Barley ran around the room. Eager to bite their toes, he nearly forgot about his plan.

He went in for the bite.

“BARLEY, NO!” Lucy shouted. Wilson ran back around him. Ready to grab him, he lunged forward.

Barley dodged him and ran into the kitchen, “Can’t catch me!” he repeated. Looking around Barley saw a broom leaning on the side of a cabinet. He climbed the broom and hopped on the counter.

Lucy came in first, running to the left, Wilson to the right. With Barley’s ‘injured’ wing, he was cornered. Lucy reached her hands out, and Barley snapped at them.

“Barley!” Wilson shouted.

He stopped. Right. I can’t be biting them. So boring. Barley would crinkle his nose, but his anatomy won’t let him.

“Sorry.” he cawed, “Sorry.”

“Huh?” Wilson froze, mouth hanging open, “Barley, buddy, did you just say ‘Sorry’?”

“Noo..” Barley croaked. Did I? He questioned himself, Did I say sorry? Why would I say sorry? There’s no way I would’ve said sorry, is there? Wilson started to laugh and Lucy joined his laughter shortly after.

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What are they doing? Barley wondered, Why’re they laughing? That doesn't make any sense. After a moment Barley decided to join them.

“AHHHAHAHAHAHA!!” Barley cackled.

“Pfffft…” Lucy wiped tears from the corner of her eyes, “Barley, why do you laugh like that?”

“He sounds like the maniac he is!” Wilson chimed in.

Well, the more they like me, the better. Barley mused.

After the laughing died down Lucy stood up and said, “C’mon Barley, you gotta go back.”

“Nooo!” He screeched, running again. Lucy and Wilson broke out in laughter again.

“Barley!” Wilson snickered, “Buddy, you gotta go back! You haven’t even eaten!” Wilson and Lucy ran around the room for several minutes chasing Barley.

“Can’t catch me! Can’t catch me!” Barley squawked.

While the old couple was laughing, Barley was scheming. Lost in thought, Barley failed to realize he was stopped for too long. He was suddenly swooped into the air.

“Gotcha!” Lucy smiled. “Let’s get you back Barley. Can’t go making an old lady like me run around all the time.”

“You’re not old Hun, I am though!” Wilson chuckled.

“Don’t go trying to flatter me, I’m old and I know it.” She playfully kicked him.

Barley wanted to run away, he didn’t want to play pretend. He would prefer to fly free from people, free from cages. First the man, then Lucy and Wilson. How many times would he be held captive in his life?

He was placed in his cage again.

Barley was sick of the same food every day, vet visits every month, little time out of the cage, and a lack of toes to bite.

The only one he could trust was the bird in the mirror. Barley didn’t know why he always copied him and never talked, but he enjoyed his company. The other bird was trapped in some weird portal but that didn’t bother Barley. It was the fact he couldn't enter the world he was in that bothered him.