[Hogwarts Between] Cyrus Goes Shopping

[Liz Trumitch]

> > > > > > > "Oh, they're so so cute!" said Cyrus admiringly.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > "Smart too.  Would you like me to bring one out, then, mate?"
> > > > > > the saleslady asks.
> > > > >
> > > > > "Uh... sure, I guess so," replied Cyrus.
> > > >
> > > > "They are awfully cute," said Eugene, as the sales clerk was
> > > > extracting one of the owls from its cage.  "But I'm not sure a
> > > > foreign species would be a good idea if you're going to use it
> > > > for letters home, son.  If one of the local birdwatchers spots
> > > > it, it might draw too much attention.  Old Mrs. McClanahan just
> > > > down the road from us is keen, I believe."
> > >
> > > "Aw, no, I mean, they've been in the Isles a hundred years now.
> > > They're not so rare as that," she smiled, and lifted a little puffy
> > > owl up on her arm.  With her free hand she draped a cloth over Cyrus's
> > > arm.  "Here now, hold your arm up and he'll walk right over."
> >
> > Cyrus gingerly took the owl, then jumped and nearly threw it off when a
> > great racket started coming from a small cage near the back of the store.
> > A little owl was hooting shrilly, fluttering all around the cage and
> > knocking against the wire bars. The cage teetered precariously on a
> > narrow shelf, and looked about to fall.
>
> Eugene looked around, startled.  "That little fellow looks pretty
> upset.  Scops owl, isn't it?" he asked the sales clerk.

The clerk laughed.  "Yessir - looks like he wants some attention."
She reached up, stood on her toes, and steadied the cage.  "Stop that,
now!  That's not proper!" she told the owl.