Bunny Bonanza (Must Love Pets #3) by Saadia Faruqi

Author:Saadia Faruqi
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Scholastic Inc.

* * *

“I don’t like this,” London tells us.

She’s standing near Pixie’s cage, glaring at the bird like it is her mortal enemy. Jake’s been gone for half an hour, and we’ve been debating what to do the entire time. Doc still hasn’t emerged from his carrier, so his training is on hold. I can hear Amir and Dada Jee talking loudly in the living room, which doesn’t help the noise level much.

Plus, Pixie keeps calling out random phrases in her cackling voice, like she’s trying to get us to play with her. “Pretty bird! Come here! What’re you doing? Who’s a pretty bird?”

We are definitely a noisy bunch. I wonder how Mama ever gets any work done, even if her office is all the way in the back of the house.

I finally decide to do something instead of just standing around. I open Pixie’s cage and place my hand sideways in front of the door, like Jake did the day before. “Come on, then,” I whisper to Pixie. “Come out, pretty bird.”

“Ack! What are you doing?” London squawks, taking a few steps back.

I don’t turn around, even though I’m irritated. “What do you have against Pixie?” I ask, but my tone is soft. If there’s anything I’ve learned from this pet-sitting business, it’s that animals understand tone. If you don’t want an animal to freak out, you have to stay calm.

London is the opposite of calm right now. “Nothing!” she says shakily. “But I don’t think you should let the bird out. You don’t know anything about it. It could be dangerous.”

Now I do turn and look at her. “Dangerous? It’s literally tiny, London.”

“Yes, but it has claws. And wings.”

Pixie steps out of her cage and onto my finger. I try to stay still because this is the most awesome thing I could have imagined. Her little claws press into my finger, and she balances until she’s steady.

A bird. Is balancing. On my hand.

I want to squeal, but I don’t. Barely.

Olivia moves to stand right next to me. “Yeah, it’s no big deal. Pixie’s a darling.” She stretches a hand to take her. I resist, but she adds, “It’s okay, Pixie knows me best.”

I keep my hand steady. “I know, but I got her.” Ugh, I sound whiny, but I can’t help it. I want Pixie to stay on my finger. I want her to talk to me and let me pet her. “You can hold her anytime, Olivia. She lives in your house.”

“That’s true. But Jake doesn’t like me touching her. He says I’m too hyper.”

I don’t say anything. I turn a little away from her, and she leans forward, putting a sideways hand next to mine. “Come, Pixie!”

“Stop, Olivia!”

“OMG, why are you fighting!” London yells.

“Hush, little baby!” Pixie yells. She starts to flap her wings over and over. The movement is so quick it sounds almost like buzzing.

London lets out a screech.

That does it. Pixie takes off from my finger and flies toward the ceiling fan. I thank the universe that the fan isn’t on because that would spell disaster.

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