TCK Publishing Reader's Choice Awards 2021 contest is over and so is the eight months long competition for my novel Cruel Summer. After a tough “fight” in which Cruel Summer was also in the lead for a few months, it ended up 2nd in YA and Middle Grade book category with 265 votes. Only in the last few weeks the one book beat it in winning the title of the best YA and Middle Grade book in the fifth annual Reader's Choice Awards, with 104 books competing this year. This is a great achievement. I am proud of my book and grateful to everyone who casted their votes for it! It's been a great experience and thank you all for making this competition so exciting! BJ Original post: https://www.bernardjan.com/post/cruel-summer-2nd-in-the-tck-publishing-contest

Bright green head Feathers ruffled up He says scratch His voice a squeaky Imitation He rubs his head Against my chin His beak a vice It cracks the hardest nut But for me, he gently preens My braid Until it lays in waves The ribbon in his claw His feathers green With rainbow spots Of orange, yellow, Blue and red Are covered in dander Powdered dust Kiss kiss He says The words distinct And climbs onto my shoulder One foot clinging to my ear as he Touches a razor Sharp beak To my lip Love for him Is love for me As a life-long friend Not only a pet The first voice I hear As I come home Is my parrot calling Hello, hello I open his cage, He scrambles free Lands on my shoulder And there he stays Till the clock strikes eight Bedtime for him And for me as well He sleeps on the headboard As I nap But at night Under his cover His voice calls to me Love you Night night