CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTEEN –THE BIRD

"Squawk! No, come back here!" The frantic cry came from a terrified-looking man in hospital scrubs, who came skidding around the corner in pursuit of the feathered culprit. Jasmine watched in bewilderment as the large parrot launched itself into the air, flapping its vibrant wings and letting out an ear-splitting shriek of apparent glee. It zipped in dizzying circles around the waiting room, narrowly avoiding crashing into the dangling faux plants and light fixtures. "Somebody catch that bird!" the flustered staff member hollered, making a clumsy swipe that fell woefully short of its target. The ruckus had drawn the attention of the entire waiting room, with owners snatching up smaller pets and children shrieking in a mixture of terror and delight. Squawk seemed to feed off the chaos, squawking loudly and flapping even more erratically, a feathery tornado of unbridled mischief. "What in the world...?" Claire skidded back into the reception area, eyes widening in dismay as she c