In the glow of a smartphone screen, Marcus went through his mounting bills. Rent due. Car payment and insurance overdue. His side-hustle as a food delivery driver wasn't cutting it. The nice neighborhood he'd been dropping off $40 sushi orders to all week had given him an idea. No tip. These people look like they wouldn't know if a few of their valuables were missing. .
That's how Marcus found himself jimmying open the back window of 1442 City View Drive at 3:30 AM on a Tuesday. The family was vacationing in Europe according to their social media posts. Amateur move, Marcus thought.
The house was silent as he slipped inside, clutching his small flashlight. The kitchen shined with high-end appliances that were too big and heavy to steal but signaled promising valuables elsewhere. He crept toward the living room, scanning for electronics.
"Jesus is watching you," came a voice from the darkness.
Marcus froze, heart pounding. He held his breath, listening. Nothing. Just nerves, he told himself.
He continued toward a cabinet containing what looked like expensive jewelry. As he reached for the handle, the voice came again.
"Jesus is watching you."
Marcus swung his flashlight wildly around the room. The beam from his flashlight landed on a large cage in the corner where two beady eyes stared back at him.
A parrot. Just a stupid parrot.
Relief flooded through him as he approached the cage. The bird tilted its head, looking at with one eye open.
"Were you talking to me?" Marcus asked, feeling foolish for talking to a bird.
"Yes," the parrot replied nicely and clearly.
Marcus laughed. "Well, aren't you a smart guy. What's your name?"
"Moses," the parrot answered, bobbing its colorful head.
Marcus chuckled. "Moses? What kind of people would name a parrot Moses?"
The parrot ruffled its feathers and looked at Marcus with an intelligent stare.
"The same kind of people," Moses responded, "who would name their Rottweiler Jesus."
From directly behind Marcus came a deep, threatening growl.
To be continued………