The Big Finish: A Story from Further Interpretations of Real-Life Events

"The Big Finish," a story from Kevin Moffett's dazzling new collection, Further Interpretations of Real-Life Events, takes readers on board a cruise ship with Hayes, a directionless thirty-something who takes a job as the host of the ship's bird shows for children.

In his new role, he develops a strange and unexpected relationship with a fellow employee—and with the birds themselves.

Forty-five minutes of daily contact in his cabin become an ongoing confession, as he recounts his former jobs with dogs, rescue rabbits, and lab mice to two African gray parrots who scrutinize him from a massive cage.

On the sun deck, an awkward courtship with the children's activities coordinator draws him into an unexpected romance across the ship. Between shows, he wanders the quiet decks at night, caught between Irina's sudden affection and two unclipped birds who insist he is someone else.

• Unlikely Hero: Hayes applied for a line-cook position before finding himself billed as a poolside showman, feeding honeydew to birds and wondering if his liver is permanently damaged.
• Forced Proximity: Confined to a Caribbean vessel where tourists drive golf balls into the ocean, Hayes cannot escape the watchful gaze of vacationers, crewmates, or his caged roommates.
• Workplace Romance: Irina, an officious Dutch supervisor who warns him never to mar the children, leaves Hayes dizzy with sudden kisses in unisex bathrooms and glowing performance reviews.
• Found Family: An adrift entertainer and two African gray parrots who mourn a previous trainer named Ned settle into an uneasy kinship built on diced fruit, bedtime covers, and whispered secrets.