POLLY I remember times when I have wanted a loud-mouthed, talking parrot! I always talked myself out of it, for which deliverance I am grateful, because, in the ensuing years I have encountered a few such birds and I have not been favorably impressed save in on or two cases. I would imagine our interest in parrots was caused,in part, by our having read so many stories about pirates with parrots as side-kick buddies talking them into and out of thrilling adventures.
He stands and out above all others. He was, feather-for-feather, a dignified Household Butler type of a bird. He belonged to a retired twosome who happened to live in the second floor apartment just above ours for some time The flat, which has been torn down now, was no Taj Mahal and insulation was unknown in those days,so we were ruled, to some degree, as Polly asserted his presence with Mr. and Mrs. upstairs neighbors.
Mr. Evans had been, before "retiring to town living" part owner of a several small,semi-surface coal mine operations near a village strip called Parrot, Virginia and a newcomer fledgling bird acquired for his office, a "parrot from Parrot" was called "Polly-Polly."
The Evans household was a formal one. Mrs. Evans always referred to her husband of many years "Mister Evans". That requirement was effector all occasions when speaking, to him, him others, even in prayer to our Lord. Mr. Evans was of the same strict school. He always referred to his wife as "Missus Evans" on all occasions including speaking to her, about her, on her behalf, to strangers, newcomers, tradespeople, salespersons! To everyone alike: "Missus Evans" -- always. We never knew their first names until Mr. Evans, asked my father to "look over" some insurance policies he possessed.
One would think such a couple might call their parrot "Mister" as well. No. They spoke of, to and about him as a fine English family might call a Butler who managed their household for many years. It was never "Polly,Polly". It was always a somewhat reserved "Polly".
Polly had a sense of humor,too. When they were away he took care of strangers knocking at the front door. "Come in!" He called. We would hear the turning of a doorknob - the door locked, of course. "Come in, please." Maybe a second try at the caller discovered a certain dialect about the voice denoting a talking birds presence. Polly announced the arrival of people into whatever room held his cage.
The parrot observes the family dictum of Mr. and Mrs. Evans , as well. On occasion Polly has been known to pick up the name of the neighbor's cat and cause it to put a year's wear and tear on the screen which separates the two adjoining patios. He also achieved local fame by remembering radio station IDs. He'd was lost, however, without the Evans twosome to imitate.
Andrew McCaskey amccsr@adelphia.net 6-17-06 [c505wds]
