The Magpie

The Magpie

T HE MAGPIE WIGGLY-WALKS

along the top of the roof.

‘Oh, so you’re a magpie today, are you?’ I ask.

There is something about magpies – I cannot remember if they are good luck or bad. But I’ll take it as good luck that she’s thinking of me. The magpie stands for a moment at the edge of the corrugated roof of the block of flats opposite mine before taking to the air.

Pushkin is supping at his water bottle, lots of tiny nibbles and sips. The water bottle makes a pleasing bubbly noise.

‘Do you ever get lonely?’ I ask him, coming over to his cage.

He carries on supping. Not a fan of talking about his feelings is Pushkin. Which is ironic, given his namesake.

I sit on the dining table and peer in at him.

I put a finger between the bars of the cage. ‘Hey, buddy,’ I say, and I stroke the back of his magnificently long hair. He allows it. Lets out a few little squeaks.

‘You’ve got such a fine bouffant,’ I tell him. ‘Shame to waste it on human eyes.’

Whether he agrees or not, Pushkin does not let me know. Continues his fast breathing and then shuffles over to his food bowl for a nibble.

‘Perhaps we ought to find you a friend,’ I say, more to myself than to him. I take the last sup of my tea and, as it is ten minutes to nine, I collect my hat and keys. Those dead men’s shoes won’t sell themselves.

The lift doors open and there’re Thitima and Daniel, both flushed in the face. She’s wearing a tracksuit, he’s in shorts and a T-shirt and has an armband on that holds his smartphone.

‘Hi, Eddie!’ Daniel says, still short of breath.

‘Hello, you two,’ I say, and smile. ‘Been jogging?’

‘Personal best for both of us,’ he says. ‘We do a mile along the canal and back before work.’

The lift doors close and we begin descending.

‘Oh,’ Daniel and Thitima say in unison, and they look at the illuminated buttons, or lack thereof. ‘We forgot to press five.’ Daniel laughs and presses it now.

They are just fizzing with happiness.

‘Do either of you two know,’ I ask, ‘where one might procure a female guinea pig?’