"Debbie aren't you excited, we're going to the south of America to see the rare Quaker parrot. Oh I can't handle the excitement." Nigel said in his usual gleeful voice. "Yeah, great" Debbie replied sarcastically, not even bothering to lift up her face from her magazine of 'Wasteland'.
After some time Marianne interrupted the silence "We're here" and she walked over to the table and reached for her notepad and she handed it to Debbie. "Girls, I want you both to do your fair share of chores. So no running off to buy some cd Debbie". But Debbie quickly defended herself "Hey miss ego geek ditched chores to you know".
"Mum, can I go see the Quaker parrot than do the chores, please?" Eliza pleaded. Marianne was already at the door "No, Eliza we can't risk running out of supplies again" and with that Marianne left.
While doing her chores Eliza kept grumbling to Darwin which was really getting on her sister's nerves "Would you shut up with the chimp talk Eliza. You're not the only one forced to be here" and she soon added "I can't hear Des Bro Dean over you…weirdness".
"We've been searching for hours and we haven't seen the Quaker parrot" Marianne said in disappointment. "Well that's why it's called 'rare', Marianne" Nigel replied with his usual know-it-all kind of voice. Than he added hopefully "But I'm sure we'll find it, soon". And Marianne asked "I guess, but what if we don't find it in time for our deadline-".
But Nigel interrupted her "Look Marianne" and by that they saw a green and white parrot which shown brightly when the sun gazed at it. "Oh, it's beautiful Nigel" Marianne replied lovingly while holding the camera. "Marianne if I'm not mistaken its holding a piece of paper in its beak" Nigel said filled with curiosity.
Nigel reached into his pockets and found the apple he was saving. The parrot dropped the paper and landed on Nigel's palm to eat the apple. "Quakers are known to be extremely good eaters. They thrive on fresh fruits and vegetables, and do well in captivity when-"Nigel started explaining some of his research while Marianne just ignored him and reached out for the paper and said in utter surprise "Nigel it's a note it says 'B- would soon be killed. Meet me at 11:00 for the money, you know where and when".
Nigel walked forward and said "Really? That's not strange at all these type of parrots are known for being obedient and quick learners-". Nigel than asked after thinking about what his wife just said "Who?". And Marianne replied slightly scared "I don't know there's a smudge on the name" "We must alert the authorities immediately" and they soon returned to the comvee.
But they didn't know that the owner of the bird was just listening behind the trees to each and every word with an enormous smile plastered on his face…
It was night the moon gave out what little light it could throw against the forest.
While Nigel tried to contact the authorities the line went dead. Debbie was looking out the window when she saw some people looking with a vicious look on their face which sent shivers down her spine. Debbie knew something was wrong she could barely make out the words "Mum, who are these people?"
And by that they all looked out the window and saw them. Marianne tried to get out but the door was locked. One of the men shouted "Don't bother to come out we locked everywhere" and the other yelled out in a harsh, yet cold voice "Sweet dreams, they'll be your last" and by that they lit the comvee on fire.
Inside the comvee was a lot of smoke. Debbie coughed, and Eliza was trying to avoid a fire near her. While Marianne and Nigel were lifting up a carpet. Through coughs Debbie asked "What are you doing?"
Nigel lifted up a door which led to under the comvee, which meant outside. And he said "Eliza, Debbie get outside this instant" but Eliza quickly asked "What about you guys?" and Marianne quickly assured her "We'll get out after you".
Darwin went out first followed after by Donnie. But the gangsters figured out what they where doing so Marianne and Nigel were shot.
"Mum! Dad!" Eliza yelled out. Their parents laid dead, they looked so innocent beside each other. They had done nothing wrong. Eliza reached forward her dead parents and hugged them both tightly while sobbing in their chest. While Debbie fell on her knees in despair and cried while for the first time in her life she realized that now that she lost them, she knew how much she really loved them both even if she didn't agree with them most of the time ok always. Debbie broke away from her thoughts when the cupboard fell. Half-heartily Debbie whispered "Eliza we need to go".
Eliza wouldn't budge she kept crying. She didn't want to let go. She wanted to hold them forever. But Debbie said through sobs "Eliza, they're gone. And if we stay we'll be gone too" Eliza tore her tear-stained-face from her parents and looked towards Debbie. Before her eyes reflected joy and cheerfulness now all Debbie could see in them was a cloud of sadness.
Debbie was the first to slid down the tiny door on the floor and rolled her way outside. Now it was Eliza's turn, she could barely walk away from her parents but she knew she had to. Eliza went down with trembling fingers.
The comvee couldn't hold any longer it was devoured completely by flames. But what was the most important was that the flames almost reached the diesel. The comvee was about to explode.
Exactly when Eliza rolled out from under the comvee the fires reached its target and the comvee exploded. Eliza was horrified by the scene before her. She had lost her parents and her home in just a couple of hours. She was about to get back in when Debbie and Darwin stopped her. But no one stopped Donnie. Donnie tried to get back inside and his body caught with fire and died soon after.
Eliza was going to yell to him when Debbie pointed out "They don't know we're not dead yet otherwise they would have tried to kill us by now so keep it down" And Debbie continued with teary eyes "Eliza I'm scared too and I don't know what would happen to me if I lost my little sister too now please..."
Eliza knew exactly what her sister meant so she replied with a sour throat "We can hide behind those trees"
The next morning sirens of fire engines and police cars where heard. The smell of the fire wasn't as bad as it was the night before, but still didn't fade away completely. The fire fighters were putting down the comvee and some policeman were investigating the little evidence they had. And the others where searching for the bodies of Debbie and Eliza Thornberry.
Down beside a tree trunk there laid Eliza sleeping on Debbie's shoulder trying to find what little comfort she could and Darwin asleep beside Eliza resting his head on her lap. With the bright sunshine lighting upon their tear-stained-faces. For a new tomorrow.
