Then took the next step...
Parrots...
Could they really be this clever?
But judging by what they'd just seen...
Parrots...
Or rather, that parrot really was that clever.
"...That's changed how I think about parrots."
"It's changed how I think about them, too..."
"Me too."
"I have parrots at home, too."
"Two of them."
"I always thought they were really clever..."
"But compared to that parrot..."
"They don't seem quite so clever after all..."
"My parrots only squawk."
"How can parrots be so different?"
"Maybe it was just a coincidence."
Xiao Xiao smiled.
"But I'd rather believe that the little parrot sensed how I felt and made my wish come true."
"That would be such a coincidence."
The others actually leaned more toward Xiao Xiao's explanation, too.
Besides...
It was a happier thought.
Why not believe it?
"Next time, I'm going to make sure I show just how much I love feathers."
Someone muttered.
"Any little parrot can sense what I want and make my wish come true."
"That little parrot would be so busy."
Someone laughed.
So many people wanted the little parrot to make their wishes come true.
"Any other questions?"
Xiao Xiao once again made it clear that he was ready to leave.
Everyone looked at one another.
They'd probably asked...
Everything they wanted to know.
"Then I'll be off."
Xiao Xiao smiled.
"Sorry for the trouble."
Someone looked embarrassed.
Their curiosity had kept the young man there for quite a while.
"It's all right."
Xiao Xiao's lips curved up. "I wanted to show off the gift the little parrot gave me, too."
He gave the feather in his hand a slight wave.
The others stared blankly for a moment.
Then some of them chuckled.