Theo the thick-feathered thrush had a thought one Thursday. "I think I need a bath with thirty feathers!"

"Theo!" called his brother Seth. "That's the silliest thing I've ever heard!"

Theo shook his head. "No, it's the truth! Mother told me that bathing with other feathers makes your own feathers thicker!"

Seth thought about this. "Where will you gather thirty feathers?"

"I'll ask the other birds in the thicket," Theo said with enthusiasm.

So Theo and Seth went on a path through the thorny bushes. They met Ethel the thin owl sitting on a throne of sticks.

"Ethel, may I have three of your feathers for my bath?" Theo asked.

Ethel blinked. "I think that's rather strange, but here you go." She gave Theo three smooth, white feathers.

They thanked Ethel and continued. They found Thelma the thrush throwing berries into the air.

"Thelma, can I have some of your feathers?" asked Theo.

"These feathers?" Thelma touched her wings. "I suppose I can spare a few." She gave Theo four brown feathers.

By sunset, Theo had gathered twenty-nine feathers from birds throughout the forest. But he needed one more!

"Where will we find the thirtieth feather?" Seth wondered.

Just then, a gust of wind blew through the thicket. One of Theo's own feathers flew out!

"Catch that!" Theo shouted.

Seth ran after the feather. He leaped into the air and grabbed it!

"The thirtieth feather was yours all along!" laughed Seth.

That night, Theo took his feather bath. Did his feathers get thicker?

Not really—but he had the most thrilling Thursday he could remember!