Mr. Popper's Penguins

The following day is eventful at 432 Proudfoot Avenue, which is the address of the Popper’s house. The refrigerator serviceman arrives and observes Mr. Popper, who “had not shaved yet and was not very tidy” (30). The man advises Mr. Popper that it is unnecessary to have ventilation holes drilled into the refrigerator; Mr. Popper does not want to explain his plan for Captain Cook to spend time in the icebox to the serviceman, “who was already staring at Mr. Popper as if he thought Mr. Popper was not quite right in his head” (30). Mr. Popper offers the man a five dollar bill to complete the work, although he guiltily considers the food that this might have provided for his family. After the holes are bored, Mr. Popper requests that an extra handle be affixed to the inside of the icebox door. When the man starts backing out of the house without completing the work, Mr. Popper pays his last five dollar bill to encourage him to fix the handle. Just as the job is completed, Captain Cook enters the kitchen and pecks at the serviceman, who runs out the kitchen door.