Sir Percival Plume: Life Lessons From My Runway-Worthy Peacock

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If you could make your pet understand one thing, what would it be?

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Picture this: the sun is just peeking over the horizon, and my backyard is already a scene straight out of Project Runway. Strutting across the lawn like a feathered supermodel is Sir Percival Plume, my overly dramatic, undeniably fabulous peacock. Every day is a fashion show for him, and the world is his runway—whether we’re ready for it or not.

If I could teach this dazzling diva one thing, it would be to turn down the drama just a smidge. But, then again, where would the fun be in that?

Lesson #1: “Your Tail Feathers Don’t Need Their Own Entrance Music.”

Every morning, Sir Percival announces himself with a flamboyant fan of shimmering blues and greens, paired with a screech that could wake the neighbors on the next farm. Honestly, he’s like the self-appointed grand marshal of a parade no one asked for.

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And the way he struts? I swear he’s got theme music playing in his head—probably Beyoncé’s “Diva.” When his feathers catch the light just right, I half expect paparazzi to pop out of the bushes.

But hey, who needs a boring alarm clock when you’ve got a live-action peacock runway show to kickstart your day?

Lesson #2: “Not Every Shiny Thing Belongs to You.”

Living with a peacock is like living with a magpie on steroids. Sir Percival has a black belt in pilfering anything that sparkles: jewelry, car keys, and—on one particularly mortifying occasion—my neighbor’s Fitbit.

His favorite trick? Casually sauntering by, snagging something shiny with his beak, and retreating to his “treasure trove” behind the shed. It’s like Pirates of the Caribbean, but with more feathers and fewer coherent sentences.

I considered a tiny intervention, but, instead decided on a velvet-lined display case for all his “acquisitions.”

Lesson #3: “Volume Control Is a Virtue.”

Sir Percival doesn’t just make an entrance—he makes an audible entrance. His squawking is less “majestic bird call” and more “fire alarm during a thunderstorm.”

Zoom meetings? Interrupted. Delivery drivers? Terrified. One poor Uber Eats guy still tells the tale of the “Peacock That Roared.”

And yet, his voice is part of his charm—or at least that’s what I tell myself when I’m explaining to the HOA why my backyard sounds like Jurassic Park.

The Ultimate Lesson: “Keep Being Your Fabulous Self.”

Sure, Sir Percival’s dramatics can be a little…excessive. He’s loud, vain, and prone to treating my garden like his personal red carpet. But if I could teach him just one thing, it would be this:

“You’re my glittery muse, my backyard celebrity, and the reason I laugh every single day. Even when you’re perched on my car, giving your reflection the stink eye.”

Because life with Sir Percival isn’t about quiet moments or orderly mornings—it’s about embracing the chaos, finding the humor, and remembering that sometimes, a little drama is exactly what we need.

So, here’s to Sir Percival Plume: part pet, part performer, and 100% fabulous. Life’s a little louder, shinier, and more unpredictable with him around—but honestly, I wouldn’t have it any other way.

And now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to go rescue my Louis Vuitton sunglasses. But, in other news, Sir Percival is ready for his close-up.

If you could own an exotic pet, what would it be? And what would you teach them? Let me know in the comments!

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