Paradisebirds Polly- Direct

“My name is Polly,” the bird continued. “I remember everyone who ever visited me. You are Juniper May Chen. You came here once before, when you were three. You were wearing yellow boots and you cried because your balloon flew into the sky. I watched you. I remembered.”

“How are you talking?” Juniper whispered.

That was not one of her three hundred phrases. Juniper was sure of it. Paradisebirds Polly-

Polly’s gears whirred softly.

On the last night of summer, Juniper turned the crank one final time. Polly sang all six songs. She told all three hundred phrases. And then, as the first hint of autumn touched the air, she spoke something new. “My name is Polly,” the bird continued

That wasn’t possible. Juniper didn’t remember that day at all. But her mother had mentioned yellow boots once. Just once.

“Where do you go?” her mother asked, voice cracking. You came here once before, when you were three

But that was forty years ago.