John went to several pet shops to find a pet that no one else had.
Finally, he came to a shop that had in stock a parrot with a 15 inch beak. He instantly fell in love with the bird and asked the pet shop owner how much it was. The owner said, "You really don't want this bird because it can't talk. His beak is much too long. John didn't care, he wanted it and money was no object. Finally, the owner sold him the bird and as he was walking out the door he told him, "If you ever want that bird to talk, cut off his beak below the nose holes or he'll drown when he drinks."

As John was walking home with the bird on his shoulder, he decided he would try what the shop owner had told hikm, and he stopped off at the local hardware store. When he walked in, the owner said, "the hacksaws are on aisle 12. John was shocked and asked how he knew he wanted a hacksaw.He replied, I see you have that beautiful bird, and it's a shame that he won't be able to talk. If you're going to cut it's beak off just be careful and be sure to cut it off just below its nose hole otherwise it'll drown when it has a drink."
John again shocked asked how he knew that, and the owner told him that it was common knowledge. So, John purchased the saw and went home.

As he was arriving home, his neighbour said hello and commented that he had a beautiful bird, and that it was a shame that it wouldn't be able to talk as it had a 15 inch beak. John asked him how he knew that, and his neighbour replied that it was common knowledge.
He added "I see that you have a hacksaw. If you are going to cut the birds beak off, make sure you do it just below its nose holes, or it'll drown when it has a drink, and I assumed that everyone knew that." John thanked him and went on his way.

A couple of days later, John ran into his friend who asked him,
Where's your bird?"
Misty eyed, John told him the bird had died.
The neighbour was shocked and said, "I told you to be sure to cut below the nose holes or he would drown when he drinks," John said,
"I did."
"So." Said the neighbour,
"What happened?"
John said,
"I crushed his head in the vice."