Me (Alex) and my family had recently moved to Pennsylvania. I only have three members in my family: my mom, my dad, and my brother, Landon. But my dad always is  traveling for work.

“We got the apartment at a super cheap price. People said someone had disappeared from here. Also, fun news: this house belonged to one of our oldest ancestors,” Mom chuckled.

“That’s cool,” I responded.

When we entered the apartment, I got to be the first one to pick my bedroom! I ran to the one with a balcony attached. The view was amazing. I could see the pool, the birds flying in the air, and a pet store! I had a lot of decorations to put in my room. First, I put up the LED lights. Then I put all my books on their shelves. But when I moved the shelves a little, I saw writing.

I don’t know why, but people say I’m gifted. I’m super good at math, and I know things that no one ever even taught me. Like, I automatically knew how to crochet and  can solve  high school algebra even though I’m only in 2nd grade! I also know how to speak several languages. I can notice and see things other people can’t.

Anyways, it read: “Please don’t trap me. Otherwise, karma will come upon you someday—if it’s not you, then your ancestors will come upon me.”

What?! What did this person mean? But I couldn’t ignore this. Not this time. Whoever wrote this was my ancestors’ enemy. What was this person going to do to me and my family? Or is this even real? Am I imagining things?

I ran up to Landon and said, “Landon, something is not right about this house—or maybe just my bedroom. I can see hidden messages, and someone or something is coming for us. To hurt us.”

“What! Oh no! I saw it too. This house is haunted. There are monsters everywhere,” he said sarcastically.

“Stop. This is serious! I’m not joking. Remember how my eye doctor told me I have enigmatic eyes? She couldn’t tell what color they were—they kept changing. She couldn’t read my eyes. They were unreadable.”

“Fine, bossy pants. Let’s go see where it’s written.”

“Look, see? Right here—it’s written here.”

“I don’t see anything. You’re delusional.”

“What? But remember I told you I have inscrutable eyes and that I can see things other people can’t.”

“I get it. Calm down. Please go ask Mom. Don’t bother me—I’m gaming.”

“Fine. But don’t tell me I didn’t warn you if anything happens!”

I couldn’t believe he never listens to me, even if he knows I’m right. I had to tell someone about this. I went back to my room, even though I was really scared. What if something happened? I didn’t know when danger could come. I had to get information about this as fast as possible. I couldn’t stay there knowing this.

“Mom, can you drop me at the public library?” I asked.

“Sure, I can drop you there and then pick you up after a while,” she told me.

Once we got there, I immediately started researching.

“Excuse me, do you have any books about myths or info about previous house owners writing messages? It’s actually a serious crisis.”

“What exactly is this crisis?” the librarian asked.

“Well, I recently moved to an apartment around here. We got it at an extremely cheap price. Not only that, but when I was putting my stuff in my room, I found invisible writing—and not the kind that’s easy to read. I’m the only one who can see it.”

“Oh my, that is weird. If you don’t mind me asking, where exactly is your house?”

“I live on the third floor of the apartment on Avenue Street. I just moved in two days ago.”

“Oh… I just sold my house on that floor. I think I might have sold it to your family.”

“Why exactly did you sell your house? It’s almost like royalty.”

“I loved that house, but it was dangerous there.”

“What do I do?”

“Please promise me that you won’t tell anyone what I’m about to say.”

“Okay, I promise.”

“I have lived there for 399 years.”

“What?! How is that even possible?”

“I know. Do you know Juan Ponce de Leon—the person who was trying to find a magic fountain and never found it?”

“Yeah, I know him.”

“I stole that fountain. And I am really old, you know. I’m 450 years old.”

“But thanks to that magic fountain, I look young and am healthy.”

“Just tell me—what’s the deal with the house I live in?”

“Well, you see, ever since I stole that magic fountain, weird things have happened.”

“Like what?”

“That magic fountain contained dangerous chemicals. And it spread everywhere. I did an experiment and it contained someone’s last words.”

“What does that mean?”

“That means someone made the fountain for a reason—so someone would hear them.”

“I don’t know who this person is or where they came from, but I know they fought in a big war and were trapped by someone between 1500–1700.”

“How does the magic fountain have anything to do with the message written on my wall?”

“The magic fountain has the same words as your house—the exact same words.”

“Please tell me what to do. How do I protect my family and myself?”

“There are two ways. Either you can make a sacrifice—someone from your family or yourself. Or you can find the parrot. There’s a myth that a parrot can save your family or anyone.”

“I think I’ll go with the parrot. But how exactly do I find it? The parrot could be anywhere, right?”

“There is a book about this parrot—where to find it and what it looks like. I’ll show it to you. Only a certain person can call this parrot.”

“Okay, let’s take a look at this book of yours. Wow, it’s amazing. The parrot is so beautiful.”

“Yes, that’s true. But let’s focus on the details. It says that if the right person says these words, then the parrot will come when no one else is around. We’ll have to be patient. The parrot can come anytime after you say the words.”

“Okay, what do I say? Does it say somewhere in the book, or are you telling me?”

“Wait, let me find it. I don’t remember it exactly. Okay, read this:

To find the golden parrot, I have to have the right,
The right to be one that defends the people then.
When the time comes, I have to be the one
To defend the people then.
With the courage I have, I ask you, the golden parrot, to arise.

“Did I say it right? But… I don’t think I’m the one to be saying this.”

“Wait a second, Alex. It says here that the person’s name means ‘defender of the people.’ What does your name mean, Alex?”

“My name means… Oh wait! I just remembered—my mom told me that my name might sound old-fashioned, but it means ‘defender of the people’!”

“This is shocking news! You have to stay here tonight. Maybe the parrot will come.”

“Honey, we have to go now. It’s getting very late,” Mom called.

“Can I stay for a sleepover with my friend here? Please?” I begged.

“But I don’t know who this friend of yours is!”

“Mom please!.” I begged.

“Fine, but if you have any problems, just let me know and I’ll pick you up.”

“Okay, sounds good.”

“So what do we do now? Do we just wait for the parrot or what?”

“Well, if the parrot comes, then it will come at 12:00. So we should start preparing.”

“Okay. But what’s your name?”

“My name is Lyra.”

“Nice. So how do we prepare?”

“We have to get the book and a quiet space. How about you use the closet with the open window? I’ll be outside.”

“Okay, sounds good. I have the book. Bye.”

“Good luck.”

As soon as I went inside, I was so nervous. What if it didn’t come?

Okay, it’s time to say it:

“To find the golden parrot, I have to have the right.
The right to be one that defends the people then.
When the time comes, I have to be the one
To defend the people then.
With the courage I have, I ask you, the golden parrot, to arise.”

Nothing happened. I tried it again and again. But I didn’t give up.

All of a sudden, I said it with all my might—I screamed. There was a golden hole in front of me. Out of that came the golden parrot!

I was shocked. How?

“Are you Alex, the defender of the people?” the parrot asked.

“I am Alex, and I think I am the defender of the people.”

“If that is true, then what do you desire?”

“I want to know who is after my family and where they are.”

“It is found. Her name is Lyra. She is plotting to capture you and then your family.”

“What?! But she helped me find you!”

“She is trying to find me. She is a witch.”

“How do I stop her?”

“The only way is to trap her in this bottle. Now go outside and unlock this. Remember, she has powers too and gets really angry really fast. But don’t worry—I will be with you invisibly.”

“Okay.”

“Lyra, I didn’t find the golden parrot.”

“What?! How dare you! I asked you one thing!”

“Excuse me, you can’t talk to me like that.”

As soon as she began levitating in the air, I trapped her in the bottle. I did it.

That was the end, I guess.

“Golden Parrot, are you there?”

“Yes, Alex. I am here. I am now yours. My name is Aurelius, but you may call me Mango. After I leave this library, I will turn into a normal parrot. But please take care of me, and don’t forget my name and begin naming me random things.”

After that day, Mango never left my side. My whole life changed. Mango helped me with everything. Even if he wasn’t a golden parrot anymore, he had all the qualities of one.

The End