Double Fudge

When Peter, Fudge, and Mr. and Mrs. Hatcher return to their apartment in New York, they learn that Uncle Feather still isn’t talking. Fudge seems unbothered, and he is certain that Uncle Feather will talk soon. Peter checks in on Uncle Feather, who won’t even say his favorite phrase: “Bonjour, stupid.” Peter wonders if Uncle Feather was lonely, but Fudge insists that “[he] know[s] [his] bird” (104), and Uncle Feather will definitely talk soon. That night, Peter hears Fudge talking to Uncle Feather, and Uncle Feather talks back to Fudge. Peter realizes that Uncle Feather hasn’t talked since the first time Fudge’s friend Rich came over, and he becomes suspicious. Peter spies on Fudge and catches him pretending to be Uncle Feather. Fudge bursts into tears, and Mr. and Mrs. Hatcher come running to Fudge’s bedroom. Amidst his sobs, Fudge comes clean: He tells Peter and his parents that when Rich came over, Fudge put a marble in Uncle Feather’s cage. Fudge thinks that Uncle Feather swallowed the marble, and that’s why he can’t talk anymore. The next day, Mrs. Hatcher calls the veterinarian, who assures her that Uncle Feather probably didn’t swallow Fudge’s marble. However, the vet can’t explain why the bird stopped talking.