Mister Ed is Neglected
Mister Ed awoke with a start, his eyes wet with tears. The real Addison had entered the barn and was again talking to Wilbur.
"After that nightmare," Mister Ed wailed to himself, "I'm even happy to see him!"
"I've decided to let Kay keep her purchases," Addison was saying. "After all, it's only money."
"Only money?" asked Wilbur. "Are you feeling alright Roger?"
"Of course," said Addison. "I haven't felt this good in years. By the way, could I borrow your typewriter, I have some names I'd like to try . . . some letters I'd like to type out and my machine needs a new ribbon."
"Well . . . sure Roger," said Wilbur, somewhat doubtfully as he had his own baby names to type. But he and Carol had agreed to keep the news a secret from all but close family
Or had they?
At that moment Kay and Carol rushed in.
"Have you heard the news doll?" asked Kay.
"Of course I have."
"No, not that news . . . the Posts are going to have a baby!"
"Well," said Addison. "Congratulations!"
"Oh, thank you so much," said Carol.
"I thought we were going to keep it our secret?" said Wilbur quizzically.
"Well Kay told me that . . . ."
"I thought we were going to keep that a secret!" Addison exclaimed.
"Well, Addison doll, you know I can't hold my tongue," Kay explained.
"Of course," said Addison dryly. "When I proposed we didn't have to make any engagement announcements, half the state of California knew by noon the following day."
"Well doll, with news that good, who can keep a secret!" Kay responded.
This seemed to set the matter to mends between the Addisons, however Wilbur was still in the dark.
"Tell me, am I to be in on the secret or am I part of the other half of the state of California, the half that doesn't know?" joked Wilbur.
"Well you see, we're . . . ." started Kay.
"Not so fast," interrupted Addison, "I should at have the honours at least this one time, before I need to wander around Death Valley Junction in a futile effort to seek out the uninformed.
Addison placed an arm around his wife, and proudly (and pompously) announced:
"We are expecting an addition to our little family."
This set off a round of mutual congratulations that went on for several minutes. Mister Ed felt more annoyed than ever.
"Humans!" he thought to himself. "By the time they're finishing congratulating each other, the babies will be ten years old!"
Worst of all, Wilbur was already ignoring him!
Mister Ed sulkily wandered off to a corner of his stall and pretended to fall asleep.
Of course, Mister Ed didn't talk to anybody (or in front of anybody!) but Wilbur. Mister Ed had forgotten that there was no use in Wilbur talking to him then and there - not without Carol and the Addisons thinking he had lost his mind!
"Did you hear the good new Ed?" said Wilbur suddenly, forgetting as well.
"Wilbur," said Carol gently, "Mister Ed doesn't know what we're talking about."
"Besides," scoffed Addison. "That fat old clown's fast asleep."
"I guess he is asleep," said Wilbur, looking at Mister Ed. "Poor Ed must be tired. Oh well, I'll tell him later"
"Oh Wilbur," sighed Carol.
"I'm just kidding around," said Wilbur awkwardly. ". . . How about we all go out to dinner to celebrate!"
"That'll be wonderful" said Carol.
"Wait . . . who's paying?" asked Addison.
"I am" said Wilbur.
"Wonderful" Addison echoed.
"Diamond Roger Addison," scoffed Kay, "the last of the big spenders!"
The four parents-to-be left the barn, Mister Ed was alone and was again irritated.
"Wilbur hasn't even come back to talk to me," Mister Ed complained, forgetting that he had pretended to be asleep.
"Tells the Addisons, but not me" said Mister Ed, again forgetting that he had been pretending to be asleep ever since the secret spilled out.
"Turns my barn into a nursery, and leaves me to grow old in my stall!" Mister Ed cried, forgetting that was just a horrible nightmare.
Mister Ed suddenly remembered all that he forgotten, and said to himself hopefully, "Well maybe buddy boy will remember me when he comes home from dinner. He'll speak to me, and when the excitement begins to wear off, things'll go back to normal.
Mister Ed waited . . . and waited. It grew dark, the stars shone in the sky. Still no Wilbur. Finally, exhausted and miserable, he fell into a deep sleep. For real, this time.