July 8. “Button, this morning Dost tweeted—Move over Nostradamus. Paul the oracle octopus is here.”

“What are you talking about?”

”Haven’t you heard of Paul, the octopus, who has been successfully predicting the outcome of every world cup match played by Germany?”

“Are you serious?”

You haven’t been reading the newspapers, I notice, or you would have known. Paul is in every newspaper. He’s become an international celebrity overnight. I have a clipping for you.”

“I am not a soccer fan and have no idea what’s happening!”

“In Kolkata, parrots do the job Paul is doing. An astrologer sits with some cards spread out in front of him. He also has a parrot in a cage which emerges to pick a card or cards. After the parrot picks the cards, the astrologer does a reading.”

“You must tell me more about your city one of these days.”

“Would love to.”