See also:
The Real Mrs. P.
and
Charlie the Champion
and, from last year,
Tomato’s Pulitzer Award

Charlie's World
Excerpt from the book by Mrs. P. -- aka Audrey Topping
September, 2001

Charlie’s Travels
At a brief stopover at the airport in Bangkok, Audrey writes, she took Charlie out of his cage as the crew and passengers gathered around.

He took one look at the crowd and began to act as if he were running for President, greeting his public politely in English and inquiring as to their health: “Hello there, howyadoin’?” When I put him back in his cage, he waved goodbye to them all with his foot, calling, “Bye, bye, bye bye!” as if he were making a grand exit off a vaudeville stage.

We went through the whole routine again in Rangoon with Charlie in the starring role, and all the Burmese at the airport came running to see the show.

When we reached Calcutta, a multitude of magnificently turbaned Sikhs, on their way to Punjab in search of a Guru, were waiting on the tarmac. They crowded around the babbling bird. Charlie raised his saffron crest in salute and I suspect he said something witty in Punjabi because all the bearded Sikhs laughed and nodded knowingly. Charlie spread his wings and yelled “Super Charlie! Super Charlie!” at the top of his voice. The Sikhs picked it up and began to chant: “Super Charlie, Super Charlie!” until it began to sound like a sacred mantra.