"Papa's Parrot" is an example of what's called realistic fiction. This means that it deals with situations that could happen to just about anyone, telling us a story in which recognizably real life events take place.

At some point in their lives, most young people get embarrassed by their parents. It's a perfectly normal part of growing-up. And it's is this particular rite of passage that forms the basis of what happens in "Papa's Parrot." Young Harry doesn't visit his old man's candy store as much as he used to because he's embarrassed at the way his dad's always talking to his parrot, Rocky. Harry's embarrassment has caused him to neglect an important family relationship. Again, this is something to which most of us can relate and further illustrates why "Papa's Parrot" is an example of realistic fiction. Although the unusual way that Harry discovers just how much his father misses him may not be something that most of us will experience, the underlying emotions are instantly recognizable, all the same.