So my birthday isn’t normally something I consider an exciting event. I keep to myself and don’t expect anyone to acknowledge that this day might be more significant than any other. It isn’t to me. I don’t feel any different. Maybe part of me just got tired of boring birthdays at some point.

I came home from work planning on spending some quality time watching videos with my psychotic parrot. He likes me most of the time, but other people who get too close are usually subjected to the wrath of his finger-bone snapping beak. To his credit, he usually lets them know what’s coming with a warning comment like, “Mmmm… Love that cracker!”, right before administering a savage chomping. I don’t get many house guests these days.

I checked the mail on my way in the door, surprised to find an envelope addressed to me in intricate cursive. I found no return address.

“Geraldo! We have something interesting here!”

“Out!” Responded my parrot, “Out, out, OUT!”

I let him out of his cage. He went over to his favorite pile of waste paper and started shredding. I have to keep that pile stocked or he’ll move on to the contents of the bookshelves. I sat down at the table and opened the intriguing envelope. Geraldo had already built up a healthy pile of confetti. He flew over and landed on my shoulder, causing the contents of the envelope to flutter out of my hand.

I bent down slowly. Fast movements with Geraldo on your shoulder could result in the loss of an ear. I picked up two folded sheets of thick paper. Opening them I found what looked like a hand drawn street map of the city where I lived. Odd. I did not know any hobbyist cartographers.

The other sheet had a brief note written in the same elaborate style as the address on the envelope.

“Meet me where the roads cross the fount. Bring the bird.”

I looked back at the street map and saw an X inscribed on a nearby intersection. That intersection was famous for its historical fountain.

“Well, Geraldo, it looks like we’re going out on the town.” Maybe this would not be such a boring birthday after all.