The Cricket In Times Square

Mario returns to the newsstand with Papa, excited to see his cricket. Chester’s chirp makes Papa smile. Chester eats the unusual meal Mario brings him—bread, brussels sprouts, and a sugar lump—out of Mario’s hand. Mario takes Chester to a nearby restaurant and shows him to Mickey, the counterman. Mickey makes Chester a miniature ice cream soda and gives him a glass of water. When Chester falls into the water glass, Mario dries him off. Mickey labels a paper cup “CRICKET” and offers free water anytime.

Papa talks about Italian opera with Mr. Smedley, a music teacher. Mr. Smedley routinely buys a copy of Musical America once a month. The entire Bellini family loves opera and listens over the radio in the newsstand when it’s broadcast. Although Mr. Smedley is shy about insects, Mario puts Chester in his hand and asks him to chirp—which Chester does, “a perfect middle C” (40). Mario asks if Mr. Smedley would give Chester music lessons, but the music teacher says that nature has already given Chester natural ability. He says that Chester is like Orpheus, a legendary Greek musician whose music was so powerful that everyone—people, animals, trees—stopped to listen. Mr.