Lucky's Story

Lucky was a small green parakeet with a bright yellow head, but his personality was much larger than his little body. He belonged to my mother, and the two of them shared a very special bond.

Every evening, Lucky would sit on my mother’s chest, give her kisses, and talk to her. He could say, “Lucky is a pretty boy,” and he would give the loudest wolf whistle. Whenever our German Shepherd, Penny, walked into the room, Lucky would announce, “Here comes the big black bear!”

Lucky loved mischief. He would hang upside down from the chain of the swag lamp and chatter away to the bird he saw in the mirror. He filled our home with laughter, conversation, and life.

One day, while my mother was cleaning his cage outside, she turned it upside down and Lucky escaped. He flew into the trees and disappeared. We were heartbroken, especially my mother. Lucky had been far more than a pet. He had been her companion and her friend.

Not long afterward, a flock of wild parakeets began gathering in the nearby trees. Some were green and some were yellow. Then, from high among the branches, we heard a familiar voice calling, “Lucky is a pretty boy!” followed by his unmistakable wolf whistle.

The trees were talking—and one of those voices belonged to Lucky.

Hearing him brought me comfort. Lucky was alive. He was free, surrounded by other parakeets, and still happily telling the world what a pretty boy he was.