The parrot squeaked. “You look funny. Want a cracker.”
Troy’s eyes widened. “Excuse me?”
“Look funny. Cracker?”
Troy took a deep breath. Relax, he told himself. It’s just a parrot. It doesn’t mean anything. He turned to the bird.
“You’ll have no cracker until you take that back,” he informed his pet.
The parrot whistled. “Pet abuse. You’ll get locked up.”
“Do you enjoy tormenting me?” Troy asked through clenched teeth.
“But you make it so easy.”
Troy breathed deeply. “See that window? Tahiti’s not far away. How about a nice vacation?”