“You little fucker.” Beside me, Effie walks the length of the shovel I’ve set up for her as a perch, her head jerking with each syllable. “Little fucker.” I give her a stern look. “I see Mama taught you some new words.” She trills before squawking, “Cute little fucker.” Laughing, I realize, “Thawed her heart, huh?” Which I already figured out, considering the frown Mama gave me when I went into her office to snag the cage.
