"Oh thank you!" the woman said as she slipped into the shop. "It's so cold out. I think I heard on the news that this is the coldest January on record in Massachusetts. I hate this New England weather."
Isabella didn't answer. She was too busy staring at the woman, who happened to be the most beautiful person Isabella had ever seen. She had dark hair, cut chin length, and her left eye peeked out from one wave. Her skin was porcelain, flawless, and she wore ruby lipstick. She must be a movie star, Isabella thought. Perhaps they're shooting a film in Floral Manor, and maybe—just maybe, I could be an extra on the set.
"I'm sorry to bother you—" The woman also had perfect dazzling teeth, like white little soldiers, all lined up in a row. "But I couldn't allow them to catch cold."
Isabella had quite forgotten about the package until the woman placed it on the counter, took off the violet shawl, which was covering the object and revealed a large brass cage. Inside the cage sat two adorable birds.
"Oh my gosh!" Isabella said. "They are too cute."
"These are the Penningtons. They're love birds. Mr. Pennington is the green one, and Mrs. Pennington is the peach." Isabella looked at the two birds, cuddled side by side, their long beaks, their colorful feathers. She had been begging her aunt for a pet. Dogs and cats were out of the question -
