When Billy Burton receives a birthday present from his Auntie Flo, it really is a surprise, as it is a computer generated emu. He and his sister Jilly decide to call it M. At first they do not realise that, except for Auntie Flo, they are the only people who can see it. Soon M not only takes on a life of his own, but also causes mayhem along the way, whilst protecting Billy and Jilly at school, at the supermarket, and even on holiday abroad.