The sky was cloudy and the humidity was up. You could smell the rain coming. Emanuel, or Manny, as he preferred, was driving home in a rustic red pickup truck. It was worn and beaten, and, although it still ran, its years of hard work showed. The truck merged onto the highway as Manny drove home.
As a sprinkling of rain started to cascade on the muddy truck, Manny started to think. He was an 18 year old guy who worked hard and earned his salary. It wasn't the highest of all, but it let him live a nice lifestyle. Everyday, his life was the same. Wake up, eat, work, eat, sleep. Wake up, eat, work.... You get the point. He never did anything for fun. Occasionally his buddies would ring him and ask him to join them at the bar at night. He would go, but down only a drink or two, not enough to even get a buzz.
A car honked and shot passed Manny in the now pouring rain. Startled, he gripped the wheel and focused on getting home in the torrents of water.
This is where our story begins. A young guy, Manny, with an average life and an average job. But fate had an appointment with him, and he wasn't going to miss it.
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Shian was a femme of the forest. With long, slender legs and a flat stomache, her body was lithe and agile thru her wooded home. Her breasts were large and voluptuous, but not to an exaggerated point. Her red hair was straight and long, and her eyes were a startling color blue. But, the most obvious feature of this vixen was the dark green hue of her skin and her long, pointy ears.
She lived in a village, deeply hidden beneath the emerald coverage from the trees and brush. Shian had her own cottage, small but inviting. Incense was always burning, and small torches were the only lighting at night. The elves of her clan were peaceful people, happy and content with what their lives had to offer. No adventures, no challenges, and no fights. They craved nothing and got nothing. But Shian was different. She craved adventure. She craved for a life besides this simplistic dream she lived in. Everyday, she looked up into the clouds floating mindlessly in the sky, and wondered when something would happen. Little did she know, her prayers were about to be answered.
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Manny pulled the key out of the ignition, opened the door of the truck, and sprinted for his apartment. Hastily undoing the locks, he stepped inside and shut the door before the rain got in. Manny peeled his coat off and hung up his keys, then went to the kitchen. On his way, he had to walk thru the living area, where he kept his 2 parrots, Keith and Carter. He had a whole wall used up for a large bird living area. Being parrots, they mimicked things that he said. Carter was not really into human contact, but Keith always loved to go around with Manny and sit on his shoulder.
Manny opened one of the doors in the bird emporium and Keith landed on his arm. Closing the door, Manny walked into the kitchen. Keith was on his shoulder, and Manny decided to see if he remembered what he had taught the bird to do. Manny leaned in and started to talk to his feathered friend.
"Hey, buddy. Are you happy I am home?"
"Hi Manny." was the birds answer.
"Are you hungry?" Manny asked.
"Yes." replied the bird. "Keith wants cereal and seeds."
Manny placed the bird on a perch in his kitchen and looked at him. He had taught Keith to say everything except that last part, about the cereal and seeds.
How did he learn to say that? I never taught him anything like it!
But Manny was so tired, he ignored this odd event, heated up a dinner, ate, and then went to bed. But....He forgot to put Keith away....
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Keith sat on his perch whistling while his master ate dinner. When he went away, Keith knew he would be back. But when, an hour later, Manny still hadn't shown up, he started to squawk.
"Manny? Bed?"
Being that his wings were not clipped, Keith flew over to his cage and hung on with his sharp talons. Keith picked at the lock until it opened, and hovered in the air as it swung open. Keith hopped in, grabbed a toy of his that had a mirror, and then hopped back out.
Snapping the cage shut, with Carter sound asleep in the back, Keith flew out of the den, up the stairs and into Manny's room. Manny was peacefully sleeping, an occasional snore coming out of his mouth. Keith landed on his chest and Manny sat upright from the pressure. He rubbed his eyes and saw Keith on his chest. Pinching himself to make sure he wasn't dreaming, Manny attempted to stand up. But Keith wouldn't let him. Then, Keith started to talk. And not about anything Manny had ever taught him.
"Manny. Take this toy and look at yourself in the mirror."
