The Cricket in Times Square by George Selden

Author:George Selden [Selden, George]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781466863620
Publisher: Macmillan
Published: 2014-02-25T08:00:00+00:00

TEN

The Dinner Party

Late one night Chester Cricket was very busy inside the newsstand. As soon as the Bellinis went home, he hopped out of the matchbox and began to clean up. First he pushed in the box so its sides were even and then slid it over beside the alarm clock. Next he pulled a piece of Kleenex out of the Kleenex box and dragged it back and forth across the shelf. When the shelf was dusted, he picked up the tissue in his two front legs and polished the cricket cage so its bars shone. He wiped off the glass in the front of the alarm clock and the radio too until he could see his own reflection. The dial of the clock was luminous and it shed a very soft green light. Chester wanted everything to be perfect on this particular evening. There was going to be a party.

It was exactly two months since Chester had arrived in New York, and the three animals wanted to celebrate the anniversary. Nothing too formal, you understand—just a little dinner for everyone. Tucker Mouse had volunteered to let them use the drain pipe, but Chester didn’t want to eat amid all the waste paper and rubbish his friend had collected. So after many conferences, they resolved on the newsstand. It was sheltered, and quite big enough, and the radio could provide nice background music.

Tucker Mouse jumped up beside Chester. “How is the food coming, Tucker?” asked the cricket. Tucker had been put in charge of refreshments.

“Hic hic hic,” laughed Tucker Mouse, rubbing his front feet together, “wait till I tell you.” He lifted up one foot. “I have: two chunks liverwurst, one slice ham, three pieces bacon—from a bacon, lettuce, and tomato sandwich—some lettuce and tomato—from said sandwich—whole-wheat, rye, and white crusts, a big gob cole slaw, two squares from a Hershey chocolate bar, the end of an Oh! Henry candy bar—with nuts!—and now comes the climax.” Tucker paused. “Iced soft drinks!”

“How did you get the ice?” asked Chester.

“Wait, I’ll tell you,” said Tucker. “All day I’ve been hiding by the lunch counter. When the soda jerks made a Coke I grabbed the ice they spilled, which I then took to the drain pipe. There,” he went on with especial pride, “it happens I have a heatproof, insulated bag saved up for just such an occasion. I put in the ice, shut up the opening—we have ice! Nice, eh?”

He sat back on his haunches and grinned at Chester.

“Very nice,” said Chester. “Where have you got the drinks?”

“In paper cups,” said Tucker. “And no mixing of drinks either. For each kind of soft drink—another cup.”

“That’s wonderful,” said the cricket with admiration.

“Oh, it’s nothing really,” said Tucker, waving a foot. “I mean, it’s something—but nothing too much.” He looked around at the shelf and clock and everything. “You are to be congratulated on the cleanliness. Of course, it isn’t as important as food-getting, but to be clean is very nice too.”

While they were talking, Harry Cat came in through the opening at the side of the newsstand.

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