said Terrance Lewellen. “No bird in the world is worth more than a hundred.” It was Friday evening, but we were still in our respective offices talking on our respective-but-disparate phones. Mine doesn’t have a visual image, but the thought occurred to me that Terrance’s might, and it provoked an automatic reaction. Before I knew it, I was smoothing my hair and cranking up a smile. “You asshole,” I mumbled to myself, since only one of those would be vain and stupid enough to primp for Terrance Lewellen. “What?” he asked. “Nothing,” I replied. “Didn’t you tell me that a pair of macaws is worth more than the sum of two individuals? You’re getting a pair when you get Perigee back, since Colloquy is so miserable, maybe even endangered, without her mate.” “Yeah, but even a pair, even the only pair, isn’t worth six hundred thou.” “There is a woman’s life at stake.” “Okay, okay. I’ll offer Brown four hundred to get this business over with and to make Colloquy happy again, but it’s my top offer.
