Location: The Great Beyond
Bird Soul: Can I pick next time?
God: Can you pick next time?
Bird Soul: Look, I don’t know what I’ve done, karma-wise, but I’ve been a fruitfly, far as I can remember, and a doodle-bug and a worm and just now I was a bird, until Miguel’s cat gave me a going-over and left a few feathers on the welcome mat.
God: And part of a wing.
Bird Soul: Oh, all-knowing, I forgot.
God: And just what would you prefer?
Bird Soul: Something with a little more respect. Something… people fear, or love, or something.
God: People love birds.
Bird Soul: What about a tiger? A big Siberian Tiger?
God: They’re on the list for extinction.
Bird Soul: Bengal Tiger?
God: Ditto.
Bird Soul: Eh, cat? Common, everyday house-fucking-cat?
God: Bahahahahaha! Do you have any idea how long the waiting list is for housecat? [snort] We’re talking karma, there, man. Everyone wants to be a cat in their next life.
Bird Soul: Okay, okay. I’m just brainstorming, okay?
God: Hehehehe. Okay.
Bird Soul: Well, what do you suggest?
God: How about Substitute Teacher?
Bird Soul: Hm. Respected? Feared?
God: Sure, dood.
Bird Soul: Okay, I’ll give it a try.
God: Hehe.

[Elsewhere: One idyllic morning at Raising Hell]