Eksasperating

My lovebird and I have a complicated relationship. I often let him out while I'm home alone, and he, wings unclipped, flies to his perch, then does little preening and looking around, and once he determines that I'm the only member of his flock who's around, he ultimately,usually, settles on my shoulders as I write, studying me and the room, lost in his own thoughts (or lack thereof). Sort of like Poe's Raven, but in a good way. Calming and sometimes inspirational, a sort of feathered muse. And like Poe's raven, he speaks, sometimes in very loud manner, sometimes a quiet affectionate chirring sound, or simply clicking his beak.

Mostly, then, we get along, and value each other's company.

But he definitely has a mind of his own. Sometimes he wants attention, a demand I usually fulfill by talking with him, saying anything, calling him names and so on. Sometimes he wants more, and will nibble at my ear or walk down my arm and nip at my hand, cocking his head and chirping at me until I focus solely on him. Fortunately I rarely use a pen or pencil, because he has been known to grab said writing instrument and drop it on the floor.

Yesterday, though, he took his performance to a new height -- or depth. Me being lost in thought and writing, he decided he had enough. He dropped onto the keyboard and, using his Swiss-army-knife of a hooked bill beak, he pried the "ecks" button (you know, that letter that looks like a cross on its side) and pulled it off, then flew away with it. I yelled, he dropped it, and settled on the kitchen faucet. From there he looked at me, not remorseful, simply waiting for me to calm down so he could return to my shoulder, knowing that I realize it's useless to hold a grudge against him. He simply is what he is.

But I can't get the letter back in place, though I have learned to make it work by simply pushing down on the white bump where the key was. xxxxx. Not nearly so smooth an operation as pressing a key.

I'm just glad he didn't go for the "e" but settled for a much more rarely used letter.

BTW, he is on my shoulder as I type this, quiet as the proverbial mouse, with his back to the keyboard, either lost in thought or planning some other shenanigan.