The Cricket in Times Square
One day, I read a book called” The Cricket in Times Square”. In the book, a cricket called Chester fell into a picnic basket. He was taken from his home in Connecticut to New York on a train. There a boy called Mario adopted Chester as a pet. He also made two friends in New York, Tucker mouse and Harry cat.
One day, Mario’s family discovered that Chester could sing. Mario’s family was poor so when all the people came rushing over to hear Chester signing, Mama had a chance to pass out newspapers about the cricket’s (melody). Soon, all the paper were (sold out). Chester wasn’t happy in New York though. Finally Tucker and Harry persuaded Chester to go back to Connecticut. Tucker and Harry promised to visit him (next summer).
(One day in a summer, the sun is beating down.) Tucker and Harry sneaked into the train which could take him to Connecticut.
“I hope it doesn’t rain” Tucker said (anxiously), “I don’t like getting wet”.
“Me too” meowed Harry. Luckily the trip went smoothly, and it didn’t rain. When they arrived in Connecticut, they were surprised to see the sun shining. Then they heard a chirp. There, in the middle of the platform was Chester. He led them away from the crowd.
“How was the journey?” Chester chirped.
“Fine” replied Tucker.
(As soon as they got out of the train station, they saw big grassy plain, bees and butterflies were busy pollinating flowers, there were fishes, frogs, lily pads in a big blue pond. “It’s a little bit too quiet out here but it’s beautiful compared to New York city”, Tucker said) Tucker and Harry walked to Chester’s home – a tree stump.
“How do we get in?” asked Tucker.
“Like this” Chester chirped a song, suddenly the stump opened up and they found themselves falling down a long passageway (like taking a roller-coaster).
“Whew, what a fall”! Harry exclaimed. “Why have you brought us here, Chester?”
Chester just (beckoned to them to follow him)
He led them past rom after room after room, finally he opened a door and inside (was Tucker’s favorite food)
“Liverwurst” Tuckers cried happily. Suddenly just as they were about to eat, they heard a sound like this “gurgle, gurgle gurgle…”
“what’s that?” Harry cried, “Is it a ghost?”
“No, it’s my (empty) stomach, Tucker said “let’s eat”.
After dinner, Chester led Tucker and Harry outside.
“What do you want to play?” asked Chester, but right at that moment another cat jumped over to them and started chasing Tucker around and around and around. “Eeeeeeeeeeiiiiiiiikkkkkkk”, Tucker shrieked “Don’t chase, mouse and cats are supposed to be friends, that is the way in New York, make this mad cat stop !!!”. Luckily Chester thought up a plan, he played lullaby and the cat started to get sleepy. In no time at all, the cast was fast asleep.
“Let’s get out of there “Harry whispered to Chester and Tucker. They nodded yes, so they hid themselves in the grass and crept away.
“Let’s go to the big oak tree” Chester said, “There are lots of places to hide in, we can play hide-and-seek”.
“It sounds fun” Harry grinned.
Then they realized they have arrived at the oak tree. Everyone except Tucker looked for a good hiding place.
Harry hid in a burrow while Chester blended with a leaf.
“Ready or not, here I come” Tucker screamed.
He searched everywhere from top to bottom, bottom to top. “Come out”, he finally screamed, “I can’t find you”
After Chester and Harry came out of their hiding place, Harry suggested, “let’s have a concert, Chester can play for us”. So, Chester played country music, slow, peaceful and delight. Instead of roar of traffic and the hum of human beings, Tucker and Harry heard bullfrogs croaking along with Chester ‘s song, leaves rustling as a melody. A few squirrels peeked out from their burrows to enjoy the concert as well.
(The last rays of sunlight streaked across the treetops below. Animals scurried through the shadows. The air was fresh with the scent of flowers. The sky become darkening, the stars beginning twinkling. It was the same star Chester saw in New York.)
When they got back to Chester’s home, they were so tired, they went straight to bed. The next morning, Tucker was going back to New York. Chester packed a basket of liverwurst for them to eat on their trip. They waved goodbye and did a secret handshake.
