Page 22 of Pete and His Precious

Still, I appreciate his presence in my kitchen, and that I don’t walk into my apartment and face it all alone like I used to.

“Pete. Pete.” I say, trying to enunciate clearly so the bird can understand.

I have no idea how to teach a bird how to say a word.

And I kinda shrug as I turn, going toward the sink to rinse out the water, and to refill it with fresh.

“Precious. Precious,” Trixie says.

I freeze, with the water running over the water container, as I tilt my head.

I turn around and look again at the bird.

“Say that again?”

Trixie just looks at me.

At least he’s not saying Leo and his love bunny. That’s nice.

There is a knock on my door, and I turn the water off, opening it and wondering who it is.

“Dude. I thought you were going to the rink?” It’s Cal.

“I was, but I remembered that the ladies had asked me to deliver this to you, and I kind of forgot about it. They didn’t want to leave it down in the lobby, and I know that they’re going to ask me about it again tomorrow, so I needed to make sure I gave it to you.”

He points behind him to an end table or something like that. It’s kind of different looking, but, whatever. My apartment is not fully furnished, and I suppose I’ll welcome anything that people will give me.

“Do I owe them anything for it?” I ask, putting my hands out, like I need to defend myself. I don’t know anything about this.

“No. They mentioned something about giving it to you for watching their bird or something.

“Precious. Precious.” Trixie pipes up from behind me.

“That’s a new word,” I say, kind of proud of my bird. “I think that’s the way he says Pete. I’ve been trying to teach him my name, so he’ll quit saying Leo and his love bunny.”

Cal gives me a look. “Precious doesn’t sound anything like Pete,” he says, in that slow manner that someone might use to say something to someone who has a limited ability to understand.

As I’m standing there staring at Cal, trying to think of any other reason why my bird would have all of a sudden started saying a word that I certainly wasn’t saying, my neighbor’s door opened, and I see her head in the crack, as though she is looking out to see what the commotion is in the hall.

“I’m sorry,” I say automatically. “We were making a bit of noise. We just need to get this piece of furniture in.” And then I stopped. It is Sultry Voice Lady. It was also Naked Animal-Rights Lady, who is also...my neighbor.

“That’s fine. I just wanted to make sure I didn’t miss a knock. I just got out of the shower.”

I notice that her hair is wet, and she’s wearing what looks like... Jammies.

I’m just happy she has clothes on.

“Oh. Your...neighbor.” Cal says, walking over to her door with his hand out.

I want to grab him by the hair and yank him back.

Not just because I don’t want him to talk to her because Cal can be very very charming, and this woman is mine.

Wait. No she’s notmine, mine. She’s justmyneighbor,myNaked Animal-Rights Lady,mySultry voice Woman. Mine that way. Notmine, mine.

“I’m Cal. Pete’s friend,”

“Oh, nice,” Sultry Voice Woman says.

---