Page 8 of The Cocky for Cody (Mulligan’s Mill)

I wasn’t the world traveler he was, resourceful and brave and able to survive any predicament the world threw at him. I was wondering why I’d ever decided to leave the safety of my nook in Mulligan’s Mill… why on earth I’d thought I could take on an adventure like Cody could. Then from above—

“ Squark! What’s the matter princess? Stub your toe on a rock?”

I looked up, and there on a branch above me was Kevin.

I’d never been so happy to see that sadistic little fucker. “Kevin! Cody’s had a fall. I need help!”

Kevin’s usual sarcastic, abusive tone shifted instantly. “What? What’s happened to Cody? What have you done to him?”

I pointed down the embankment.

Immediately Kevin spread his wings and swooped down to Cody.

I followed, slipping and sliding back down the hill.

By the time I reached them, Kevin was sitting on Cody’s chest, swaying back and forth and bobbing his head up and down in a panic. “Cody! Cody! Wake up!” He looked at me and flared his head feathers furiously. “What did you do? Did you murder him? Murderer! Squark! Murderer!”

“No, I didn’t touch him. He slipped. He was taking photos and he slipped. Kevin, I know you and I have had our differences, but I need your help right now. You need to get help! You need to find someone to come and help us!”

“Find someone? Like who?”

“A doctor. The police.” I suddenly remembered—“Bazza! Do you know who Bazza is?”

“Of course I do. Squark! ”

“Kevin, you need to find Bazza! Go find Bazza!”

With a puff of his chest and a shimmer of feathers that reminded me of Aunt Bea about to save the day, Kevin screeched and soared into the sky.

I watched him disappear into the distance, then rested Cody’s head in my lap.

“It’s okay, babe,” I murmured. “Help will be coming soon. I hope. Unless Kevin’s about to play another one of his tricks on us.

In which case we’re probably gonna die out here.

Which reminds me…” I reached into his backpack again.

“I should probably reapply some sunscreen. Nobody wants to go to their grave looking like Peppa Pig.”

Thankfully, Kevin wasn’t playing another one of his tricks on us.

Within half an hour, not only had he returned with Bazza from the police station, but he’d also brought with him the island’s doctor and several others to help carry Cody up the embankment and down the Forts Walk trail.

Cody regained consciousness later that day in the emergency room at the small but well-equipped medical center on the island. The doctor diagnosed him with a mild concussion and wanted to keep him overnight for observation, but apart from a nasty bump on the head, Cody was going to be alright.

“I’ll give the two of you some space,” the doctor said as he exited the room, closing the door behind him.

With a gush of air I let out a sigh. “Jesus, you scared me. What a relief you’re going to be okay.”

“Thanks to you,” Cody said, trying to itch beneath the bandage wrapped tightly around his head. “I’m sorry, that was stupid of me. That must have been pretty frightening for you. But you kept your head together and got me to safety. I’m proud of you.”

“It’s Kevin you should be proud of. He’s the one who went and got help.”

As though I’d just summoned a demon, Kevin suddenly appeared in the open window of the room, perching himself on the sill and trotting anxiously up and down. “ Squark! Are you okay? What did the doc say? You’re not gonna die on me, are you Cody? Please don’t die!”

“I’m gonna be just fine,” Cody smiled. “And I have you and Brooks to thank for it. Who could have guessed the two of you would one day save my life?”

“ He didn’t save your life,” Kevin squawked, tipping his aggravated head feathers in my direction.

“He did nothing but freak out and fall apart. Talk about a drama queen! All he did was make the whole situation worse. In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s the one who pushed you in the first place! ”

“Now, now, Kevin,” said Cody firmly. “I think it’s time you buried the hatchet.”

“There’s a hatchet buried somewhere on the island? Where? It might come in handy.”

“Kevin! Don’t be naughty. Can’t you at least try to be polite?”

Kevin huffed and ruffled his feathers. “Fine. I’ll try to be polite. But when is he leaving? I’m not sure how long I can pretend to be nice to him.”

“Actually, we’ll both be leaving soon. I think Mulligan’s Mill is calling us back.”

“What?” Kevin screeched. “You’re leaving me again?!”

“Don’t worry, we’ll be back,” Cody said, trying to calm his cocky down. “We’ll always come back. The beach shack is as much Brooks’ home as it is mine now… and yours, of course.”

“So not only are you asking me to be polite, you’re now asking me to share?

” Kevin turned his back on us. “Oh brother, this is gonna be a disaster. Now I know how Paul and George and Ringo felt when Yoko came along. Why you couldn’t just leave things the way they were is beyond me.

Humans… can’t live with ’em, can’t live without ’em… ”

Still muttering to himself, Kevin flapped his wings and launched himself off the windowsill and into the sky.

Cody and I both breathed a sigh of relief before he turned to me and said, “Now, where were we?”

“I don’t remember, but I have a feeling you were about to tell me you love me for saving your life.”

Cody smirked playfully. “I was?”

“Uh-huh. I’m certain of it.”

He leaned forward and pressed his lips against mine, then said, “I love you, Brooks Beresford.”

“And I love you, Cody Cameron.” We kissed again, before I added, “Just promise me one thing.”

“Oh yeah? What’s that?”

“Promise me cockatoos can’t fly all the way from Australia to Wisconsin. I don’t think Mulligan’s Mill is ready for the likes of Kevin.”

Cody laughed. “I don’t think Kevin has that much energy. Besides, he has to save his strength for trashing the shack in preparation for our return.”

I laughed too… even though I knew he wasn’t joking.

When we headed out the door of the beach shack, our luggage in hand, I said to Cody, “I haven’t seen Kevin the past few days.”

“Don’t worry, he’ll be here the second he hears this door close.

Sure enough, the moment the door clicked shut we heard a squawk in the sky…

Then the loud flap of wings coming from inside the shack…

Then a lamp falling over…

A cupboard door swinging open…

A plate shattering on the floor, followed by a muffled, “How dare you leave me again! I’ll teach you, you cheating bastard! Take this!”

Crash!

“And this!”

Smash!

“And this! Squark! ”

I winced and said in a soft voice. “Should we try to stop him?”

Cody shook his head. “There’s no point. You can’t teach an old cocky new tricks. It’s just—”

“His love language,” I said at the same time as Cody. “I guess someday I’ll get used to it.”

“I hope you do.” Cody smiled and kissed me.

“Out of interest, how long do cockies live?”

Cody laughed. “Oh, babe, you don’t wanna know.”