An entitled Karen tries to steal my bird off of my hand in public,

claiming that I don't deserve to have a bird like this, and that she should have my bird instead.

And I've never been more angry or flabbergasted by an interaction in my life.

Here's what happened.

So to start things out, I decided today's the perfect day to pop the harness on my bird.

They're a sulfur-crested cockatoo, and I wanted to take her out to Pet Smart.

So I got her inner carrier, put the carrier into the car, and on the road we went.

She did remarkably well, and didn't even get car sick.

But you know what tiny detail I forgot?

People talked to you if you bring a bird to a store.

Whether you want them to or not.

Now, I'm very good at dealing with people.

Years of retail work, restaurant work, stuff like that.

All of this has trained me in the art of small talk.

The Pet Smart workers were fantastic, actually.

They asked the basic general questions.

No one asked to touch her.

Everyone kept a respectful distance and didn't overwhelm her or me.

But the other customers of the store, not so much.

There was one woman in particular who really caused me problems,

and that's the entitled Karen of the story.

She told me about all the birds she had at her house.

...