The fable of Harold and Polly the parrot.

Once upon a time, on a tropical island far, far away, there lived two unlikely friends: a grumpy old hermit named Harold and a lively young parrot named Polly.

Harold had lived on the island for as long as he could remember, ever since he had been shipwrecked there many years ago. He had built himself a small hut on the beach and had spent his days fishing and collecting coconuts. He had always been content with his simple life, but as he grew older, he found that he was becoming increasingly lonely. He missed the company of other people and the sound of laughter.

One day, while out fishing, Harold spotted a brightly-colored parrot sitting on a nearby branch. He had never seen a bird like it before and was curious to get a closer look. As he approached, the parrot let out a loud squawk and flew away.

Harold was disappointed, but he couldn't shake the image of the parrot from his mind. He found himself thinking about it more and more, and he decided that he would do whatever it takes to make friends with the bird. He started leaving out fruits and nuts on the beach every morning, hoping that the parrot would come back and find them.

Polly, the parrot, had been living on the island for a few months. She had been part of a traveling circus but had managed to escape one day when her cage was left open. She quickly realized that the island was the perfect place for her, with plenty of fruits and nuts to eat, and plenty of trees to perch on.

She had been content with her new life, but she had never seen another living being on the island, and she was beginning to feel lonely too. She had spotted Harold on several occasions, but she had always been too scared to approach him. He looked like a grumpy old man and Polly feared he would harm her.

One day, as Polly was flying over the beach, she saw Harold sitting by the shore, fishing. He looked sad and lonely, and she felt a pang of empathy for him. She decided to take a chance and fly down to him. As she landed on the sand next to him, Harold's face lit up. He was overjoyed to see the parrot again, and he reached out to pet her. Polly was a little wary at first, but she soon warmed up to Harold and allowed him to pet her.

They spent the whole day together, talking and exploring the island. Harold showed Polly his favorite fishing spots and taught her how to crack open a coconut. Polly showed Harold all of the best trees to find fruits and nuts and taught him how to climb them. As they spent time together, Harold began to understand that Polly was not just a bird, but a sentient being with her own thoughts and feelings. She had a sense of humor and a strong will. He began to see her as a companion and a friend.

As the sun began to set, they made their way back to Harold's hut, where they settled down for the night. Harold had never felt such a strong connection to another living being before, and he knew that he had found a true friend in Polly.

From that day on, Harold and Polly were inseparable. They spent all their time together, exploring the island and enjoying each other's company. They may have been an unlikely pair, but they were the best of friends and they knew that they would always have each other on that tropical island.

As days went by, Harold began to teach Polly how to speak. He would repeat simple words and phrases to her, and she would mimic them.Polly was able to say a few simple words and phrases, much to Harold's delight. They would spend hours practicing and laughing together, and Harold was amazed at how quickly Polly was learning.

One day, as they were out exploring the island, they stumbled upon an old, abandoned ship. Harold had never seen it before and he was curious to explore it. As they climbed aboard, they discovered that the ship was filled with treasures and supplies that had been left behind by the crew.

Harold and Polly spent the next few days exploring the ship and finding all sorts of useful things. They found clothes, tools, and even a small library of books. Harold was thrilled to have new things to read, and Polly was excited to find a new place to explore.

As they were leaving the ship, Polly stopped and looked at Harold. She opened her beak and said, "Thank you, Harold." Harold was shocked and overjoyed to hear her speak. He hugged her tightly and they both laughed and cried with happiness.

From that day on, Polly's vocabulary grew and she became more and more like a human companion to Harold. They would have conversations and share their thoughts and feelings with each other. They were the perfect pair and they knew that they would always have each other's backs.

Years went by and Harold and Polly's friendship only grew stronger. They had many adventures together and they always found new things to explore on their tropical island. They never tired of each other's company, and they knew that they were meant to be together.

As Harold grew older, he knew that he would eventually have to leave the island and Polly behind. But he was at peace knowing that she would be okay and that their friendship would always live on.

One day, as Harold lay on his deathbed, Polly came to him and sat by his side. She leaned her head on his chest and let out a soft squawk. Harold knew it was time for him to go, but he was at peace knowing that he would always have Polly in his heart. He closed his eyes for the last time, with a smile on his face, knowing that he had found the best friend he could ever have in the most unlikely of places, on a tropical island with a parrot named Polly.

And as the sun set on that tropical island, Harold's spirit took flight, soaring high into the sky, alongside his dear Polly. They were together once again, and they knew that they would always be, forever and ever