Gemotions

He felt like he could run a marathon. John entered the apartment, shoulders back, chest out, a smile firmly planted on his face. He'd conquered a challenging project at work, and he was ready for a new chapter. He had an offer. A parrot, he figured. A colorful companion for the lonely evenings.

His roommate, Mark, was perched on the sofa, scrolling through news articles. He looked up, saw John’s expression, and immediately braced himself. "What is it?" he asked, his voice laced with weariness. "Don't tell me it’s another one of your… schemes."

John grinned. "I was thinking, a parrot! Imagine, Mark, a feathered friend to chat with, learn phrases from, maybe even… teach it to sing opera!"

Mark groaned and rubbed his temples. "Absolutely not. The noise, the mess, the potential for biting… No."