Before Dylan was born
Before you were born, a parrot came to live at the house. Her name was Pasquale. Parrots need a lot of space and they can’t just live in a small cage, so Papa and Mama built her an aviary in the yard — a big outdoor enclosure where she could spread out and be a parrot. Papa figured out the lumber and the roof and all the parts it needed. It took a few weekends to get it right.
Pasquale moved in. She had strong opinions about things, the way parrots do. She learned the routines of the house: when the food came, when things got quiet, when someone walked past. She’s still there.