Chapter Four: A Secret Surprise
Blu just asked Tulio and Linda if he could go back to Minnesota with Jewel. He was surprised when they said 'yes' almost instantly, like they wanted them to go back. Blu decided to also ask for another favor, seeing how quickly he got his way about Minnesota.
"Could I bring Jewel outside?" He wrote. This time, they were a lot more hesitant. They even asked for some privacy in their decision. Come on! he thought. Jewel has been crammed in a cage that she hates and I'm starting to feel her start to get more depressed with how little she's doing these past few days.
Linda and Tulio came into the room. "Sure Blu, but you must where these GPS trackers for us to know where you guys are." said Tulio.
And just to start thinking that they trusted me and Jewel to be outside of a cage in Minnesota. Blu squawked, signaling that he accepted their offer.
"Okay Blu, take this to Jewel." Tulio said as he handed one of the trackers to Blu. "It goes on like this." Tulio then demonstrated with Blu's own tracker.
Blu thanked the two and flew back to the artificial jungle.
"Hey Blu, what took so long?" Jewel asked.
"Oh, w-well they said we could go to Minnesota with these on." he said, showing her the bracelet around his leg. "This is to know where we are, considering we may go outside in the snow." He said. Man, I can't wait for the surprise I'm giving you. Too bad we have to wear these.
"Oh," Jewel said, "why? We don't even go outside here. Plus, I can't fly, and where would we go in Minnesota anyway?"
Oh boy. Just wait Jewel. Tonight, I'll give you a great surprise under the stars. He thought. But what will I tell her? I guess something Tulio may want us to do anyway. "Well, you know Tulio," Blu started to say, "the whole 'save the species' thing is all he really cares for at the moment. But we don't have to wear them all the time. Just when we go outside." He said.
He's acting weird. Jewel thought. I wonder what it is. Did they decline his question of him going back to Minnesota? "Uh, Blu?"
"Yeah?" he asked, still fiddling with his own tracker.
"Are you okay? You're acting weird."
"I'm fine. What makes you say that?"
"I don't know, maybe how you aren't really nervous right now and you seem a bit sad."
"Oh, well me not being nervous is because I'm thinking of something important right now. And yes, I'm a little sad this will be my last trip to Minnesota."
Poor Blu. she thought. What can I do to help him? "Maybe if I like it there, we could go as a summer home." she said. "It is always warmer in summer."
"Not really." Blu said. "In spring, it's cold and windy, but the sun is out. In summer, it's really just cold air on your skin. In fall, it starts to act like it was spring again, except all the leaves are flying around. And winter," Blu started as he shivered. "Is an all out inside season."
"So summer home it is." Jewel said, enthusiastically to bring Blu to a smile. It worked, but he soon lost it. "Blu, what else?"
"Well," Blu said.
"You can tell me anything. We're partners now, aren't we?" she said, trying to nudge the argument they had earlier back into play.
"I-I don't know. If I go back to the jungle with you, how will I survive? The only experience I have is with that one night in the gazebo." Sweet, now I know where I'm taking her tonight. He thought.
"Then I'll teach you." Jewel said. "It only takes practice." she said.
"Thanks Jewel."
"No problem. I'm here for you, you know that right?" she asked.
"Yes, of course I know that." he said, bringing her into a hug.
"Hey, one more thing." she asked.
"Hmm?"
"What is that other important thing you're thinking about that isn't making you so nervous?" It better be something good. She thought, hoping it wasn't another female bird or something like that.
"It's just a surprise I have for you. I'm wandering when I can show it to you."
"Show me now! Show me now!" she exclaimed.
"Sorry, you'll have to wait." he said.
Darnit. She thought.
"Oh, and Tulio wanted us to get used to these trackers." Blu said as he went to grab Jewel's.
Great. I'm flightless in a cage and now I have to wear a human toy. GRRRR! She thought. Well, let's just get this over with.
Throughout the day, the two did activities together. They were reading one of Blu's favorite stories, which Jewel also enjoyed, Romeo and Juliet. Jewel mostly liked it because the story was a good portrayal of what Blu and Jewel both went through on their journey (Mainly Blu almost dying with Jewel).
Jewel also asked to learn human language because it seemed like a useful trick. Blu started her off with the English alphabet (because he still couldn't speak Portuguese). Jewel thought this was funny, and she offered to teach Blu some Portuguese. He said that it may be helpful and gladly accepted. By five pm, Jewel has mastered the alphabet and how to write upper and lower case letters. Later, Blu was going to teach her how to form the letters into words then form the words into sentences. Jewel taught Blu three words. Blu learned the words meu (my), amor (love), and feliz (happy).
As they looked around the hollow, there were scraps of paper everywhere with letters on it and the words Blu learned.
"Hey, meu amor (My love), thanks for the lessons." Blu said.
"Of course. Thanks for teaching me the human language." Jewel said.
"Well, you still have yet to make words and sentences from those letters." Blu said. "I'll teach you the rest as your wing heals. There's something to do when you're in a cage." Blu said.
Jewel giggled at this. She thought it was funny how Blu tried to comfort her. Most of the time, it worked because she laughed at his attempts. "Well, then you'll get to spend more time with me, meu amor." she said. "Hey Blu?"
"Yes Jewel?"
"Can we cuddle?"
"Oh, uh, are-are you cold?" Blu asked. He was still hesitant on being with Jewel for a number of reasons. For starters, I've been domesticated all my life and I don't know how to survive in the jungle. Second, how would I protect Jewel? If we had chicks, how would my parenting skills be since, once again, I've been too domesticated to really teach them correctly.
"No, I just want to be with you." Jewel said. Why is he so hesitant? He must know how I feel about him.
"Oh, um, s-sure." he stuttered.
It was getting dark and both macaws were in the hollow, cuddling. Blu then got up, making Jewel sad he left her embrace, and flew to a window, watching Tulio leave the aviary. Once he was out of site, he quietly opened a window and flew back to the hollow.
"Where did you go, Cuddles?" she asked.
"Just getting your surprise ready."
Ooo. I can know what it is now? "What is it?" she asked, excited. Blu then put his claws on her back and started to fly to the window. "It's OUTSIDE!?" She exclaimed.
"Yep." Blu said.
She noticed as they flew out the window that this was why she needed the trackers and it wasn't because of Minnesota. She was really excited now. They were outside for the first time in days. She then noticed a gazebo, the gazebo they slept at their first night chained together.
Blu landed and set her down, gently. "How do you like it? I mean your surprise." he asked.
"What? Being outside and being here at the first place we slept at as chained to each other birds?" she said, taking a few steps to Blu. He didn't notice. He was too busy looking at the view. "I love it." she whispered in his ear.
Blu jumped. He didn't recognize her getting so close. He felt his heart racing. Why am I so nervous? We were cuddling before, but this is somehow, different. She then laid her head on his neck, watching the view with him. Blu started to stretch out his wing, but was shaking. Again, we were cuddling. Why am I so nervous to put a wing around her? Once he did, Jewel snuggled in closer, smiling. Blu was relieved that she enjoyed it.
She really loved her surprise. Now I know why he had us wear these, bracelets. She thought. The hours passed by and the two fell asleep in each other's embrace.
As the sun rose over the horizon, Tulio arrived at the aviary. He went to check on Blu and Jewel. He spoke over the intercom. "Blu, Jewel? Anybody home?" He asked, but got no response. He switched between the cameras only to find nothing. Where are they? OH! Let me check the GPS! Oh, I hope they're alright. As he located them, they were right in the middle of the jungle on the gazebo he used to go to as a kid. Funny? How did they get out there? He thought. He rushed out the door and started to walk to the gazebo. When he arrived, he saw two blue figures cuddled up against each other on one of the posts. "Hey! Blu, Jewel, get down here!" he shouted.
The two lovebirds woke to a start. When they looked down, they saw Tulio. Aw great. Thought Jewel. Blu carried her down and they perched themselves on Tulio's shoulders.
"Just what do you two think you were doing?" Tulio asked.
Blu pointed to the tracking bracelets. Tulio then remembered the events of yesterday. "Oh, I'm sorry. I thought it was going to be during the day. Nevermind. Thanks for putting on the bracelets you two." he said.
"Blu, what was 'going to be during the day' thing?"
"Oh, your surprise. But I thought about it and I thought maybe night would be better. Tomorrow, if you want, we could hit Nico and Pedro's club."
"I'd love that." She said.
"Oh, you two, get ready for Minnesota because we're leaving tonight." Tulio said.
Jewel giggled because Blu looked a little sad at this. He really wanted to dance with Jewel again. "Hey, we'll go when we get back, okay?"
"Alright Jewel." He said.
When they arrived back to the aviary, Blu and Jewel were allowed to wander around and do whatever, as long as it didn't include Jewel flying, going outside, or anything else that put Jewel's wing in danger.
Of course, knowing Jewel, she was defiant. She agreed to the first two, but didn't really bother to pay any attention to the last request. "Hey Blu?"
"Yeah?"
"Want to do a physical activity?"
"Sure, what did you have in mind?"
"I was thinking you had an idea."
