This is a picture book story about a pheasant who finds his true self by getting into danger and acting on impulse.

Fred has a very important job, every day he must get dressed in his finest tweeds and report to the field station for duty. There the very strict Corporal delegates the tasks for the day. Fred never truly feels comfortable though. His friends try to encourage him to give up his job, Badger tries to persuade him not to go, Owl explains that he can walk his own path in life.

One day Fred gets given field duty, he must stand in the open meadow and look out for dogs. he knows this is the most dangerous job of all. He hears a loud BANG and without hesitating shoots up into the sky, as he flaps his wings his stiff clothes fall away and he feels the rush of wind on his back. He realises he is enjoying himself soaring along the tops of the trees. With his new sense of freedom he never returns to field duty, instead he enjoys taking the baby pheasants on flying lessons.