With peanuts and patience, Ava finally got Mervin back into his cage. Now she lies in her bed, the blankets pulled over her head to block out the sound of him scratching. Mervin mutters quietly. But the sounds he’s making don’t sound like words.
Ava checks her phone. Now there are 4,314 followers. For AvaandMervin. Barely five hundred for Ava. Gregg, of course, posted the video and some photos too. The video has had the most likes so far. Ava watches it again. Mervin yelling, “MONKEY IDIOT” over and over while Ava frantically searches for peanuts. When she finally finds a tub of them, Mervin flies over and lands on her head. Ava screams. In the video. In real life, she plonks her phone facedown on the bed.
Ugh.
Despite the noise Mervin is making, Ava eventually falls asleep. She dreams of her family—Ava and her dad and her mom all together. She startles awake. In the darkness of her room, she has the feeling she is being watched.
The feeling creeps her out. Who could be watching her?
“Hello, pretty.”
Mervin. Of course. Ava had forgotten about the dumb bird. She flips her phone over. It is packed with notifications for AvaandMervin. By the low blue light of the screen, she can see Mervin looking over at her. He has his head cocked and is watching her with one yellow eye. “Hello, Pretty Pretty,” says Mervin.
“Hello, you horrible bird,” Ava says.
Mervin stares at Ava. She feels bad for being so mean.
“Sorry. I didn’t mean it. You’re not a horrible bird. I just had a bad dream, and it put me in a grumpy mood.”
Mervin cocks his head again. It’s like he’s actually listening.
Ava finds that she wants to keep talking to him. “I mean, it wasn’t a bad dream. It was a good dream—I was dreaming that me and my parents were having breakfast together. It was nice. But really they just fought all the time. It’s probably a good thing that Dad left. I just miss him, you know?”
“Idiot,” Mervin says quietly.
Ava giggles. “Dad is a bit of an idiot. It’s true. He left me and Gregg behind. That makes me feel sad.” Ava’s eyes fill with tears. “But I think he’s probably happier now. I should go to visit him. I wish Mom were happier too. Since he left, she hasn’t really been herself. It’s almost like she’s afraid to be happy.”
“Monkey,” says Mervin. “Peanut?” he adds, sounding hopeful.
“Sure, have a peanut.” Ava reaches over and opens up the tub. She passes him a peanut through the bars. He takes it gently with his beak and is soon crunching happily.
“You’re actually a good-looking parrot,” says Ava. “I mean, you have nice feathers.”
Mervin laughs. He sounds like Gregg.
“But that is annoying. You have to learn to laugh like someone else. My brother is the worst.”
“Worst,” Mervin says.
“Exactly.” Ava suddenly feels silly for talking to a parrot. “Good night, Mervin.” She cuddles into the pillow. Her eyelids get very heavy.
“Ava,” says Mervin quietly.
“Did you say something?” Ava mumbles as she drifts off to sleep.
In the morning, when Ava wakes up, she immediately looks over to the cage. Mervin’s eyes are closed. Ava tiptoes out of her room. Her mom is in the kitchen, wiping the counter.
“I had to clean bird poop off the counter this morning, Ava,” she says, frowning.
“Morning, Monkey Face,” Gregg says. He pops his head up from the sofa.
“Sorry, Mom,” Ava says. Then she turns to give her stupid brother a look.
“That bird has to go,” says their mom. “It can’t stay here. You don’t know how to look after it properly. The house smells like parrot. And bird poop on the counter is unsanitary.”
“You need coffee, Mom,” says Gregg.
Their mom lets out a sharp breath, between clenched teeth.
Ava says, “I’ve already called the zoo. They’re coming by later this week to assess him.”
“Right. Good.” Their mom wipes the already clean counter again.
“You called the zoo?” Gregg asks. “But what about a dying man’s last wish?”
“Shut up, Gregg,” says Ava.
“And your followers! They love you. You’re a superstar.”
“Gregg, I mean it. Shut up!” Ava yells.
“The bird is leaving our house, and that’s that.” Their mom picks up a mug and fills it with coffee. “The two of you need to stop fighting. I’ve had it up to here.” She gestures with one hand to somewhere way above her head. “I’m off to my meeting.”
Gregg looks over at Ava as their mom slams the front door. “Don’t ask me what’s up with her,” he says. “She’s been in a bad mood ever since Dad left.”
Ava realizes that this is the first time either of them has mentioned their dad since he left.
“Do you miss him?” Ava asks.
“I kind of hate him, to be honest,” Gregg replies.
For a brief second Ava adores her brother. Then he says, “At least now Dad can watch you on the internet. Pretend like he has a daughter.”
Ava’s warm and fuzzy feelings toward Gregg vanish. “You are such a jerk,” she says. “Just take the stream down.”
“You must be joking!” He grins. “You are going to be world-famous, little sister. People love this stuff! We can’t take it down. We have a duty to serve the parrot-loving public.” He hoots with laughter. Ava hears the echo of Mervin in her bedroom, laughing just like Gregg.
“Which is why you cannot let the zoo people come over,” Gregg continues. “They can’t take Mervin away. What will your fans think?”
“I’m a big joke to everyone, Gregg. Why don’t you understand that?”
He laughs. “I am doing you a favor, Ava. But you don’t realize it. Plus I’m driving you crazy at the same time. Perfect!” He vaults over the sofa and heads toward Ava’s bedroom.
“What are you doing?” she yells, following him.
“Uh, what do you think?” He takes out his phone and starts filming. He begins to narrate the video in a big voice. “And now let’s see what happens when we let Mervin out for breakfast. Oh.” Gregg spins around and holds the phone to film Ava. “Here she comes. The parrot whisperer!”
Ava wants to scream at him, but now she’s on camera. She grits her teeth and walks as quickly as possible toward her room. “Let’s not wake Mervin,” she says in her calmest voice.
Gregg turns the camera back around. “Oh, look, he’s awake, Parrot Girl! Hello, Big Birdy!”
“Hello, Monkey Idiot,” Mervin replies to Gregg.
Ava can’t help but smile at that. Then she hears the flap of Mervin’s wings. Oh no, not again!