Best Work Day                     

                                                                     At Parrot Mountain, Tennessee

                                                                                 By Elise K

       I was so excited to come to Parrot Mountain, I always am since I work here, but today it is my Birthday!  I went to the entrance of Parrot Mountain, and got into the shelter by my friend Melissa, who was my best friend at Parrot Mountain because we came in to start our work on the same exact day, and we were being trained together.  We have always been some of the work helpers for other people to hold the parrots and to show them how to put them on your fingers or hands. Melissa told me happy birthday and everyone one else who knew that it was my birthday, did also.  We like to help put the birds inside once the shelter has closed.  I have always had fun doing this job and I found this place when I came here in the summer, when I was going to be  a 5th grader the next school year. Me and my family went to Tennessee and I requested to fo to Parrot Mountain and I was so happy here that I didn’t even want to leave and I thought to myself, “Maybe I can come back someday and work here!”   I am pretty sure Melissa has always had a great time too because we always talk and laugh during the day.

      Melissa always answered questions that I needed an answer for, and I always did the same thing for her.  One day I asked her this, “Melissa?” and she asked what I needed.  

      “Someone over here would like to hold a parrot, but I need to go for my lunch break because I am already 8 minutes late and you know that we don’t actually have that much time to eat, so could you go and please help them?”

     “Sure, I will be happy to help you, and I hope that you have a good lunch!”

      Then, I went to the employees break area and sat down with some of my other friends that I met at Parrot Mountain.  They all said Happy Birthday to me too, and surprised me with a whole party with all of my friends!  I really enjoy working with the parrots, so when I go to break I feel a little bit sad, but I really was happy today especially because it was my birthday, but also that everyone had took the time to set up a party, all just for me.  

       I am usually sad that I have to go away from the parrots because I work with them everyday, and I think that it is very fun.  Today though, it was still awesome even if I didn’t get to work with them every second of the day, because it was my birthday!!!

       They brought me a cake with a bunch of icing parrots on the side and said, “Happy Birthday Elise!”  This was honestly probably turning out to be the best day at work ever!  I had a blast, and I was so excited also that I was at Parrot Mountain because I love parrots so much, that I didn’t want a day off, but I wanted to celebrate my birthday with all of my friends and be with all of the parrots!

        After we had eaten all of the cake, and treats, I went back to the bird sanctuary where all of the visitors can see and hold the parrots.  Then, apparently Melissa had gone on the loudspeaker and told everyone that it was my birthday and that after my lunch break, that everyone should surprise me and sing Happy Birthday to me!  So the second I walked back out, the whole park started singing!  This was definitely the BEST DAY EVER!!!  

       Once everybody was done singing and clapping, Melissa told me to come to the loud speaker and say something.  I was a little bit nervous, but I was confident on how Melissa was encouraging me, so I started talking about how thankful I was to be at Parrot Mountain on my birthday, and thanking everyone for singing for me.  Then everybody cheered again when I was finished.  

       After many hours of joy and fun, I was getting kind of tired because of working all of this wonderful cool day, and celebrating my birthday, but my shift was coming to an end so I drove home.  

                                                                  IT WAS THE BEST DAY EVER!!!