A Visit From a Talking Parrot
2016/01/10
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"Awwwk!" Vinky and Vobble looked up with a start. "What the heck was that?" Vobble asked. Vinky shrugged. "I have no idea," she said. "Why don't you stick your head out the door and see if you can tell what it is?" "Why don't you stick YOUR head out the door? You get YOUR head bit off?" "Awwwwwkkk!!" "There it is again!" Vobble screeched. Vinky laughed, "I'm certain that whatever is out there is NOT going to bite your head off. You're closer to the door. YOU check it out." Vobble crept to the door and peeked one eye around the edge, careful to keep all beaks, feathers , and talons inside. A couple of shiny eyes stared back at him. He 'eeeked' and jumped back, stumbling over Vinky who was peering over his shoulder. "What is it?" she asked. "I d-d-d-d-unno," he said, "but it's got BIG eyes! And it was looking at me!" Vobble's voice was quivering. Vinky was trembling a bit by now. She said in a weak voice, "Whoever is out there—if you're friendly, you're welcome. If you're not friendly, kindly go away!" They heard a scratchy voice say, "I assure you, I am quite friendly. I am a parrot and my name is …" Lewis. What kind of bird are YOU?" Vinky and Vobble looked at the visitor. Lewis didn't look like any bird they had ever seen. His feathers were so bright. In fact, he was brighter than any of the shirts that they ever saw Carlos wear. "Are those real feathers?" they asked him with one voice. "I beg your pardon, of course they are real feathers!" Lewis looked the owlets up and down, "and you two, what are you?" Vobble was excited and asked, "Do you really come from Africa? Are all the birds there like you?" Vinky gave Vobble the stink-eye and then replied to Lewis, "We are Barn Owls, and proud of it!" "Humph! Then why don't you live in a barn? This house is quite small. Barely enough room for me to spread my wings." Lewis made himself at home on the gagshag. "So what kind of grub you got around here?" Vinky said, "We've got mice, rabbits, gophers, snakes, voles and moles. Which would you like?" Lewis groaned. "I am a parrot. I do NOT eat mice and gophers. Do you have any seeds or berries? Or perhaps a nice slice from Dominos? Or maybe some Nutriberries?" Vinky and Vobble put their heads together to think about it. "Maybe Zorro would know where to get those things," Vinky suggested. "He's an omnivore!" Vobble nodded. "Maybe! And if we go ask him, then we'll be able to get out of this crowded owlbox. I don't think it was built for parrots." Lewis awkwardly squeezed his way back out the door and spread his wings to fly down into the yard, with Vinky and Vobble after him. While they went to find Zorro, he flapped around the yard inspecting things. "Oh, very nice, very nice." Lewis was muttering to himself, "Of all the nerve. Thinking these owls would try to feed me such vermin." Vinky and Vobble were talking to themselves, "How rude. To just barge in demanding food." Vinky said, "Let's be good hosts and try to make him comfortable. Maybe where he comes from he is a Prince or of some royalty." Vobble said, "Royalty or not it's our house and he should show some respect, but lets be nice anyway. Maybe we could learn from this." Just then a squawk and squeal and crash boom came from the yard. Tauntz had been quietly grazing on all the fresh greens that had come up since the rains came. Since his eyes are on the side of his head, he could keep eating and watch out for danger, like a hawk. Suddenly he caught a glimpse of something. He didn't know what, but something made up of bright colors, coming down from the owl box and into the garden. It wasn't any of the owls—he knew them. And it wasn't like the other birds that visit the garden. He dashed to his hole and safety, then turned around and as he heard the familiar voices of Vinky and Vobble. He poked his head out so he could watch. What was this? It had colors that were even brighter than Donna Royal's flowers in the garden. It had wings. And now it was walking around looking at what was left in the garden. Suddenly Lewis spotted Tauntz. Lewis stood still for a moment and then … swooped down for a closer look at the furry creature with the twitching nose and beady eyes. "Ah, you're just a rascally rabbit. I'm Lewis. Nice to meet you." "Er, ah, I'm Tauntz, do you eat rabbits?" "Heck no!" Lewis replied, "I'm more of a …" Just then Lewis saw just what he was looking for. Without finishing his conversation with Tauntz he flew straight over to the trash can. There, just barely sticking out of the top, with the cover tilted, was something that made Lewis's beak water. A Domino's Pizza Box. The cover landed with a crash boom, and Lewis squawked and squealed with delight. Pizza! But wait, the box was empty! Lewis squawked, mad as heck! Vobble flew down and asked, "You like pizza? We know the best place in town to get pizza. I'll be right back. Vobble flew to the Dude's house and hollered for Zorro. "Zorro! Call CC and tell her we need pizza NOW! And lots of it!" Real soon CC's van screeched out front. She climbed out and said, … "Some one order pizza? I have vole, rabbit, rat and todays special, nutriberries with whipped cream." Lewis jumped on the nutriberries before anyone could even get close. CC backed away, asking "Who is the visitor? He acts like he hasn't eaten in days." Vobble announced, "He is a rude crude dude from Africa" and he ... just showed up in our owl box. His name is Lewis and he says he is a parrot." Tauntz asked, "and he eats pizza? Doesn't he hunt like you and your family?" Vinky answered, "I don't think he could catch anything if he tried hunting. Look how bright he is." Lewis had finally eaten enough of the pizza that he could stop for a moment. "I have overheard you folks discussing me. Of course I don't hunt. Well, I hunt for food, like this wonderful pizza, and ...oh, hey…look over there in this fine garden. I have spotted a delicious looking garden salad, but I must say that I do enjoy pizza. I'm a little tired after my long flight. Think I'll go take a short nap." And with that he flew right up to the owl box and settled in for a little snoring. Vobble looked at Vinky. Vinky looked at Vobble. "This is just not right. He didn't even ask us." Vinky crossed her wings and was tapping a talon on the ground. "We need to do something about this," agreed Vobble, "but what?" Vinky and Vobble flew off to talk to Zorro. It took a while to find him. When they did find him, he had his face buried in a pizza box. His whiskers were dripping with cheese. They asked Zorro what they should do about the rude parrot. Zorro said, "Awww, just ignore him. He'll get bored soon. He's used to bright lights and folks thinking he's a big deal. He won't find that here. This is owl territory!" you're probably right. Lets go back home and snack on some real owl food, like that mouse you have in the pantry and some snake gravy for dipping. Do you think the Dude ever went to Africa? I bet African folks would be nicer to him than he was to us. With that being said they flew off and … headed home. Just as they arrived, Lewis was waking up. He said, "Well, I must be off. Thank you for your hospitality. I was exhausted and famished. I was trying to get back to LA. I thought I wanted a taste of freedom and flew the coop, but was soon blown far off course by a storm. I soon realized that freedom is not all it's cracked up to be. I much prefer my nice warm home with food readily available and provided for me. Hunting is for the birds, so to speak! With that, he launched into the sky and was soon a bright speck in the distance. As Lewis flew away, Vinky turned to Vobble and said, "Well, that was … uh … interesting. I'm not quite sure what to make of that guy. He's sure different from anything I've seen around here before. And he sure knows how to make himself at home…invited or not." Vobble nodded. "Yeah. He wouldn't be much of a hunter. Any critter'd see him coming a mile away. I wonder how many batteries it takes to keep those feathers so bright." Vinky giggled. "Vobble, you are sooooo bad! But honestly, do you think it's his bright feathers that make him so rude? Maybe the brighter the feathers, the more the bird thinks of himself? I know those blue jays in the garden can sure be bold." "Well, I'm not sure about that," Vobble said. "Maybe it's all in his upbringing. WE were taught to be polite and not take without it being offered to us. I think I like owl territory best. Here, we're all friends and work together." Vinky nodded, "Yeah, you're right. Lewis may be bright and flashy, but I think I prefer our friends and family. I used to think I wanted to be a bright fashionable bird, but I think I'll stick with what I've got." "Yeah, me too," Vobble said. "I'd rather have friends than colorful feathers any day. Although, if you want me to, I've got a new set of markers. I could color your feathers for you." Vinky giggled. "Thanks, Vobz. I'll think about it. It might be fun!" The End |
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| DotRot Sharoot ChatterChopz Wolfgirl TheDaddyBird |
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