Before we went to Larry's place, Alan and I stopped off at my clinic to get an ecollar(it's shaped like an upside down lampshade and is put on an animal's neck)as well as an antidepressant for the bird. I had already advised Larry,a couple of days earlier, to get Red Adder some more toys, and to hid the food among them, but alas it wasn't working.

Carl and one of the vet techs were there, and I said hello. Then, I went to check on a some patients I had in the clinic overnight.

Soon, Alan and I were at Larry's place.

He anxiously let us in.

"Is he doing any better?" I asked.

"He is now just chewing on the feathers" Larry said.

"Don't blame yourself Larry!" Alan advised. "When Donnie was a newborn, he scratched himself in the face. His mother and I felt so guilty when he cried, but the nurse kindly advised us to cut his fingernails andput gloves on him."

" I brought an anidepressant for Red Adder" I said, after examining the bird to make sure that the self plucking wasn't anything physical. "This might help some" Carefully I administered the medicine to the bird, who ruffled his feathers, squawked in protest,and bit me Then, I got out the ecollar.

"You're not going to give him that collar are you?" Larry pouted, as the bird hopped around from the agitiation of having to take medicine.

"Just until we can be sure he won't hurt himself" I explained.

"I take him with me to work, so he won't be lonely, and let him out in my office, home,and class" Larry told me.

"and that's great!"

"Should I get more toys?" He asked.

" It can't hurt" I told him.

It was painful to see the bird missing some of its feathers.

"How is he going to get better if he's got that collar on?" Larry argued. "Shouldn't we see if the antidepressant is enough?"

"Natalie doesnt' want to put on the ecollar anymore than you do, Larry." Alan said gently. "Her priority is the well being of the bird."

After some more thinking, Larry agreed to letting me put it on.

With effort, afew bites, and some scratchesI put on the ecollar. Then, I explained to Larry on how to administer the medicine, and how many times a day.

"I'll come by here the day after tomorrow" I promised. "Believe me, it can be worse if I don't put on the ecollar.Parrots can do very nasty, painful, things to themselves."

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I could understand what Larry was going through. It had been hard for meto see my sons be pained by shots or some other medical treatment.

We stayed with him a while longer, and then we were on our way home.

"That poor bird!" I murmured in the car.

"Hopefully it'll be enough." Natalie remarked. " He seemed well taken care of."

"It's almost like he's grieving" I breaked at a stop sign.

"He is. Parrots are very sensitive creatures. More than most people give them credit for." Nat explained to me.

"You did well in giving him to Larry" I complemented her.

"Thanks"

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"Charles! Could you help me give Red his medicine?" Larry asked as he came into my office after my nine A.M class. His face drooped"It's proving to be more difficult than I thought. It looked so simple when Natalie did it!"

"That's because she's had lots of practice" I reminded him, not looking forward to this task, but I was curious. "What kind of medicine are you giving him?"

"An antidepressant"

"Birds can take antidepressants?" I asked with surprise.

"Apparently so" he shrugged. "His feather plucking is a symptom of depression and grief."

" oh..."

" So could you help?"

" Sure." I agreed reluctantly and we both went to his office. The talons and beak reminded me of the possibility of being bitten or scratched.

Larry soon locked the door , and opened the bird's cage. This was not going to be fun.

TBC

A/N:I'll try to have more plot development in the next chappy.