A heron named 'Nicky'!

Ab's special motorbike was like nothing I had ever seen. The originally pale blue vintage vespa was decorated with deer's horns and a huge pair were actually designed as a security lock. Two small monkey skulls adorned the front and back of this warrior-looking chariot. The chariot came complete with scale-covered and Mohican's animal hair-styled helmet. To my heart's content Ab took me for short ride in his chariot around Pangandaran.

He headed towards the Park's main entrance. As he U-turned to go back we saw the silhouette of a bird at the doorway of the park ranger's office. Ab stopped abruptly and muttered something. I asked what was it and he said "It's a heron and I want to take it home to eat the fish in my pond - I have too many fish!" I noticed it had a ribbon tied to it's leg and Ab quickly realising that too continued, "it must be someone's. Probably the ranger's. But if I take it no one else will steal it(!!!)" "He knows me and I know him so it will be ok. I will return it back after it has eaten my fish!" Then. "will you hold it for me so we take it back to my home?" "Ok, I will try!" I gibbered. I was puzzled. Was I about to become an accomplice in a crime myself?!

It only took him seconds to snatch the birds and a few minutes later I was holding it by its beak and legs, precariously balancing myself on the vintage chariot which was speeding away from the robbery site. Poor heron, I could feel it's heart throbing hard in it's warm feathery body. I kept praying it keep calm and not shit on me!!! At the same time hoping I wasn't hurting or breaking it's legs with my tight grip. The beak felt very strong at the other end. As I was mentally absorbed by the whole situation, Ab whizzed through the main street. Then suddenly he yelled "Hide the bird! The ranger lives here!"
Hide the bird!!! How?!?!?! I was already barely managing to hold it in between myself and Ab's back! We finally got to his house or (should I say zoo?!?) I carefully dismounted from the scooter and handed the victim over to Ab. He placed in in the large bamboo cage already home to 2 roosters, a huge flying fox and a pond full of fish. The poor heron just started blankly at the the walls of its new home.

Ab took me back to the hotel where I eagerly recounted my story. The next day Ab was happy, "Heron is eating fish from the pond." he reported. Oh Good! So it overcame the shock of being captivated in the dead of the night, then. "What will you call it?" I continued, feeling like I put my foot in it my the end of the question. "What's your name again?" he asked. "Nicky." I replied. "Then I'll call it Nicky in your honor!" And so it was :)