I don’t know what I’m going to do with the snarl of possessiveness building at the back of my throat at the thought of it.
I let him finish introducing himself and allow her a moment to pull herself together before I pipe up. “So, where is the lovely Gary?”
She shakes her head. “I wouldn’t call him ‘lovely’, my dear. Right little sod.” She shakes with laughter, and a West Highland terrier totters up to us, jumping up at me. “Down, Nigel!” she shouts at him, and before I can give him any love, he totters away again.
Nigel?I mouth at Leo incredulously behind her back, and he shrugs, having a little chuckle.
“Through here,” she says, leading us into her living room. “He’s an Amazon parrot, five years old. Got him as a present a couple of years back, but the bugger won’t stop saying the mostappalling things. But I’m sure he’ll settle down for you,” she adds quickly.
“He doesn’t need to,” I reply. And there, in a metal cage, is the most beautiful bright green parrot with yellow feathers on top of his head, looking at us curiously, moving side to side along his perch. Something in the way he holds himself, almost hunched, speaks of loneliness, and it pulls at my heart. The cage looks well kept and clean, but I have an instant sense that this bird needs to be let out of it and fly wherever he chooses around the room. To be told he’s a good boy, and allowed to justbe.
“Hello, mate,” Leo says warmly, clicking his tongue.
“Fuck off,” Gary croaks, somehow managing to sound both cranky and friendly.
We both just about collapse laughing, and just like that, he’smyparrot. It was almost a foregone conclusion before I got here, but now, there’s no way I’m not adopting Gary. He’s coming home with me, and he’s going to be doted on in every way I can manage.
“Piss off, youwanker,” Gary says in an eerily clear and emotion filled voice.
“Ohhhh, aren’t you lovely,” I coo, still giggling as I step closer to the cage.
“Yes,” he replies, all snarky, as if this is painfully obvious, but he shuffles a little closer to me, seeming almost…hopeful.
“Make sure you keep him in his cage, or at least inside. He’s definitely the type to fly away if you don’t.”
I feel a pang as I think of this beautiful bird never flying in the open, never feeling the breeze, never knowing true freedom. Maybe if he ends up feeling secure with me, I can introduce him to the outside world in time? I hope so.
“Can I bring him to the parlour?” I ask Leo, still gazing at the newest member of my family.
“I’d be mad at you if you didn’t.” He pulls his wallet out. “How much?” he asks Tracy.
“Oh no you don’t,” I snap, reaching for my own, trying to remember how much cash I have in here. Pretty sure I haven’t spent any of the last hundred pounds I drew out.
“I’ll take it out of your wages,” he tells me with adon’t argue with meglare before looking at Tracy. “How much? For Gary, the cage, any spare parrot food you have left over, the whole shebang?”
“Oh no you don’t,” Gary says in a passable impression of me.
I love this bird already.
Leo
“I’m not taking it out of your wages,” I admit to Sadie as I pull away, Gary safely caged in her lap as she makes kissy noises at him.
“You fucking are,” she replies, not looking away from the bird.
“Accept the damn gift,” I fire back.
“Shan’t.”
“Total bollocks,” Gary agrees in his adorably creepy voice. I have a strong feeling I’m going to get very attached to this little bastard.
“Yeah, you tell him, Gary,” she coos. She sits back and sighs happily. “You know, I’ve always wanted a pet, but was never allowed one. And this little dude…” She beams. “He’s perfect. Just as he is.”
I glance at her with a frown. “Peter doesn’t strike me as the type with enough soul to love animals. Wanker.”
“Wanker,” Gary agrees, mimicking Leo’s tone almost perfectly, and we laugh.
“Yeah. Him and my dad… They both think pets are messy, disgusting, and unnecessary.” She shrugs. “But I can do what I want now. And being around Click just woke up that old longing.”
