A Cricket in Times Square: The End

So by now you have finished reading A Cricket in Times Square. Didn't the story have a satisfying ending? Wasn't it interesting how, even though the end was a little sad, really, it was all right for everyone, including us the reader? That's the mark of a Really Good Book!

The story begins to end when Chester feels a little "Septemberish." I don't think that's a real word, do you? But when I read it, I knew right away what "Septemberish" feels like - when the daytime air changes from hot to cool, when I have to wear shoes instead of bare feet, when the leaves in my yard start to get tinged with red and orange - those are all things I notice when I start to feel Septemberish. What about you - how do you feel "Septemberish"?

It was so thoughtful of Chester to play Papa Bellini's favorite musical piece for his final performance in the Times Square subway station. It's the most famous piece from the Italian opera Lucia di Lammermoor. This piece is a sextet, which is a song written for six singers. That's why Harry Cat said, "Too bad there aren't five more crickets like Chester!" You can listen to the sextet here - can you hear six different voices?

What did you think about Mario's reaction to Chester's leaving? Why wasn't he more sad? I mean, he lost his pet. Why was Mario so understanding? 

We say goodbye to Chester as he sets out traveling north on a train, headed back to his home in Connecticut. Doesn't it feel like there could be another story here or maybe a whole other book? I wonder if there is...?