. He also has an urge to eat something - sunflower seeds, bits of bread, popcorn - anything. He is trying to think - if I survive for 24 hours, maybe I can pursuade Sharon to be a turtle dove. And then two more 'bird days', and then the gold rings. That would be a good day.

Sharon notices Jim the partridge.

The delivery man

1. tells Sharon that the partridge is now Jim, and explains how he can transform out of this form so that he can deliver the next gift.
2. tells Sharon about Jim's transformation, and then leaves after the tree is planted.
3. doesn't tell Sharon anything about the transformation.

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