by Ryszard Krasowski

Created on: July 16, 2009

KUBA (pronounce Cooba)

Kuba was neither our acquaint nor a friend nor even a cousin but despite all we knew that sooner or later he would show up. For some time we were expecting his arrival but we didn't know that it would be so soon.

He looked around with an excitement and from time to time emitted an inarticulate sound. Although it was indistinctive it sounded to me as an approval. I was proud that our house made such an impression on him but I didn't want to ask any questions. After all we had just met and I didn't want him to get the impression that I was so inquisitive.

I showed him around the house boasting our well being and I told him that he might stay with us if it would be his desire. First of all I wanted to convince him that he shouldn't be afraid of anything and he should feel safe with us.

Kuba tried to say something in his language but I didn't know what he meant. We were looking at each other probably thinking the same thing: Why, the hell, didn't you learn foreign languages we would understand each other now. To tell the truth I knew a few words in different languages but the one he was using didn't make any sense to me and probably he didn't understand what I was saying to him either. I gave up my linguistic show leaving Kuba alone and giving him a chance to think over a new situation and letting him decide about his future.

I sat down comfortably on a sofa and pretending that I found something interesting on TV, I watched Kuba's behavior. He was sitting motionless, starring at the wall. I don't know what he was thinking about but after half an hour of silence I gave up and I approached him.

"Kuba, whether you want to or don't want, whether you like it or not, I have made my mind you are staying with us, period," I said.

Kuba raised his head, looked straight into my eyes and uttered a faint sound: "Pleek."

"I don't know what you are thinking about and what this yours 'pleek' means, but I presume that you are expressing your approval. So that's it. The die is cast. You have become a member of our family. You have a roof above your head. You have a corner of your own. You have something to drink and eat But if for some reason you don't like it here the door is open. What do you think?"

Kuba moved his head to the left and than to the right, ruffled his feathers and pooped.

"Oh, come on, Kuba! I am opening my heart to you and this is the way you treat me?! Is this a way you seal our agreement?!"

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