Pushkin, left, and Paco.

One of the Mansion’s two parakeets died a couple of weeks ago, and every time I entered the Mansion, the residents told me that Pushkin, the surviving female parakeet (on the left) was lonely, had stopped chirping and was listless, and not eating much.

Living things are very important at the Mansion, everyone loves Summer the cat, who regally chooses a different room each night to sleep in.

Everyone stars checking the doors on cold nights to make sure she gets in. She always does.

I asked people at the Mansion if they wanted me to get another parakeet, but I didn’t really get an answer. Losing animals is hard for them.

Friday, several came up to me at Bingo and begged me to help get another parakeet. That was enough for me.

So Maria and I  went to Petco and chose a white one. Mary, who has been caring for the parakeets, told me onFriday how much she would love to have one to take care of.

I think people were confused about it. When an animal dies, it causes a lot of pain, and the very busy aides have to watch over the animals, the residents can be unpredictable.

But the birds were very much-loved, I could see that, and everybody was worried about Pushkin, after much discussion, Maria and I decided to just go out and get another female.

So on Saturday, Maria and I slipped in and put the new bird – she cost $21, her wings are clipped, and will soon grow back – inside.

Pushkin hopped right down and sat with the new bird – temporarily, according to Sylvie, named Paco – and the two have been together ever since.

Neither one will leave the other’s side.

Today, I went back to the Mansion to visit some residents and check on the new bird. Everyone was thrilled, the residents were all talking about the parakeets, and how lonely Pushkin was and how much they missed her chirping.

I could feel the excitement the minute I came in.

There is no shortage of chirping now, and this felt as good as anything  I have done with the Mansion residents. It really lifted the place up, residents who rarely speak came up to tell me about how much the two birds loved each other.

A story with a happy ending.

Maria felt that way also. I asked Sylvie to tell the Army Of Good about it, and we did a video together (see above.) Sylvie said it was hard for her to see how unhappy and lonely Pushkin was.

Sylvie writes her letters on a sofa next to the parakeet cage.

This is something the Mansion residents understand only too well. They have great empathy for animals. Thanks for helping.

If you wish to contribute to our Mansion adventures, please send a contribution to Jon Katz. P.O. Box 205, Cambridge, N.Y., 12816, or via Paypal, [email protected]. Please mark the check “The Mansion.”

You can also donate by going to the “Support The Army Of Good” button at the bottom of this post. All of that money will go to the Mansion Fund.