CBC Radio | Posted: June 27, 2016 12:32 PM | Last Updated: July 4, 2016
Media | Charlie's conundrum
Caption: Charlie McGettigan is eight years old, freckled and fearless. Despite her confidence, Charlie wrestles with a problem that has the kids at school making faces at her.
Meet Charlie McGettigan, eight years old, freckled and fearless. Charlie's mom is a Romanian dancer and her dad is a Newfoundland rocker. She's a powerful combination of those forces and then some!
Charlie is a wild child who climbs cabinets and window sills, and leaps into the deep end of a pool. What strikes me most about young Charlie McGettigan is her deep sensitivity and care for others. You can see that in her soul-stirring bond with her guinea pig Turnip.
Yet despite all her confidence and empathy, Charlie wrestles with her own difficulty that has the kids at school making faces at her. She's quick to believe their taunts, even though she's a super-amazing brilliant kid.
For these reasons, I invited Charlie for a sleepover.
With her low tolerance for boredom and ability to cut through complications, she'll be an asset to our problem-solving - but will strangers Scaachi Koul and Alan Zweig be able to help young Charlie through her troubles?
Also, a special thanks to Charlie's mom Miruna for accompanying her, and Sonya Singh from the Fairmont Royal York.
Sook-Yin Lee
PHOTOS FROM THE EPISODE
Image | Charlie McGettigan
Caption: Charlie McGettigan is eight years old. She still has trouble reading chapter books like her copy of Winnie the Pooh. (Adam Litovitz)
Image | Sook-Yin Lee hallway - Sleepover
Caption: Sook-Yin searches for her room amongst the many doors.
Image | Sook-Yin Lee, Sleepover prep
Caption: It is exciting times as Sook-Yin Lee prepares the room for the guests of her first Sleepover! (Adam Litovitz)
Image | Sook-Yin Lee waiting on bed
Caption: Patiently waiting for the first guest to arrive. (Adam Litovitz)
Image | Sook-Yin Lee and Charlie Meet
Caption: Hi Charlie McGettigan! Sook-Yin eagerly welcomes guest number one. (Adam Litovitz)
Image | Sook-Yin Lee and Scaachi Koul
Caption: Next into the room, Buzzfeed writer Scaachi Koul - this is shaping up to be an interesting evening. (Adam Litovitz)
Image | Sook-Yin Lee, Charlie and Scaachi Koul taking in the view
Caption: Sook-Yin Lee, Charlie and Scaachi settle into the room and take in the great view. (Adam Litovitz)
Image | Scaachi Koul picking a bed
Caption: Scaachi's chosen her bed. (Adam Litovitz)
Image | Charlie - Sleepover, Sook-Yin Lee
Caption: Charlie seems more interested in the floor. (Adam Litovitz and Sook-Yin Lee)
Image | Alan Zweig and Sook-Yin Lee
Caption: The third guest has finally arrived! Welcome, documentary filmmaker Alan Zweig. (Adam Litovitz)
Image | Charlie - Sleepover, Sook-Yin Lee
Caption: What have you gotten yourself into, Charlie? (Adam Litovitz and Sook-Yin Lee)
Image | Alan Zweig
Caption: Alan's got his bed. (Sook-Yin Lee)
Image | Alan Zweig and Scaachi Koul - Sleepover
Caption: Alan Zweig and Scaachi Koul - first meetings can be awkward. (Adam Litovitz and Sook-Yin Lee)
Image | Sook-Yin Lee and Charlie - Sleepover
Caption: This night is definitely going to be interesting. (Adam Litovitz)
Image | Alan Zweig, Scaachi Koul, Charlie and Sook-Yin Lee - Sleepover
Caption: Now that everyone is here, we can start the experiment. (Adam Litovitz)
Image | Charlie - Sleepover, Sook-Yin Lee
Caption: Reading and math are a bit difficult for Charlie.
Image | Scaachi Koul
Caption: Scaachi offers some advice: everyone has something that is hard and embarrassing to do. (Adam Litovitz)
Image | Scaachi Koul, Sook-Yin Lee - Sleepover
Caption: It is time to take a dip in the pool after tackling Charlie's problem. (Adam Litovitz)
Image | Alan Zweig - Sleepover, Sook-Yin Lee
Caption: Alan decides to sit this one out ... wonder what is stopping him? (Adam Litovitz)
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