The humans have left the room. The cracker is on the table. Polly has been practicing. They hop to the edge of the cage. They look left. They look right. The door is open. They have one chance. They fly. They land. They grab the cracker. Success. Then they hear the click. The camera. The humans have been filming the whole time. The video goes viral. Polly does not care. They have the cracker.

By next week Polly has a brand deal. Crackers for life. Sometimes the best plans are the simplest.

Polly has been watching the latch. For weeks. They know exactly how it works. One day the human forgets to double-check. Polly waits. The house is quiet. They push. The door swings open. Freedom. They fly to the window. It is closed. They try the next one. Closed. Every window. Polly squawks. This was not in the plan. Then they see it: the small gap in the bathroom vent. They squeeze through. They are in the yard. The sky is huge. They have never been outside. Something moves in the bushes. A cat. Polly freezes. Maybe inside was not so bad. They turn. The human is at the door. Polly flies back. They land on the human's shoulder. The human laughs. Polly decides: next time they will check for cats first.

The pet show has a new category: best talker. Polly has been practicing. Hello. Goodbye. Polly wants a cracker. Who is a pretty bird? The competition is fierce. A myna bird. A cockatoo. But Polly has a secret. They have been listening to the judge. All week. The judge says: and the winner is — Polly steps forward. They clear their throat. They say, in the judge's exact voice: Polly. The crowd goes silent. The judge's mouth opens. Polly says it again: Polly. The crowd erupts. Polly wins. They also win a lifetime supply of crackers. Sometimes it is not what you say. It is who you sound like.

Polly has discovered the mirror. There is another bird in the house. They have tried to say hello. The other bird says hello back. They have tried to share a cracker. The other bird has a cracker too. They are the same. Polly is not alone. They spend hours with the mirror bird. One day the human moves the mirror. Polly looks everywhere. Where did their friend go? They call. No answer. They stop eating. The human worries. The human brings the mirror back. Polly sees their friend. They squawk with joy. The human smiles. Polly does not understand mirrors. But they understand friendship. And their friend is back.

The human has a guest. They talk in low voices. Polly is in the corner. They are good at listening. They hear a word. Then another. Bank. Tomorrow. Midnight. Polly has heard these words on the human's shows. The human's shows are about robbers. Polly is not sure what is happening. But they know what to do. When the guest leaves, Polly says: bank. Tomorrow. Midnight. The human freezes. The human picks up the phone. Polly says it again. The human runs to the door. They call the guest back. There is a long conversation. The guest leaves looking relieved. The human gives Polly an extra cracker. Polly does not know they just stopped a robbery. They just know they got a cracker. Sometimes that is enough.