The Talking Parrot

Ruth got a colorful parrot for her birthday. He had bright green and yellow feathers and a curved orange beak. Ruth named him Pepper. The pet shop owner said, "Pepper is a smart bird. He can learn to talk."

Every morning, Ruth practiced English words with Pepper. She held a banana and said, "Banana! Say banana!" Pepper just stared at her with one eye.

After two weeks, Pepper finally spoke. But the words were not what Ruth expected. Pepper shouted, "Pizza time!" Ruth's little brother had been saying that every day, and Pepper had learned it first.

The next day, when Mom asked Ruth to clean her room, Pepper yelled, "No way!" Ruth's face turned red. "Pepper! Don't say that!" she begged. But Pepper laughed like Ruth's brother and shouted again, "No way! No way!"

Things got funnier. When Dad was watching the news on TV, Pepper said, "Boring! Change the channel!" Even Dad started laughing.

One day, Grandma came to visit. She rang the doorbell, and before anyone could open the door, Pepper screamed, "Who is there? Go away!" Grandma stood at the door surprised.

Ruth ran to the door quickly. "Sorry, Grandma! It's only the parrot!"

Grandma laughed loudly. "What a clever bird!" she said.

Ruth realized that Pepper could only repeat what he heard. So she decided to teach the family to say nicer things. Slowly, Pepper started saying, "Hello!" and "I love you!" The whole house felt happier.