A story in 60 seconds
“All it takes is a buck,” the carnival barker shouted to the passing fairgoers. “To have the parrot tell your luck.”
An elderly couple stopped. The man nudged his wife.
The barker twisted his mustache and grinned. “Come right up, folks. Don’t be shy. The parrot, here, won’t hurt a fly. For just five buckeroos, this magical bird will tell you what day will be the luckiest of your life.”
“Five dollars?” the man asked. “Well, what do you think, Debra?”
“Oh, Charles, why not; we’re at the carnival after all.”
“But I already know the luckiest day of my life — October 23, 1971. Our wedding day.”
She rolled her eyes. “Are you going to pay the man or what?”
The carnival barker watched eagerly as the man fished out his wallet and handed over a crisp five-dollar bill. He grabbed it and slipped the money through a narrow gap in the cage.
With its lime green feathers and sloped tangerine beak, the parrot began to screech and bob its head. “February 14, 2029,” the bird squawked. “February 14, 2029.”
A boy and his father approached next.
“Dare to look into the future?” the carnival barker asked. “It’s just five dollars.”
The dad shrugged. He pulled out a wad of bills and handed one to his son.
“Alright, now give it to the man.”
The boy handed it over shyly.
“December 28, 2070. December 28, 2070,” the bird hooted.
“Looks like you have to wait a few years, bud,” his dad chided, patting his son on the back. The boy just frowned and clutched his stuffed walrus.
A few hours later, the fair was coming to a close. While cleaning up, the barker noticed a five-dollar bill lying on the ground near his booth. He picked it up, paused, considered, then shoved it into the parrot’s cage. The bird cocked its head and screeched. “August 5, 2024. August 5, 2024.”
But that’s today, the barker thought to himself. I need to play the lotto! The barker ran to his car and sped out of the parking lot. Unfortunately, he didn’t see the tractor-trailer barreling down the road. Not such a lucky parrot after all.
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