A Strange and Marvelous Threesome

Through a haze of sweet smelling pipe smoke, the old fisherman watched the parade pass by. Leaning in the doorway of the cafe, he adjusted his cap to shade his eyes then idly hooked his thumbs in his suspenders - the tourists didn't appear to notice him and the dog at his feet slept peacefully through all the chatter and noise. When local folk passed and nodded to him, he nodded back, the barest hint of a smile passing across his face. A smallish blue green parrot perched nonchanlantly on his shoulder, so still and serene that it might have been made of wood.

Mornin', Samuel, my daddy said as we passed by, Think it might rain?
The old man glanced at the sky and then at the parrot, giving his shoulder a slight shrug. The bird fluttered it's wings just a bit and opened it's eyes long enough to cackle God save the queen! and Samuel shook his head, Tain't likely. My daddy smiled and walked on but I stopped in my tracks, never having seen a parrot before and certainly not one that could speak. The bird regarded me with disinterest until Samuel shrugged his shoulder again, then it shifted it's spiky little, taloned feet and cawed, Come to order! Come to order! God save the queen! Samuel almost smiled and the dog woke briefly, then laid his head down on his paws and went back to sleep. The parrot spread it's wings, gave itself a shake and shrieked a curseword followed by an even louder God save the queen! By then a small crowd was beginning to gather, tourists and fascinated children alike watched as the old fisherman produced a handful of seeds and the bird delicately pecked them from his palm and continued to speak. Come to order! it squawked and Be seated! and more God save the queen!

The children laughed with delight, besieging Samuel with questions - Can I feed him? Can he count? What's his name? Can he fly? Who's the queen? Where did you get him?

His name be Micah, Samuel replied, He's from a dark continent, very far away, and he can fly like the Lord's own wind if'n he has a mind to. And, the old man paused, narrowing his eyes and giving us all a warning look, he bites.

We all took a respectful step back while the parrot screeched out Take your seats! Take your seats! God save the queen! Then, as if listening to a waltz, he began to bob his head up and down and sway back and forth on the old man's shoulder, squawking curses and pecking. It was a curious and graceful dance, interspersed with curses and it woke the dog who roused himself and gave a mighty yawn. Time to go, Samuel told him, and the old man, the parrot, and the dog - a strange and marvelous threesome - began ambling down the sidewalk toward the docks, the sun at their backs and the carefree summer day stretched out before them like an invitation.