The Cricket In Times Square

Mario worries that Chester ate the $2 bill because the cricket wasn’t getting the right food. Mario takes Chester to Chinatown to ask Sai Fong what to feed him. It’s late when Mario arrives, and Sai Fong’s shop is closed, but Mario hears voices speaking in Chinese and knocks. Sai Fong is glad to see the “little clicket boy” (76). An elderly Chinese friend is visiting for dinner, and the old man is excited to meet Mario and Chester. Sai Fong invites Mario to share dinner with them. He sets another place with beautiful plates featuring an “Oriental” design and brings a purple robe for Mario to wear. Sai Fong wears a blue-and-green robe, and his friend wears a red-and-gold robe. Sai Fong places Chester’s cage in the middle of the table. The three share a delicious meal of different Chinese dishes including chow yuk, fried rice with pork, and duck with pineapple. Sai Fong makes a miniature version of the dinner for Chester, who chirps with joy. Mario, after getting used to chopsticks, greatly enjoys the meal.

After dinner, the two men smoke their pipes, and Mario explains the problem with Chester’s diet. The men consult a book written in Chinese and discover that an ancient Chinese princess fed her cricket mulberry leaves.