Aunt Mildred decided to buy a
parrot to keep her company. The local pet shop had a good
selection, but one bird with bright green and blue feathers
immediately caught her attention as the pick of the bunch.
Curiously enough the shop-keeper seemed reluctant to sell it.
"I don't' think he's really Madame's sort of parrot,"
he explained evasively.
"He doesn't come from a very nice home. Now, if madame would
care to step this way, I think I have just the bird.."
"But I don't like any of those. I want this one."
Mildred insisted.
"Very well, madam." Noting the glint of determination
in Mildred's eye, the shopkeeper sold her the bird and an
expensive wrought iron cage to go with it.
Mildred installed the parrot in her sitting room and waited
breathlessly for his first words. The parrot flapped his wings,
looked around the house and said: "New house, Very
nice."
Mildred was delighted. At half past four Mildred's two teenage
daughters came back from school. The parrot cocked an eye at them
and said: "New girls. Very nice."
Mildred clapped her hands with joy. Not only was the parrot such
a magnificent specimen, but he had perfect manner. No wonder the
man at the pet store hadn't wanted to part with him.!
At half past five her husband Henry returned from the office. The
parrot skittered to the front of his cage and said: "New
house. New girls. Same old customer. How are you Henry?"