Re: What I found when I came home today

Debbie -- I can just see it -- don't you wish you could have seen the whole
episode? Our animals really do have a life of their own.

A few years ago, my cousin and her family were taking their son to Madison,
Wis. for medical care. He had been born with some congenital defects, and I
swear to you, he's a teenager today because that family has taken such good
care of him. Their first baby was stillborn, having been strangled by an
unusually short umbilical cord during labor. They had another daughter
later, then a son, then the sick son, then another son. They're one of
those families who take things in stride and come out on top of situations
that would have most people flattened out. They also love animals and have
always had various pets who have the run of the house.

They knew they would be away for several days, even weeks. So we took care
of some of their pets during that time. A little black female poodle, the
same size as our "Poodle-With-Attitude." She ran away, making my kids chase
her across the golf course, and me chase her into a baseball field.

But that's not my story here.

We also had our 2 large black labs at that time. They were ruled by our
little male poodle. A new experience for us, though, was their gray African
parrot. He had been at an elementary school, but the teacher who owned him
couldn't keep him at home during the summer anymore. So, he was taken home
by one of the kids, who said, "Hey, Mom! We have a new pet!" His gender
was actually undetermined, as well as his age. He had this air about him,
though, that implied "Male! Big Shot Bird!" He was called, of all things,
"Baby."

So Baby came to visit, in his big cage. The only place I could put it was
in the kitchen, on top of the portable dishwasher. He seemed to like the
nearly continuous array of humans and canines through the kitchen. He
looked at us all as though we should curtsey when we passed by his palace.
He didn't like females of any species, however, and I quickly learned to
take care of his culinary and sanitary needs with the minimum of fuss and
exposure of my bare skin to his even quicker, sharp beak. But I was
prepared to like him and enjoy the new experience of having a royal,
feathered, creature in our midst. We had had parakeets throughout the
years, but never a such a Bird Of Great Importance.

I was concerned about the dogs, though. Especially the large labs. They
were friendly, and offered their happy faces to his cage as frequently as
they could. I was extremely careful to make sure his door was locked, and
he was secure within it.

Baby had a mixed repertoire of verbal skills. Loud shrieking squawks that
could make the hair on your arms stand straight out. Some interesting swear
words, which I'm sure helped make him such a popular mascot in the 4th grade
classroom. Even some short sentences with which we were gradually regaled.

I laughed when we heard Baby, in his loud, commanding voice, yell, "Erik!
Stop it Erik!" Erik happens to be my cousin's oldest son. It was obvious
who got a lot of reprimands in that busy home. I felt a bit sorry for Erik,
but knew the family dealt with larger problems than even Erik could
instigate. I could hardly wait, though, to mention it to my cousin. LOL

One morning I was in the bathroom, fixing my hair and makeup, preparing to
go to work. I heard the loudest screech ever and the brush in my hand froze
in mid air. "Help! Help! Help Me!" My thoughts flew to my big, beautiful
labs, who had put up with a lot of abuse from Baby, but had always remained
happy, friendly, and tolerant. What did they do? Were they finally tired
of Baby's loud autocratic imposition into *their* home? I ran through the
living room, and witnessed, first hand, that the labs were contentedly
napping in their favorite upholstered chairs. I turned the corner into the
kitchen. What would I tell my cousin? She had entrusted me with her
precious pets!

I saw Baby, sitting there in his wire palace, happily munching on his salad
of lettuce leaves. He didn't even glance my way.

Oh, my god! I was really standing there, heart rapidly beating, thinking
that this damn bird had called out to me, begging me to save him from those
big black dogs!

What a sucker! I've always been gullible. My kids knew they could tell me
any story and I'd believe them. Now, I had been bamboozled by a big gray
bird!

What a ninny. (Me, not the bird.)

René


"DebbieK" <dkrug@xxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:45ededc7$0$30768$88260bb3@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Wow, finally teranews seems to be back in action. I was gone all morning
and when I walked in the door I saw my Cockatoo sitting in the computer
chair. She managed to get out of her cage. Luckily, she didn't do too much
damage. She could have shredded the whole chair, computer and desk,. The
other amazing thing was that she was still alive. The springer spaniel,
who is an upland bird dog, was sitting on the back of the couch watching
the bird. I need to figure out if the bird let herself out or if I forgot
to latch something.
Debbie


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