Roll Over Roly - Anne Fine [6]
“That's right,” agreed Rupert's father. “I'm sure he never in his whole long life said a cross word.”
“You ought to listen to his parrot,” Rupert said.
“Gordon? Why, what does Gordon say?”
Rupert was nowhere near as good as a parrot at copying voices. But still, he did his best.
“Quickly!” he yelled. “Jump! Faster, you dozy lump! Stop hanging about like an old lady! Get on with it! Go, go, go!”
His parents burst out laughing.
“Oh, well,” said his mother. “You have to remember that, till last week, Gordon's cage was sitting right beside Great Uncle Percy's bed.”
“In his room in that nursing home beside the railway line.”
“Overlooking the racetrack.”
Rupert's father was grinning. “It was probably the most exciting moment of the old soul's week.”
“Imagine,” said Rupert's mother, “if the nurse puts a bet on a horse for you.”
“And you can see it running past your window.”
“You'd probably start yelling too.”
“And set a bad example to your parrot.”
His mother imitated Great Uncle Percy getting excited. “Get on with it, you dozy lump! Faster! Go, go, go!”
His father joined in. “Quickly!” he shouted. “Stop hanging about like –”
Suddenly spotting Great Aunt Ada waving from a glistening window, he stopped short. “Well,” he said, somewhat embarrassed. “I'm sure you get the idea.”
Rupert's mouth had dropped open. “Horses!” he was saying. “Horses? Are you telling me Great Uncle Percy was just shouting at racehorses?”
“Not really shouting at them,” said his mother. “More just urging them on, really.”
“Encouraging them loudly.”
“Hoping they'd win.”
“See?” said his father. “Not really rude at all.”
“He called them ‘Absolute rubbish!’ when they didn't win,” Rupert insisted stubbornly. “That's pretty rude.”
“You'll have to teach Gordon better manners then,” his mother said.
“Because I'm afraid he's yours now.”
10 Good Manners Are Like Measles
RUPERT STARED AT his mother. “Mine? Great Uncle Percy has left Gordon to me?”
His mother sighed heavily. “So it seems.”
She didn't sound delighted.
Rupert considered. On the one hand, it would be interesting to have a parrot. Something to talk about at school. But, on the other hand, it would be horribly upsetting for Roly. He'd probably spend his whole time cowering under the bed. He'd be absolutely terrified.
And that would be an awful shame, now he was trying so hard. He was almost perfect at “Sit!” and “Be quiet!” and “Roll over!”. And they were just about to start on “Fetch!” together. It would be such a pity if all the rest of Roly's training was spoiled because of that rude parrot.
“Can I ask Great Aunt Ada if she'll keep Gordon for me? And I could see him when I come and visit her again.”
“Visit her again?”
“Yes,” Rupert said firmly. (After all, saying hello to a parrot couldn't take long. He'd still have time to learn to make kaleidoscopes. And, even when she'd taught him that, he wouldn't mind still coming. Now he looked back, he realized he'd really enjoyed his day with Great Aunt Ada.)
“Yes,” he repeated. “I'd really like to come again. I would look forward to it.”
His father put his hands on Rupert's shoulders and turned him round.
Great Aunt Ada was standing there.
“Go on then,” said his father. “Ask.”
“Please,” said Rupert. “Please, Great Aunt Ada, will you keep Gordon for me, and let me visit? Often?”
Great Aunt Ada looked pleased.
“I'd be delighted,” she told him. “If you think that's best for Gordon.”
“Oh yes,” said Rupert. “I do think
that's best for him. Especially if he has to learn good manners.”
As they strolled up the path into the house, to finish the cake and tell Gordon, Rupert explained to his parents.
“You see, good manners are like measles. To get them, you really have to go where they already are.”
He made a little face. “So it's probably better for me too, don't you think, to keep on visiting?”
His parents laughed. And Great Aunt Ada winked. Rupert tried winking back. But that was one of the things he wasn't very good at yet.