More Masanori asks! Hurrah! featuring the Uihai hellion from @hamliet‘s “The (Mis)Adventures of GOAT.”
“Mommy, can I have an owl?” Masanori peers up at Hairu.
“An owl?” Hairu laughs. “Why would you want that?”
“Because Aunt Eto says she was an owl and Aunt Eto is fun.” Masanori hops up and down. “I want fun.”
“Aren’t we fun?” Ui is appalled.
“Daddy, you are very fun.” Masanori giggles. “But I want something feathery. Please? It’s my birthday soon.”
Hairu hesitates. “We’ll see what we can do.”
As soon as Masanori has skipped off, Ui hisses, “You know he can’t have an owl!”
“He can have a parrot or something!” Hairu grins. “It will be pretty!”
Ui’s shoulders slump. Birds are messy. Pets are messy.
But it will make his wife and child happy, and therefore, Ui will get them a parrot.
———————————————-
“Fuck,” says the parrot after Ui presents the bright yellow creature to his family.
Hairu yelps.
“Don’t say that,” Ui protests.
“Don’t say that, don’t say that,” sings the bird. “Fuck.”
“What does fuck mean?” Masanori inquires. He’s so excited his entire body shakes.
Even as a cursing hooligan, the bird is worth it. Hairu shakes her head. “Tell you when we’re older. For now, don’t say that.”
“Why?” Masanori smells fear.
“Because it’s mean,” Ui says quickly. “The bird just doesn’t realize it.”
“The bird is named GOAT,” declares Masanori. “I like him.”
As their child squeals with delight, Hairu and Ui exchange glances. What have they done?
“Fuck,” says the parrot.
“I love you,” Masanori warbles back.
Hairu smiles. Masanori is more important than one dirty word.
Mercy and Magic 