"Nonfictional Story"

"Nonfictional Story" 

A great sorrow happened to one Orthodox Muscovite. Her grown-up son disappeared - he went to take something to a friend, but he never reached him. Found him in a few weeks - killed in a terrible satanic ritual. 
In order to somehow alleviate the grief of the inconsolable suffering woman, a friend of her son brought her a parrot as a gift. It is not known how he got the bird, only when the parrot began to live with Zinaida Fyodorovna, almost immediately began to say: "Lord, have mercy, Lord, have mercy, Lord, have mercy!" 

During Great Lent Keshka changed his "rule". Instead of the threefold "Lord, have mercy," he counted out exactly twelve prayers, paused for a moment, and gave up the whole prayer of St. Ephraim the Syrian. He paused again - and, sighing, said with deep contrition in his voice:  "Lord, have mercy."

Once Zinaida Fedorovna had to leave for a short while. She returned  and was astounded. The hinges of the front door were removed and the door leaned against the wall. The first  thought that came to her was her Icons and Keshka! ..” She rushed into the room, and thank God, everything is in place. The icons are untouched, and Keshka from the cage happily greets her: "Lord, have mercy. "

And soon she was summoned to the court in the case of the robbery of apartments. The caught robbers were asked from whom they took.
"We got to her address."
“Well, what have you got here?” 
"Nothing! The door was removed, only entered the hallway, we hear an old woman praying in the room. So we left ... 

After that, Keshka learned another prayer - "Bless the Lord o my soul."
Time goes by and everything is good, but something is missing. Zinaida complained to her sincere friend who came to visit:

"I have a good Keshka, listening to him is a joy to my heart. But there is only one thing. He never praises the Mother of God." 

Tatiana waited when Zinaida fell asleep, sat down near the cage and approached the parrot

"Keshenka, are you ashamed of yourself! You know so many prayers, but do not pray to the Mother of God! Well, repeat after me: 
"Holy Mother of God, save us!"

Keshka listens - and not a word in response. And the next morning he was silent. 

Two days have passed, Tatiana calls Zinaida, and she almost cries: 
"Keshka is silent! He stopped praying. And I can’t be without his prayers!"
Tatiana also bewildered, because it was her fault. Came and tried  to persuade the bird:
"Keshenka, my dear, do not be offended, just do not be silent. Zinaida is very sad without your prayers!"
The parrot remained silent for a couple of days, and then spoke. As usual, thrice "Lord have mercy" and loudly and joyfully - "Holy Mother of God, save us!" 

And again, life went on as usual. Keshka did not learn anything more. Holy Week ended and it was the evening of Great Saturday. Zinaida gathered herself and went to church for the Vespers. She returned in the morning and with a joyful voice says: 
"Keshka, I'm home!" 
And she hears in response: 
"Christ is Risen!"

Source: newspaper "Blagovest"