Yolanda was not sure how she was convinced to keep so many plants for all of five seconds before she remembered her younger cousin Ace in the house. In echanhge for some flowers hummingbirds liked, Ace took to weeding as one of his chores and he actually didn’t complain. Yolanda watched herself pull a weed from the soil, and looked over as Ace emerged, her snake Seiryuu coiled about his shoulders lazily. Seiryuu was a blue morph of snake, with yellow accents on his side scales, and the ball python was otherwise a genetic anomaly for it. Yolie suspected he might be a genetic whom knew what, but seeing Avce finally accepot a reptile was… Nice. Ace approached, eyes wide and innocent as he looked at his diury cousin,and swallowed.

“Does Seiryuu eat birds?” Ace asked. Yolanda blinked.

“Seiryuu eats rats. Well. I getReptilinks online and scent them a tiny bit with African Softfur oil but that’s because he’s a fussy eater for a snake. And a rescue. Why?” Yolanda asked, composting the last weed. Ace crept closer.

“Can I get a pet bird?” It was asked as the most innocent question in the world and Yolanda had to pause and process that he was serious before considering. Mosy kids wanted a dog or cat or even hamsters. Sometimes fish or some reptiles. A bird? Then again… Yolanda sighed.He HAD just tuirned fifteen.

“Birds take a lot of work. Wjat kind were you considering?” Yolanda asked. Ace blinked slowly.

“Uhm… Oh. A macar maybe? Or… Uhm… Maybe a chiocken?” Ace blinked. Yolanda sighed.

“Macaws can be tricky to find niceversions. Achicken is messy and will want room to roam. Wait, why a chicken?” Yolanda asked, faltering. Ace blinked slowly, as iof this were obvious.

“Hugs. And maybe eggs. Hen.” Acesaid. Yolanda paused.

“Not...Something smaller like a cockatiel or Budgie?” Yolie asked. Ace stared at her impassively, blinking.

“I can’t cuddle a small biurd easily. And if they get loose and fly they might be more prone to getting hurt. I’ll take good care of a bird, I…” Ace fidgeted and Yolanda sighed.

“I think… You should do research first. Find a speciues you really want, and research the care.” Yolanda offered. Ace’sface scrunched up.

“Idon’t think I can keep a crow in this state.” Ace huffed. Yolanda nearly choked on air.

“I think you’d need to check with the DNR to ask that.” Yolanda smiled.Ace huiffed, sulking at that.

“I.. I’m responsible..” He tried. Ace said it as if afraid to be beaten or insulted. He was still timid. Yolanda sighed. Valents had seriously traumatized her cousin, and Yolanda reached out, opulling him into a hug.

“I klnow you are Ace. You do your chores and without asking. You excel in schoolwork too. You’re clever. What they worry about is what you do. The animsal’s safety and well being.” Yolanda explained, taking Seiyuu gently to show him. “It’s like some snakes. They don’t like leaving the wild. Opr keeping alligators. But crows are smart right?” Yolanda hummed.

“You can’t own a crow but I do hear you can befriend crows. You can’t own one but you can set up a bird bath. The squirrels might compete but we can leave nuts for them – large unsalted kinds they like. And crows will sometimes learn safepeople whom offer treats. We can befrioend neighborhood crowsif you like while you research apet.”

“Befrioend crows?” Ace looked up in excitement. Yolanda nodded.

“And we’ll see if there’s any volunteer programs you can enter this or next year at a wildlife rescue. They get more than birds but…” A shrug. Ace nodded, a small smile on his face before he paused.

“You aren’t mad? Are you sure?” Ace asked. “I.. I just…” He looked down instantly, and Yolanda reached, petting her cousin’s hair.

“Hey. I get it. I like the fact you love biurds so much. And you shouldn’t ber afraid to tyell me things or ask me things. I want you to study so you know what you can handle, what I can help with, what’s safe, and be absolutely sure. I give options because I know you want birds in your life. I’m not trying to hurt you.” Yolanda smilked, and Ace relaxed, nodding.

“I… I’lldo my research. And… You promise? We can befriend the local crows?” Ace asked. Yolanda nodded, and rose.

“We’ll go to the hardware and garden stores today for supplies. Organix food store too. I think a place sells peanuts by the sack you can roast at home, so…” Yolanda motioned, Ace lighting upo before hurrying one confused ball python into the house. Yolanda sighed,m and smikled after hime. She was…. Glad Ace was reexcited.