“Give him the pen.”
“No.”
“Why? He’s intelligent.”
“Who said?”
“Everyone…. Give him the pen.”
“No.”
“Why?”
“It hasn’t got hands.”
“Now you’re just being a snob. I’ve seen ones like him write.”
“Where?”
“In movies.”
“Ahhh. Disney films?”
“Should that matter?”
“….were they cartoons?”
“….”
“Were they?”
“Yes. But he can write. I know he can. He’s intelligent.”
“Why do you think its intelligent?”
“He asks who all the time. That’s intelligent, making us come up with our own answers. Just like that Socrates guy. They said he was intelligent.”
“Socrates was a guy. That’s an owl.”
“Yeah. Owls are real smart; they have their pictures all over those signs advertising smart stuff like tutoring.”
“Right.”
“Give him the pen.”
Sighs. Slides the pen over to the owl. Owl just stares at the pen and blinks at it.
“He isn’t picking it up.”
“No.”
“He can’t write.”
“No. Owls can’t write.”
“Does this mean we have to write our own assignment?”
Sigh. “I think so.”
“Is it too late to call one of those places with the ads where owls wear those smart hats? Maybe they can dictate the essay to us?”