A young man who had made it big had been away from home a long time traveling to exotic places all over the world.  He had not been very attentive to his widowed mother.  His conscience began to bother him and he decided to do something about it.  He sent her a unique gift, a rare South American parrot for which he'd paid $1200.

Well, time went by.  Two weeks, three weeks, and he heard nothing.  And the fourth week he called.  When he got his mom on the phone he said, "Did you get the bird I sent you?" 

"Oh yes!"--It was so nice, I cooked it the day after it came.  It was delicious!" 

"You cooked it!  Mom, that was a rare South American parrot.  It cost me $1200.  That parrot could speak five languages."

"My goodness, son," the mother responded.  "If only you'd said something."

If onl…