I closed the pet shop and joined the crowd in the town square. As happened every year, an argument was underway about who should switch on the Christmas lights.
‘I installed them,’ an electrician said. ‘I’ll do the honours.’
‘No,’ the mayor declared. ‘Festive switch-ons are one of my tasks.’
A judge spoke up. ‘Nonsense: it’s my turn.’
Suddenly the lights came on. Something fluttered away from the switch on the dais.
‘It’s a Christmas angel,’ a girl announced. The crowd cheered.
I returned to my shop. A parrot was waiting outside.
‘Lights on,’ she squawked.
‘Yes, well done.’
‘I installed them,’ an electrician said. ‘I’ll do the honours.’
‘No,’ the mayor declared. ‘Festive switch-ons are one of my tasks.’
A judge spoke up. ‘Nonsense: it’s my turn.’
Suddenly the lights came on. Something fluttered away from the switch on the dais.
‘It’s a Christmas angel,’ a girl announced. The crowd cheered.
I returned to my shop. A parrot was waiting outside.
‘Lights on,’ she squawked.
‘Yes, well done.’
