Page 60 of Total Ship Show

“Well, you about ready to head back? By the time we get back on the ship and cleaned up it’ll be about time to meet the family for dinner.”

“Yeah.” I nod. “Good idea.”

* * *

Just outside the ship’s dock, there’s a man on a stool with four beautiful parrots. One sits atop his head, one on each of his shoulders, and one on his hand as he pets its brilliant red feathers.

“Oooh look at those parrots, Aris! They’re amazing! I don’t think I’ve ever seen one up close.”

“Well let’s go have a look.” He smiles, swinging my beach bag over his shoulder and taking my hand. When we approach the man, he beams at the both of us.

“Hello my friends!” His smile is contagious, and his thick Jamaican accent makes me want to stand here and talk to him all day.

“Hi,” I greet him as I step tenderly up to him, not wanting to scare the birds. “Your birds are exquisite. I don’t think I’ve ever seen one so close up before. Are they Macaws?”

The man nods. “They are indeed, scarlet macaws. Very good. Very good. You know your parrots well.”

“Nah. Just a lucky guess. I’m Adrienne and this is my fiancé, Aris. It’s very nice to meet you.” Yep. Fiancé just rolls right off the tongue now.

“Welcome to Jamaica, friends. I am Mamodou. Would you like to hold the birds?”

It’s then that I finally notice a sign next to his stool that reads, PICTURE WITH PARROTS – 20 US DOLLARS.

“Oh, yes! I would love to!” My eyes grow in excitement as do my nerves. I’ve never held birds before.

Please don’t bite me birds!

Or poop on me!

Mamodou stands from his stool and instructs me to stand off to his side. He then takes the bird in his hand and places it upside down in my hand, cradled like a baby.

Oh my god!

I’m holding a scarlet macaw!

With his free hands, he moves the two macaws from his shoulders to mine, their claws slightly digging into my sunburnt skin. It’s an odd feeling but so super rad. He takes the bird from his head and moves him to my head.

“There you go, Miss Adrienne. Now, smile pretty for the camera.”

Aris has already been snapping away as Mamodou was placing birds on my body but now he has the opportunity to take a few perfect shots. As I’m posing for his pictures and trying not to move too much, I notice a yellow cab pull up to the dock. A man steps out who I recognize as the tall dark handsome man with Anna at the pool the other day. The one who didn’t look happy with her. I watch as he steps out and immediately goes to the other side of the door, opening it and bending down inside. When he stands up again, he’s holding Anna in his arms.

“Oh no!”

“What?” Aris says, lowering his phone. “Did you get shit on?”

Mamodou chuckles. “It does happen.”

“No, Aris, look!” I gesture to where Sebastian is holding Anna. “It’s Anna. The one I met at the pool the other day. She looks like she’s hurt. I’m sorry Mamodou, I need to go.”

Aris hands Mamodou his twenty dollars as he quickly takes his birds back.

“I hope your friend will be alright. If you need directions to a doctor or hospital you will come back, no? I will help get you where you need to go.”

“Thank you so much. Yes. I’ll be sure to find you. Thank you again!”

Mamodou waves at us both as we head towards my new friend.

“Anna!”

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