Chapter 1:
Quiet Life:It was a beautiful summer morning in Minnesota. Birds soared across the sky, dogs awakened to the sound of meowing cats, and the humans working their way along the streets, doing their daily chores.
A young 10 year old macaw named Blu also carried on his usual routine, brushing a comb through his feathers, brushing his teeth, having breakfast, then tending to the beautiful book shop downstairs while he drank hot chocolate and ate cookies with his best friend Linda.
Blu certainly wasn't an ordinary macaw, not only was he in the company of his best friend, but he could write and form complex plans. He loved to watch television, play video games, and Linda loved to feed him on artificial foods like cereal or crackers.
"Oh," Blu thought, "This certainly is the life."
As Blu lifted the cup to his beak, the moment was interrupted by two pesky geese throwing a snowball at the glass.
"Well, well, well, if it isn't our favourite nerd bird."
"Where are you migrating to this year… the breakfast nook?"
Both geese began to laugh, and tossed another snowball at the glass window. Blu rolled his eyes and dipped his cookie into the hot chocolate.
"Throw all the snowballs you want, we're surrounded by this magical forcefield called glass. It's what keeps us so toasty and warm in here, while you're out there freezing your butts off."
RING RING!
Blu shifted his attention to the phone as it rang. Linda wandered over to it and lifted it off the base and raised the receiver to her ear. Blu meanwhile went towards the television, and changed the channel between an action movie, and a suspenseful mystery.
"Bah, there's never anything good on." Blu frowned. "Television these days suck."
Blu began to search through the channels, unimpressed by the shows being broadcast that morning. Stupid programs for young children, and very boring movies, but Blu paused as he caught a glimpse of the Animal Planet channel. They were giving reports from the Amazon Rainforest, and were show a flock of scarlet macaws, as they lived and danced within their habitat, as they found fruit to eat, and showed the beautiful scenery of the jungle.
"Certainly seems like a nice place," Blu thought to himself, though deep down he wasn't really sure why he thought about such things.
Suddenly the mood changed. Blu witnessed a group of predators attacking a family of macaws, killing them, and devouring them mercilessly, then with no guilt or emotion retired.
"…Charming," Blu frowned having no second thoughts at turning off the television.
Without warning a blue and gold macaw appeared out of nowhere and seated himself in Blu's chair. Blu's eyes widened, his beak dropped as he tried to find some rational explanation for the bird's sudden appearance.
"Oh it's you," Blu frowned. "Why are you sitting in my chair? What brings you here?"
The macaw arched an eyebrow and couldn't help but laugh.
"You should see your face, it's hilarious."
Blu placed a wing on his hip and gave the macaw a disapproving glare. He formed his own smile. He couldn't really stay mad at him. Eric had been his best friend since their childhood. His owner was a young girl, not much younger than Linda. He even found her cute for a human, and she shared a similar love for birds, which only served to bring out the best in Linda.
Eric himself was not very different from Blu. Bother were the same age, and both were considered to be nerd birds, they both did the same things, neither knew how to fly, and they always found themselves visiting each other… though today the blue and gold macaw seemed much more excited than usual.
"Are you ready?" Eric asked
"For what?" Blu wondered, a little taken aback.
"Don't tell me that you have forgotten?" Eric asked a little disappointed. "Today is the convention for exotic birds."
"Actually I did," Blu admitted.
"You'd better hurry." Eric grinned. "You don't want to fall behind. Remember we have to look good for the girls, and they're waiting for us."
"Hey," Blu grinned. "The females always got it so easy. It's the boys who are judged on whether we look good or not."
Blu lowered his head and noted the flirtatious look on Eric's face. He couldn't really blame him. He was the more handsome and eye-catching as it was, and he had enough confidence to make the first move.
"Too bad I'm socially awkward" Blu admitted. "I get very nervous around a girl or even about that whole subject in general."
"Blu, you should really be quiet." Eric said, "Now isn't the best time to be getting all nervous. Just think about the convention, maybe that will
relax you, either that or I could know you out by using some chloroform."
"What's the point," Blu shrugged. "No girl wants to be with me. Trying only gets your heart broken. Look at me, I'm pure cerulean, it's nothing eye catching. You have two colours. The girls would obviously prefer you."
"Nonsense, you'll find the right female." Eric said a little more seriously, "Not that I want to look gay or something, but you are a handsome creature as well. You are completely blue and your feathers are very striking. In fact, I don't think anyone has ever seen another member of your species… that's the strategy you must use. Also you should show off some of your skills. Why don't you enter the figure skating contest?"
"I'll try." Blu mumbled.
"Whatever you do, do not forget these things. Go and fix yourself up a bit and bring your table faster. We are really falling behind."
Blu went to the second floor in a hurry thinking of what he and Eric had talked about.
"I really am handsome," Blu thought. "Naw, I think Eric just said that to make me feel better."
Blu always received good advice from his friend Eric, he always found a way to make him feel better. After all they had met many years ago, when Chantel had received the macaw for her birthday. From that day on, they'd been very good friends. They did everything together, watching television, playing video games, skating, etc. Blu went to his room and sat down at his table.
"Are you ready?" asked Chantal
Both birds nodded their head.
Thanks to "Kraft 58", by the translation
the original text is in my other account "dark-kazoo"
greetings from the end of the world
kazoo out
