CHEEP! Hello! My name is Snickers! What's Yours? I have a funny little story to tell you -- even though I don't talk! We won't let a little problem like THAT get in our way! I type really fast! So, ya wanna hear my story?

Once upon a time I lived in a shell. It was warm and cozy in there. I liked it a LOT. But one day the shell cracked and I had to come out. But there was this really nice lady there and she took very good care of me. She fed me warm baby cereal and held me close. But I was only out of my shell about 2 days, when this OTHER lady came to my house and she said she just HAD to have me for her little boy! And I would be called Snickers, cuz that's his favorite candy bar. That crazy lady came and saw me almost every day. And she fed me and took care of me too. I liked her - a LOT! I grew and I grew and one day, it was time for me to go live at that ladies house.

For some reason, it was a BIG secret, and when she came to get me it was DARK outside. I don't like dark too much. And it was VERY COLD -- and I don't like COLD at all! I am a tropical bird you know! But she was careful -- she brought a big warm insulated blanket to wrap around my BRAND NEW cage! And it was just a very short drive, so I was okay -- but I was kinda quiet! Well, when we got to my new home I thought I had hit PAY DIRT! There was a TREE in the middle of the living room! But that crazy lady would NOT let me on it! What's wrong with people? Bringing trees in the house and ya won't let the bird on it??? Geez! No, I hadda stay in my BRAND NEW cage -- that was okay. It had lotsa new stuff, and I kinda wanted to check it out anyway. The boy was already asleep when I got there, so I didn't get to meet him until the next morning . . .

. . . ohhhhh Boy! It was a busy day! He is a very GOOD boy -- and he LOVED me! Oh yes he did! He didn't know I was comin' and he was VERY happy to see me! He let me ride on his shoulder almost all day! I like that BOY! That night at dinner, I didn't have to eat YUCKY ol' baby cereal anymore! I got to have mashed potatoes and turkey, and stuff called stuffing! YUM! One thing I didn't like though. There was LOTS of visitors and they all kept calling me a name I didn't understand. "Cannible" . . . yea - that was it. Cannible! I still don't know why they called me that name! But they kept saying "Well, your a pretty boy - but you're a cannible!" I don't think they meant it nicely!

I have lived with this family now for about a year and a half -- and they are a good family. They love me -- but they think I'm stupid cuz I can't talk. They ask me all the time, "when are you gonna learn to speak ENGLISH stupid bird?" I think about a month ago they might have figured it out. I was just quietly sitting in my no longer brand new cage, when the Dad human came into my room. I didn't get up to greet him and he kinda wondered why -- but I had a secret! I was sittin' on an EGG! When he came close, I was afraid he might try to get my egg, so I hissed at him, just a little bit! And then I got up to show it off!!! Well, what's a mother gonna do? OH BOY! He was excited! He told everybody! And ya know what? They all said, "Well, I'll be DARNED! You're not a STUPID bird! You're a GIRL!" I was very PROUD! I didn't prance or strut, because I didn't want to get off my little egg -- but I was DEFINATELY proud! But I never got a baby. I don't know why. But I'm still proud! Ya know why??? Cuz I'm a GIRL! I'm not a cannible! :-)