Page 56 of Saving Forever
Elvis approaches gingerly. He’s used to strangers but always cautious. I hold out my hand and wiggle the little plastic bag of melon pieces I brought with me. That brings him closer and I put a chunk in my hand, letting him peck at it.
“Beautiful,” Irina murmurs, taking a picture with her phone.
Priscilla takes a few more steps and stares.
“Come on, old girl,” I tell her. “Come get a treat.”
“I can try?” Mr. Maslak asks.
“She bites,” I remind him as I hand him a chunk of melon.
To my shock, she walks right up and starts to eat it.
“She’s never done that before,” I whisper. “Not even with me.”
“I love the birds,” he says solemnly.
“I can see that. And they must love you. You’re really going to like Ollie, the kookaburra.”
“You have kookaburra?” He stares. “I have wanted always to see.”
“Come on. There’s lots to see.”
We walk up the path with Priscilla following Mr. Maslak. She even lets him reach down to pet her, which I’ve never seen her let anyone do before.
“She really likes you,” I say.
He laughs. “Very beautiful.”
“Hey, Holly!” The caretaker who manages the sanctuary, Jay, waves to me.
“Hey, Jay. Where’s Ollie today?”
He grins. “He’s inside. We have some kids from a summer camp coming, and you know how they like Ollie.”
I chuckle. “Okay, then we’ll start there.”
I lead them into one of the buildings we use to do demonstrations and training. I spot Ollie on a perch off to the right and walk in that direction.
“This is amazing,” Mr. Maslak whispers, trailing behind me.
Irina is still taking pictures and for the first time I feel like we’ve found some common ground. I love it here and it seems like Mr. Maslak and Irina are enjoying it too.
Ollie starts dancing playfully when he sees us, and then goes into his distinctive call, which is a laugh-like sound that these birds are known for.
“You’re so dramatic,” I tell him. I reach out to scratch his head, which he only allows sometimes, and I’m gratified that he’s obliging today.
“Pretty girl! Pretty girl! Pretty girl!” The voice is loud and nasal, and before I have a chance to warn my guests, our hyacinth macaw comes flying across the building and lands on my head.
“Yes, Tillie, you’re a very pretty girl,” I say, laughing. “Come on, behave.” I lift my hand and she steps onto my forearm. “Say hello to my friends.”
“Friends! Friends!” She bobs her head and we all laugh.
“I can hold?” Irina asks in her halting English.
“Sure.” Tillie is the friendliest of all the big birds and she’ll go to almost anyone. To my knowledge, she’s never bit anyone, not even the trainers who tend to get the brunt of those kinds of accidents because the birds feel comfortable with them.
Irina holds out her arm and Tillie climbs right on, chirping and babbling pretty much all of her words and phrases.
