Mr. Popper's Penguins

The theater manager tells Mr. Greenbaum that the closing act, “The Marvelous Marcos,” have not arrived, and the audience is demanding a refund. Mrs. Popper suggests that the penguins be allowed to rehearse on the stage in order to entertain the theatergoers. The penguins march out and perform their tricks in response to whatever piece she plays on the piano. The birds march, have a flipper fight, and toboggan down from ladders, while “[t]he manager and the audience […] all [hold] their sides, laughing” (102). The manager orders ice cream cones for the penguins as well as for Bill and Janie.

Mr. Greenbaum tells the Poppers that they are “real troupers—the kind we need in show business” (104) because they helped the manager by performing unexpectedly. He offers them a 10-week contract at $5,000 per week. Mr. Popper asks his wife if this is acceptable, and she responds, “Yes, that’s very satisfactory” (104). The penguins’ first performance will be the following Thursday in Seattle.

The family prepares for the road trip by purchasing new clothes and straightening the house. Mr. Greenbaum pays them their first week’s salary in advance.