Page 20 of A Furry Thing Called Love
Millie stops in the doorway andwoofs.She tries to investigate, but I hold her lead firmly.“No, heel,” I command.
Rodey stops asking to be freed and looks at the puppy.“A baby?”He flaps his wings.“No occupancy!”
I laugh and Jordan sighs, shaking his head.“I don’t know where he gets this shit from.”
Millie barks when Jordan goes over to the cage.“Be nice,” I tell her.
Rodey mimics the sound.“Good little doggie,” he says.
Jordan opens the cage and holds his arm out.Rodey stares at him for a long moment before hopping along his perch and climbing out of the cage onto Jordan’s arm.
Millie tries to move forward again and I shorten her lead, keeping her by my side.“Be nice, Millie.Rodey is a friend.”
The bird squawks.“You got a friend in meee!”
“You’re ridiculous,” Jordan tells Rodey.
“I know you are, what am I?”
Laughing again, I reach down to pet Millie’s head, hoping to encourage positive things in her.
“Don’t encourage him,” Jordan says with a sigh.
“But he’s so cute.”
Rodey whistles and puffs out his chest.“Hello, handsome.”
Jordan rolls his eyes and takes a few steps closer, bringing Rodey into full view for Millie to see.She stiffens and I pet her head again.
“Easy,” I say calmly.“Rodey is a friend.”
“Friend, not food!”Rodey calls out.
I snort.
“I really need to limit your TV time,” Jordan mutters.
He brings Rodey a little closer, until Millie barks and tries once again to lunge forward.Rodey squeaks and flaps his wings, his talons digging into Jordan’s arm if the man’s wince is any indication.
“Millie, no.Friend,” I tell her.
Jordan moves back enough, until she doesn’t seem to want to eat the bird anymore.
“Good girl.Birds are friends.”
Jordan puts Rodey back in his cage, despite his protests.“We can let her get a little closer, see what she does.”
Trusting Jordan, I give Millie a little slack, following her deeper into the room as she goes straight for the cage.She doesn’t do anything, sitting and staring up at Rodey, letting out a small woof as he moves from one perch to another to stare back.
“Hello, baby,” he coos.“Pretty baby.All for Rodey.”
“No,” I correct.“She’s mine.Her name is Millie.”
“Baby, baby, baby!”
“My baby,” I tell him.
Rodey looks at me, then down to Millie.“Pretty baby.”He whistles.“Come home with Rodey.”
