Well, we really love Merlin but, to be safe, we clip his wings so that he won't be tempted to leave the safety of the office and fly into a lathe or passing motor car. As we're going on holiday soon (Yay, smiles and cheers) I'd been extending the due date for wing clipping. While we're away visiting family Merlin will be staying with his brother Phoenix and a weird hyperactive bird, I forget his name but I call him Cardinal.
After two exciting episodes of flying across the office and scaring the crunchies out of his "parents" I realised ( with much prodding from the love of my life) that the time had come to visit the vet and have those wings disabled.
We were the only ones there and went straight through to the surgery, I put the cage on to the operating table, Merlin eyed the vet and the scissors and thought "Aye,aye".
As I opened the cage door, with a deep breath and a birdy Tally Ho Merlin flew out of the cage, out of the surgery, across the waiting room and out of the door.
Yikes Rowland's going to kill me!
I don't wear heels every day but wouldn't you know, this was one of those days. It's amazing how fast you can run in them..
Merlin flew across the road and then made a graceful arc, returning to our side and gently landing on the driveway a few doors down. I put my hand down, he hopped on and then buried his head into my chest. He has a little sound he makes, a sort of "Choo,choo" which basically means "Shit, did you see that?", he didn't say a word. I think it was a mixture of exhileration and fear, I imagine a bungi jump leaves you feeling that way, "Wow, amazing but I'll never do it again"
When we walked back inside Merlin wouldn't let go of my blouse, I was his Terra Firma and he wasn't leaving again.
So, wings are clipped, nails trimmed and Merlin is feeling quite manly after almost soaring up into the clouds.What a tale he'll have to tell when he goes visiting. I'm just happy the love of my life didn't have to kill me.
Oh sweet child of mine...
5 years ago
