A lady who was very lonesome bought a parrot from a pet store, complete with cage. Before purchasing it she got a guarantee that the parrot would talk. She took the parrot home.

A lady who was very lonesome bought a parrot from a pet store, complete with a cage. Before purchasing it, she got a firm guarantee from the shop owner that the parrot would talk.

She took the parrot home, set up the cage, and eagerly waited for it to say something. But the parrot just sat there, staring at her with its beady eyes.

After a whole day of silence, the lady marched back to the pet store.

"Excuse me!" she said to the shopkeeper. "This parrot hasn’t said a single word!"

"Ah," said the shopkeeper, nodding knowingly. "He just needs a little encouragement. Try putting a mirror in the cage. Parrots love to see themselves—it gets them talking!"

So the lady bought a mirror, placed it in the cage, and waited. The parrot admired its reflection, fluffed its feathers—but still didn’t say a word.

Frustrated, she returned to the store the next day.

"Still nothing!" she huffed.

"Try a ladder," suggested the shopkeeper. "Parrots love climbing. It stimulates their little brains!"

So she bought a tiny ladder and placed it in the cage. The parrot climbed up and down, up and down—but still didn’t speak.

By the third day, she stormed back into the shop.

"Alright, what else?" she demanded.

"Maybe a swing," the shopkeeper suggested. "Parrots enjoy a good swing—it might get him talking!"

So she bought a swing, hung it in the cage, and watched as the parrot swung back and forth like a tiny feathery daredevil. But still—not a single word.

Then, on the fourth day, she woke up to find the parrot lying on the bottom of the cage, barely breathing.

Panicking, she rushed to him. "Polly! Speak to me!"

With his last bit of energy, the parrot weakly opened one eye and whispered, "Don't they... sell... food at that pet store?"