As the green light grew brighter, and the wriggling grew faster and more intense, Burt said silent goodbyes. Goodbye to the people who lived in the house. Goodbye to the dog that sometimes came to visit and spent the whole time yapping at Burt's cage. Goodbye to...

Actually, that was pretty much it for the goodbyes. What with living in a cage and everything, Burt had found it tough to meet very many friends. Not that he had been really unhappy about it or anything. He'd always been a bit of a loner anyway, content to eat the oranges and the black seeds and watch TV. But now, as he contemplated his last few moments on Earth, his heart swelled with regret.

"Oh," he thought, "if only I'd tried harder. If only there were somebody to hold me right now, to tell me everything's going to be all right. If only..."

The green light suddenly grew blinding, and Burt's breast split wide open. His lifeless, torn body fell to the floor of the cage, and for a moment there was silence.

Then Burt looked down. First in shock, then in amazement.