“No!  &@% $*#!”   Exclaimed Ozzie.  “Absolutely not!  What does he think I am?  Who does he think he is?”

“No!” Squawked Ozzie

Harriett knew it would not be easy and had anticipated this reaction.  But, Harriett had already thought out various contingency responses.

“The Doctor thinks you have a keen scientific mind,” Harriett expressed her new found respect and esteem. “I wish I had your exceptional perception, reasoning and ability to learn.  I have always been envious of your thirst for knowledge and superior brain power.  It must be rewarding to expand the envelope of the avian knowledge base.   It is one of the things that make you special.”

Had she gone overboard?

“Well, yes I know,” replied Ozzie with pride.

Apparently not.

But Ozzie was suspicious.

“Somehow I think you and the Doctor are in on this thing together.  What’s the matter, Harriett?  Don’t you trust me?”

“Trust has nothing to do with it!”  Snapped Harriett, almost too quickly.

Harriett took a deep breath, praying she was being honest with herself.  She scrambled for a response. Her heart was pounding, yet she managed a calm, seemingly rational demeanor, and said,

“The Doctor and I can stay in touch via telemetry.  We want to stay in touch with you too. I care about you,” Harriett continued.

“And the doctor and his readers care about you.  And think about everything the Doctor has done for us this year.”

“Oh yes, yes I am sorry.  Yes, to us the Doctor is a true friend,” Ozzie was happy to acknowledge.

“It’s really not such a big deal,” encouraged Harriett.  “You won’t even know it is there after a day or two.  And besides you are a pretty interesting bird you know.  Remember the time you organize the poop campaign against that crazy Venezuelan dictator?”  That was some kind ‘a funny!”

Ozzie could not help but smile.

“What we do in our youth!” He laughed.

Harriett felt she was making some progress.

“Ozzie, the human scientific community will be very appreciative if you will wear the transmitter.  Humans have launched rockets into space, deployed satellites to track you if you are so inclined to participate.”

“What else can you ask?”

Ozzie gave the matter careful consideration.  He concluded there was really no down side for him.

He thought, “why not?  No feathers off my back.  And you know I will do anything for my Harriett.”

Ozzie felt a sudden jolt of joy.  He spun around and said, “I’ll do it!”