The Adventures of Henri and Charlie

by Terry Aspinall

  But by now it was completely dark and pointless to carry on. People walking past them must have thought they were stupid or funny in the head, so they made their way home going straight to the empty cages for another look. Inwardly hoping the boys had returned in their absence, but deep in their heart's they knew the cages would still be empty. They were both heartbroken and during the evening could not stop talking about the boys. It was the not knowing what had happened that hurt them the most.

  Terry made up some posters and went around the streets of Wynnum West in the dark attaching them to Telegraph poles. The posters were offering a reward for information, sightings or even capture of both Henri and Charlie.

  Back home Emily had worded an advert to be placed in the local newspapers and phoned it through, not waiting for the following day. It was going to be a very long sleepless night for them, remembering the good times, with those two members of the family.

  Watching the TV at nights was not going to be the same for Terry, without Henri sitting on his shoulder nibbling at his ear. Also Charlie’s singing was not going to be there to greet them in the mornings. Yes this was going to be a quiet and lonely sad household, for some time.

  Chapter 3

  As the morning sun rays came up over Morton Bay, bringing warm daylight to the Wynnum sea front. Henri and Charlie were to be found still in their leafy spot in one of the old mangrove trees along the seashore. It had been a cold night, and both birds had snuggled up to each other to keep warm. Normally Henri being a Peach Face parrot, and a bit of a destructive bird, would have attacked smaller weaker birds, like Charlie. However having been together for two years, and with their cages always hanging very close to together, they had become very good friends. This is not to say that Henri had still not got a mean streak, because he had. If he felt threatened by small birds like sparrows, he would be prepared to have a go. And if he did he would have come out on top, providing that there were not too many sparrows around at the time.

  As they shook and ruffled their feathers, shaking out the previous days dust, they chatted about the predicament they were in. Having no idea where they were, or how they could find their way home.

  The wind had blown them faster and further than they had expected. Unfortunately they had forgotten to take notice of their surroundings, and were now totally lost, not know what to do next.

  Charlie said he was hungry, not having much to eat the day before. Both birds were normally seedeaters but had got used to Terry giving them little tit bits of different types of food especially fruit. So this meant that at least they would not always be looking for seeds. After they had completed their early morning's preening session. They set off flying back along the sea front. The way they had come yesterday, also remembering to stop and look in the rubbish bins along the way. Maybe they could find a few tit bits to ease their hunger pains.

  However, at this time of the morning, not too many people were about and certainly nobody would be cooking at the barbecue sites along the waterfront. To their surprise there were a number of joggers and older people walking their dogs and exercising along the sea wall.

  The Old man walking his dog

  Flying from one grassy spot to another and pecking around in the grass they manage to find a small amount of food. Both birds were very worried about the large number of seagulls flying about. These birds were so big it was frightening. One peck from those razor sharp beaks could be very damaging to both these small birds.

  Just by the kiddies’ paddling pool stood a roofed area, a type of hut with no sides. Here they saw two old gentlemen sitting underneath with their dogs, and throwing pieces of bread, feeding whatever was interested. As Henri and Charlie landed they joined a large group of sparrows, pigeons and a couple of seagulls.

  They immediately started to compete, in trying to grab a piece of bread. However, not being used to a 'He who is the fittest survives' routine or, 'He who is the boldest', they just did not have any luck. One of the old gentlemen started shouting to his mate and pointing towards Charlie, telling him that one of the birds was a Canary. Not having seen one in the wild before, it caused great excitement between them. Both the old gents started throwing bread at Charlie but this only made it worse. Whereas Charlie was on the outskirts of the group of birds, just diving in now and again for a crumb, now he was the centre of a seething mass of wings and beaks. To make matters worse he still wasn't quick enough to grab a piece of bread. The more bread that was thrown at him, the more the other birds turned up. It was getting very rough inside this group of hungry birds. Finally he did manage to grab a small piece, which was good. If he had a large piece it would have been grabbed out of his mouth by the other birds. Charlie flew to a quieter place to eat his small crumbs, and Henri joined him with another piece of bread.

  After a few minutes Charlie told Henri that he had eaten enough for now. Just then a seagull landed beside them, wanting to grab at Henri's piece of bread. Clear off Henri told the seagull this ours.

  Looking down at the gull Henri noticed that he had only one foot, and was standing on the stump of his leg. The gull pleaded with Henri for a piece of his bread, even using the word please. He went on to say that he was not quick enough to grab any food with all that lot, meaning his fellow seagulls and pointing to the large pack of them squabbling of the food scraps that was getting bigger buy the minute. Henri looked at Charlie, and they both felt sorry for the gull, so Henri walked over and gave him the piece of bread. While the gull was eating, Henri asked what had happened to his foot. A fishing line got wrapped around my foot last year, I struggled for a whole day to get free, and it wore right through cutting off my foot he said.

  Charlie asked him if it hurt when it came off, like heck” said the gull, adding that it was okay now. I’m just not quick enough to dive in and grab the food anymore. Anyway I get by you have to in this world don’t you he said.

  Henri asked him what his name was and he replied that he was known as Hoppy by the guys over there pointing once again to the frenzy of seagulls that were still fighting over the food. He continued saying that they all make fun of him.

  The three birds spent a long time talking, then Hoppy told Henri and Charlie to follow him and he would take them to a water tap along the seafront. Where they could drink some freshwater, and would not be worried by too many other big birds. Hoppy added that he would keep an eye out for them.

  Unfortunately Hoppy could not help them in finding their way home. He had never ventured inland very far; as he tended to keep to the coastline. Sometimes he would fly out to the nearest of the small islands in the bay. Or he would go around the coastline to the Manly boat marina where he could always find food scraps that had been thrown over the side of the boats.

  The three birds stayed together all day, with Henri and Charlie just following the one legged seagull. Hoppy was very excited; he had finally made some friends whom he got on very well with. He just wanted to show them around and kept calling it his patch. In all the excitement of being shown around, and having somebody explain everything to them, all thoughts of home had gone out of their heads, not thinking of what Terry and Emily were going through back home. In fact without realising it a whole day had suddenly slipped by, as now it was starting to get dark once again.

  So Hoppy took them to a very large leafy tree, just back from the waterfront and out of the wind. All three birds settled down and huddled up together for the night.

  Chapter 4

  The next morning did not start very well; it was cloudy and looked like it might rain at any moment. Hoppy told them it was time to feed while they could, once it rain it would be almost impossible. It was very hard to fly around with wet soggy feathers, and if it rained all day, it was possible that they would not be able to find any food. People don't picnic on Wynnum sea front on cold wet days he told them.

  So with that they all flew off with Hoppy leading them back towards the hut where he knew the two old gents would be feeding the birds, as they
did most mornings. They were lucky arriving early, not too many birds had gathered. With luck it would be a little easier grabbing a few crumbs. For the first time since leaving home they had a good feed, and actually felt full. Just as well, as the gathering of birds was starting to grow larger than yesterday.

  Suddenly one of the old gentlemen's dogs left his masters side and leapt into the centre of the feeding frenzy of birds. There were bird feathers flying everywhere, cries, squawks and shrieks. The birds scattered everywhere, no thoughts of food now just of escaping. Most of the birds flew off in a big whoosh of feathers beating in the wind. Some of the slower ones were getting knocked about by other birds or by the wind that the larger group generated as they took off. The dog hit the unlucky ones, he only wanted a game, but the birds did not know that, as they continued scattering in all directs.

  Hoppy, Henri and Charlie became separated in the confusion of the moment. To make matters worse it started to rain, and within a few seconds it went from a few spots of rain to a sudden down poor.

  As Henri was flying away and getting very wet he spied what he believed was Terry and Emily's car, a white Nissan station wagon. It's Terry and Emily he thought and flew off trying to catch the car. It was heading along the sea front towards Manly. However, the car was being driven too fast for him to catch up. He was now certain that it was Terry, but with his wings getting soggy from the rain flying was becoming harder and harder, and the car was getting further and further away. A lump came into his throat; I’m never going to get home he thought. I’m never going to live in the safety of my own cage again.

  Just then a violent weather squall hit the sea front with strong gale force winds, picking him up and blowing him around. Poor Henri had no chance, he had no control over his flying, and he was just going wherever the swirling winds would take him. Tumbling around it was like a bad dream, if only he had not got out of his cage, if only, if only. However, it was too late now; he did not think he could survive the pounding his body was taking.

  Charlie in his desperate bid to get away from the dog just flew off in any direction. Not having any idea where he was going, or where his two friends had gone. Getting what he considered to be a safe distance from the dog, he started to look around and to his amazement, just ahead of him he caught site off Henri chasing a white Nissan station wagon car. Charlie also recognised the car, its Terry and Emily he thought. Oh if only I could catch them I’d be safe. I promise I won't do this again, I promise, I promise he said to himself.

  Flying as fast as he could to try and catch Henri or the car. However, it was all to no avail, he could make no any impression on the distance between them. If anything he was dropping further back. Charlie was crying now realising that he was not going to see any of them again.

  Just then a strong gust of wind picked him up blowing him all over the place. He started to lose height and was falling towards the road. Through the rain he could see other cars also speeding along the road below him. Suddenly the wind tumbled him all over the place and he dropped down in front of an oncoming speeding car, luckily he was not hit. However with a combination of the rain, wind gusts and the rush of the car, poor Charlie was hurtled through the air over a hedge and into a garden, ending up in a ragged heap in a flower bed. Then it was just darkness he had passed out.

  Chapter 5

  Terry and Emily had spent most of the day looking for their best friends Henri and Charlie. Both had spent a little time in tears, having loved both the birds. However, they had decided to personally look for them, they had placed adverts in all the local newspapers. Although knowing it would take a few days before the articles could be printed. Not knowing where to look first, they decided to drive down as many streets as possible in their area in a vain attempt to search for them.

  Having covered a vast area of Wynnum West, they had finally reached the Wynnum seafront. Driving past the old men feeding what they thought were pigeons and seagulls, or at least that's what it looked like through the car windows, and driven on. To make matters worse they did not know that Henri and Charlie were calling and flying behind them.

  The wind gusts hit the car, and it was swaying them about all over the road, and with all the rain hitting the windscreen, and the windscreen wipers not being able to clear all the water, it was very hard to see out of the windows let alone hear any other noise. So with that Terry and Emily decided to call it a day and return home. They would either return later if it stopped raining or would return the next day. However, that seemed hard to think about at the moment, as both of them would have to go to work, it would be Monday and they both left for work early at 7.30am and would not return until 4.15p.m. It would be dark by about 5.15p.m. Therefore, it looked like it could be another five days before they would be able to have another look around for their two lost friends along the fore shore.

  Chapter 6

  Sometime later that morning after the rain had stopped, and the wind had eased, the sun reappear from behind the clouds, and a little warmth could be felt in the morning air. A little old lady appeared from her house to remove a few twigs and leaves from her lawn, in the front of her house on the Wynnum seafront. As she was tidying things up from the very strong winds that had blown earlier that morning, she noticed something yellow amongst her flowers in the corner of the garden. Stooping down she could see it was a yellow Canary. At first she thought it was dead. However, upon picking it up and cupping it into her hand she suddenly felt it move. So she carried it inside her house. Luckily she already had a Canary in a very small cage, hanging in the kitchen window at the back of her house. She opened the cage door and pushed her hand through, and opened it slowly.

  Charlie had been badly dazed and was gradually recovering and getting his senses back. He quickly jumped out of the old ladies hand and onto a perch. However, he was also in for another shock, he could feel another presence near him, somebody else was in the cage.

  Charlie couldn't get away from his unexpected new neighbour. After sitting there for a few minutes in silence, (even though he was a very timid bird), Charlie decided to make the first move towards making a conversation. Hi I’m Charlie what's your name he asked. After a few seconds the other Canary told him that his name was Jimmy and that this was his house, adding that even though that little old lady had stuck you in here, this is still my home. Immediately Charlie responded, not wanting a fight and agreed yes it was his home and that there was no problem with that. Jimmy went on to tell Charlie that he would not get all the attention now that there were two of them in the cage. If I don’t watch out she will think more of you than me. I have been used to all the attention in this house, and I don’t want things to change.

  Charlie butted in stopping Jimmy from hopefully not making any threats. Well if it will make you feel happier he said I don't intend staying. Maybe you can help me escape back to my own home; I’ll gladly leave it all to you if you will only help me.

  With that Charlie went on and told Jimmy the full story, of how he had ended up in the front garden, and thankfully he had not been too badly hurt by the car, just a couple of small bruises and a little shock. At least here there was food and water so he could make full recovery, if he was left alone for a couple of days.

  The little old lady who went by the name of Florrie lived on her own, and Jimmy was her only companion. She would spend hours talking to Jimmy during the day as she went about her house keeping work. Charlie also liked Florrie and the gentle way in which she spoke.

  The cage was a bit of a problem being so small there was no room to fly around. In fact if they were to flap their wings together they would probably hit each other. They both agreed that they would have to make the best of the situation they both found themselves in.

  Charlie was given a new name by the little old lady, now he was to be known as Timmy. Yes that has a nice ring to it she said. Timmy and Jimmy just like two peas in a pod.

  All Charlie could do now was dream of his nice big cage that he once called hom
e at Ringtail Place. Would he ever make it back, had Terry and Emily given up looking for him, had they already bought another Canary to replace him? After all they now had an empty cage and they wouldn't want to throw it away.

  As the time passed Charlie was feeling sadder and sadder, retreating into his own little world saying less and less to Jimmy. Who was also feeling very sad for Timmy? Realising that he was feeling very homesick, he would talk to him, hoping to comfort him and help him forget what he had just been through.

  Jimmy had no idea how he could help Charlie escape, and, as for getting home, he hadn't got a clue. He did not even know where Ringtail Place was.

  Chapter 7

  Henri awoke dazed and confused not really knowing where he was, or what had happened to him, but he did feel a little sore. As he looked around he realised he was perched high on a branch of a mangrove tree on the out skirts of a swamp, and in the distance he could see the clear blue sea.

  He had been tossed and tumbled around as he was blown all over the place by the violent storm that had struck Wynnum.

  Henri had never experienced such violent effects from the safety of his cage back home. He had been totally at the mercy of the weather and to where it wanted to blow him. He'd had no input as to the direction that he was being taken.

  In fact Henri had been blown right across part of Morton Bay, and was very lucky he had not come down into the water. He had somehow managed to grab hold of a branch in the mangrove swamp by the suburb of Birkdale. Now once again he was totally lost, only this time he had no friends to help him find his way home.

  Henri was now feeling lonelier than ever. Oh if only I had stayed in my cage he thought, and would he ever get home. His thoughts then changed to Charlie and of wondering what had happened to him during and after the storm. Was he still alive and where was he now? Maybe he was still with Hoppy. Yes, Hoppy would look after him. Because he knew the area well, or at least that was what Henri was hoping had happened.

  Henri spent a few moments gathering his wits about him. He made up his mind that he had to get out of the mangrove swamp and get to dry land as soon as possible. So he took off and flew above the mangrove, where he saw and could smell dry land, and headed in that direction.