"A Redbird Christmas" by Fannie Flagg Quiz

Answer: He was named by the orphanage he grew up in

When Oswald was a baby, he was left on the steps of a church. He was found with no clues as to who left him. There was no note, just a can of Campbell's tomato soup in the basket with him. (Did the person who left him really expect a baby to eat the soup?) The orphanage chose "Oswald", because it was next on the list of boy's names. The "T." (for tomato) and "Campbell" were for the soup!

Answer: About six weeks

Oswald saw the doctor on November sixth. The doctor informed him that unless he left Chicago and moved to a milder climate as soon as possible, he couldn't guarantee that Oswald would even live until Christmas! However, if he did relocate to a warmer climate, he might be able to have one to two years, but that was all. I loved it when Oswald filled out the questionnaire for the doctor.

When asked: "Please list your complaints below:", Oswald promptly answered, "The Cubs need a new second baseman"!

Answer: Lost River, Alabama

Oswald's doctor gave him a brochure about a place that the doctor's father used to send his patients who had lung problems. It was a place called the Woodbound Hotel in Lost River, Alabama. After Oswald read the brochure, he decided to check it out. But after calling the number on the brochure, he found out that the hotel no longer existed.

The operator connected him with the Lost River community hall. He spoke with a woman named Frances Cleverdon, who told him there was a home near hers that would rent him a room for as long as he wanted it. Since he had a limited income and the rent was very reasonable, he made up his mind to go there.

Answer: A tamed redbird

Roy found Jack when he was just a baby bird. Two mean boys who lived in the area had shot Jack with their BB guns. Jack was still so young, Roy couldn't tell what kind of a bird he was. After treating the bird's wing, he kept him in the back of the store. To his surprise, Jack lived and became very tame. Once he grew, Roy saw that he was a redbird.

He named him Jack because he came into the store one morning and found that Jack had gotten into a box of Cracker Jacks!

Answer: Her sister Mildred

Frances' sister Mildred had never married. Frances hoped to change that when Oswald moved to Lost River. But Mildred went out of her way to annoy Frances as often as she could, and showed no interest in Oswald at all. Both Betty Kitchen and Frances thought Oswald "looks like an elf, but a nice elf". Mildred didn't help matters either, because she was always dying her hair a different color, and none of the colors looked natural!

Answer: The Mystic Order of the Royal Polka Dots

The Mystic Order of the Royal Polka Dots did a lot of good works in secret, because of their motto: "To Toot One's Own Horn Is Unattractive". They had a sister organization called The Mystic Order of the Royal Dotted Swiss who lived in the nearby town of Lillian, and often did projects together.

The members of the Royal Polka Dots were Frances, Mildred, Betty Kitchen, Dottie Nivens and Sylvia Underwood. Sylvia's nephew, Butch Manning and Oswald were honorary male members.

Answer: She looked in the store's window every day, watching Jack

Patsy was around five or six, and no one seem to know who she belonged to. She would stand looking in the store's side window every day, watching Jack, clearly fascinated by him. Roy finally convinced her to come inside so she could see Jack up close.

She became friends with Oswald right away. One day Oswald asked her when her birthday was, but Patsy said she didn't have one. Oswald told Patsy he didn't have one either, and together they made up a birthday for her, Oswald and Jack, too! Oswald bought Patsy a beanie decorated with Dr. Pepper bottle caps.

She loved it, wore it every day and she only took it off at bedtime.

Answer: She was lame

Butch found out that Patsy was living in a trailer back in the woods, so Frances decided to go talk to the people there. She met a woman named Tammie Suggs who told her that Patsy had "been dumped" on her by her father. Tammie told Frances that Patsy dragged her one leg behind her as she walked because she was crippled from birth.

A "quack" doctor had delivered Patsy with forceps. (Tammie's words were "the doctor jerked her out with forceps and it left her all twisted like that.") Some bones had been broken in her hip and pelvis and were improperly set. Patsy's mother died right after Patsy was born, and her father was constantly leaving Patsy with anybody he could find.

A few weeks later, Tammie showed up at Frances' house. Tammie informed Frances that she and her husband were moving to Arkansas. Neither of them wanted Patsy any more, so she offered her to Frances. Of course, Frances accepted immediately, glad to get Patsy away from them.

Answer: Becoming an artist

Since there wasn't much to do in Lost River, Oswald spent a lot of time on a boat dock by the river. He had become interested in bird-watching, so one day he decided to try his hand at drawing some of the birds he saw. As time passed, he began to do water color paintings as well, and became quite an expert at it. It was definitely to his benefit later!

Answer: Julian LaPonde

Roy was one of the few residents who had grown up in Lost River. He fell in love with Julian's daughter Marie, but Julian didn't approve because Roy wasn't a Catholic. Roy and Marie had planned to elope, but Julian caught them. He threatened to kill Roy if he ever came over to the other side of the river where Julian lived and meant it! Roy never married and still loved Marie, but she married someone else.

Answer: No

The man's name was Brent Boone. He came looking for Patsy because her father died, leaving Patsy an official ward of the state. He had stopped by Roy's store, looking for information about Tammie Suggs, hoping to still find Patsy in her so-called care. Oswald was there, and he and Roy lied to Boone, saying that the Suggs' had moved to either Canada or Mexico, they couldn't remember which place. Roy asked what would happen to Patsy if she was found. Boone replied that since she had no other family, she would have to be placed in an orphanage. Oswald hated that idea! After Boone left, the residents of Lost River considered Patsy as Frances' permanent ward, as they believed Boone would not be back.

Answer: No

The two doctors were in the town of Point Clear for a medical convention. They decided to do some fishing, but due to their trouble with their motor, had drifted downstream to Lost River. They were unable to do anything for Patsy, as they were sports medicine specialists, but they were able to recommend a doctor named Sam Glickman, who was a specialist in birth injuries such as Patsy's.

After a preliminary exam, Dr. Glickman told Frances and Oswald to bring her to his office in Atlanta for x-rays.

He told them that Patsy must be in considerable pain, because her bones were pressing on the nerves and would get worse as she grew if nothing was done about it.

Answer: Three

Patsy's bones had to be broken again, and then reset properly. Plus it would require extensive physical therapy afterwards. She would actually have to learn to walk again. Because the whole process was going to be so expensive, Dr. Glickman agreed to waive his surgical fees. Still, it was going to cost over one hundred thousand dollars! Frances and Oswald were determined to find the money somehow! The town held numerous fund-raisers, and several near-by towns also did the same. Oswald had eighteen water color paintings done.

He took them to an art gallery in Point Clear, and the owner offered him two hundred and fifty dollars for them. After he saw the check, he was shocked to see that she had paid him two hundred and fifty dollars for each painting! He contributed the money to Patsy's medical fund, and they finally had enough money to pay all of Patsy's expenses.

Answer: No

Roy had come into the store that morning and found Jack dead on the floor. Knowing how much Patsy adored Jack, he knew she would be devastated and it might affect the outcome of her surgeries. To keep her from coming to the store that day, Frances told Patsy that Roy had the measles and she wouldn't be able to see Jack. Patsy was okay with that, but insisted on seeing Jack on the way to the hospital the next day.

Answer: Yes

They all knew that Patsy would want to see Jack before she left. Roy decided to swallow his pride and took Jack across the river to see Julian LaPonde because he was a taxidermist. At first, Julian refused to help, but after seeing Patsy's picture and listening to her story, he agreed to help.

It took him all night, but when he returned Jack's body to Roy, Jack looked great! Julian had done an expert job. When Roy offered to pay Julian, he refused, saying "I do it for the little gull!" (He was a Creole, so he had an accent).

When Roy got back to the store, Oswald painted red spots on him so Patsy would think it was the measles. They wouldn't allow her to go into the store, but Roy stood by the window with Jack on his finger. He made Jack bounce up and down, and it fooled Patsy completely.

Answer: True

Patsy was very upset at not being able to see Jack after having been away so long. She was worried that Jack would be hurt, not being used to being in the wild. Oswald had told her one time that if she wished hard enough for something, it would happen if it was meant to. Since it was Christmas time, Patsy sent a letter to Santa Claus reading: "Deer Santa Klause, Please let me see Jack. I am scared he is hurt. I do not want any presents. I have been a good girle I poromise. I am living at Mrs. Cleveaton's now.

It is the blue hose by the post offiec. Love your firend Patsy." (The spelling is exactly how Patsy wrote it.) Everyone felt terrible about the lie, but didn't want to ruin her Christmas by telling her the truth.

Answer: True

Patsy spent all of Christmas Day outside searching for Jack. She was so disappointed that evening, she didn't want to open any of her presents, but she did to please Frances. But the day after Christmas, Frances awoke to hear Patsy screaming for her to come to her room.

When Frances came, Patsy was very excited. "I saw him, I just saw Jack! He landed right here on my windowsill and blinked at me!" Frances looked out of the window and was shocked. Not only was there snow on the ground, the first snow ever seen in Lost River, but there were dozens and dozens of redbirds all over! Mildred insisted it was a Christmas miracle! Roy and Butch Manning believed the birds came because of the fifty pounds of sunflower seeds they had spread around.

Answer: Frances

Oswald returned briefly to Chicago for another check-up. The doctor was astounded to find Oswald's lungs had cleared almost completely! To Oswald's surpise, Frances proposed to him, saying: "Listen. I never thought I'd want a new husband, but I'll have you if you'll have me. Patsy needs a daddy. She likes you, and so do I." He realized he loved both Frances and Patsy, so he agreed.

Answer: True

When Roy took Jack's body to Julian, he found Marie was there. She had been divorced from her first husband. They ended up back together. Julian had no objections this time, as he also found his spouse. He met Mildred, and was totally enchanted with her.

They married and moved to New Orleans. The other one to marry was Butch Manning, who married the nurse that had been Patsy's therapist while she was hospitalized.

Answer: A veterinarian

Patsy recovered completely and learned to walk normally. She became a veterinarian who specialized in the treatment of birds. Oswald painted a picture for her from a photo taken when she had her first birthday party with him and Jack. He called it, "Patsy and Jack On Their Birthday". She had it hung in the community hall for everyone to enjoy.