Dear Lexi and Tepsi,

So sorry to break bad news with you about Mango. He died this morning about 11 AM. After we had our breakfast, he looked perfectly fine, attempting to come out of his cage. I removed his cover and gave him slices of apples. He attacked them like he normally would. Then, an hour later, I removed the bar off his cage so he could freely get out. I was sitting in front of the computer composing an entry for my blog. Then 15 minutes later, I heard him fly to my room, chirping. I expected him to land on my black chair but head to daddy’s space instead. Daddy wasn’t home. He was at the bank doing some business. I got engrossed in what I was doing, I didn’t look for him. I thought I would just wait until he found his way to me which he normally did. I didn’t hear any unusual noises to cause panic. I was assuming he was perching on the bed’s frame and doing his poop and play routine.

Then half an hour later, daddy arrived and sat on his chair. Daddy made this weird and unusual look and yelled frantically. I couldn’t exactly tell why he had that look. I said, “why, what?” In between his computer desk, at the corner, laid an upside down creature, lifeless. He said, “Mango is dead!” At first daddy thought, it was one of those small beannie babies.

Mango was like a family to us, you know. I didn’t mind him pooping all over the house because I wanted him to have the freedom to fly instead of being cooped in his cage. He had been with us for about 14 or 15 years. This last year, I had seen some signs of deteriorations from him. He wasn’t as agile as he was. When he followed me in the bathroom, one time, he bumped himself against the wall. Fortunately, he wasn’t hurt and survived. He chirped a lot when he got stuck somewhere in the house like a plea for help. I would always get him and take him to his cage.

What may have happened was when he flew to our room, he bumped himself somewhere along the way. Maybe, he hadn’t been flying for 3 weeks and lost its strength to fly and hurt himself. It didn’t look like he suffered any. All I heard was a couple of chirps, and that was it. Or maybe, he died of old age?

He lived a long life with us. He was loved, cared for well. Even daddy stepped up and fed him good everyday. Though lately, he seemed to prefer rice and sphagetti as opposed to his food. Daddy gave him rice this morning, and he was very hungry for it. He ate the whole pile.

We put him in a small box of perfume and burried him in between the plum and persimmon tree. Daddy put three rocks on top so he is protected from any animals. This summer, when you guys go home, we will build a shrine for him.

I am sure Mango doesn’t want us cry or to look sad for him. He wants to see us happy just like the way he was.

Love,
Mommy