Mister Ed's Gift
One morning, several months later, Mister Ed was eagerly awaiting Wilbur's appearance in the barn. He had purchased his present, saving up the money collecting old bottles at odd hours, giving rides in the park on occasion, and a variety of tasks too numerous to mention. All with Wilbur being none the wiser.
He had delivered the present himself, early this morning . . . much to the surprise of the seller who found a "trained" horse with the money in an envelope with written instructions to boot.
The present was behind the barn, out of sight of Wilbur, Carol and the Addisons alike.
"It feels good to be so good!" chuckled Mister Ed to himself.
Wilbur was often late these mornings, not leaving Carol until nearly mid-morning. A telephone call to Wilbur's office led to frequent disaster.
Wilbur would think it was Carol, and knock over his pencils, protractor, ruler in a nervous rush to answer the phone.
Still, he wasn't half as bad as Addison.
From the stall door he could see Kay and Addison in their yard. Addison was busy working in his garden, while Kay was relaxing on lawn recliner reading a book.
On Addison's insistence, Kay was lying atop several pillows, had a small canopy pitched over her, a scarf tied around her head and a blanket on her legs. She also had pitchers of iced tea and lemonade at her side. Not to mention an ice pack and a hot water bottle lying in wait, should she need either or both them.
"Oh, come on doll! This is ridiculous!" complained Kay.
"What is!" asked Addison, quickly abandoning his weeding to rush to his wife's side. "Are you alright, my dear? Too warm? Too cold? Too sunny? Too shady?"
"Too babied," said Kay bluntly. "I appreciate the concern but you're going overboard."
"Nothing is too good for my Kay!" countered Addison.
"How about a new mink coat!" Kay replied.
"Gladly," said Addison.
"Oh dear," said Kay, nervously. "You'd better sit down, Addison. "The excitement is too much for you."
"But darling . . . " started Addison.
With that Kay stood up, carried another chair over, firmly guided Addison down handing him a glass of lemonade.
"There we are doll. You just sit here beside mother until you feel better and think about what you said. I'll be lying down right beside you.
"Thank you my dear" Addison gasped.
"People," said Mister Ed, shaking his head.
Presently, Wilbur entered the barn. Wilbur was very calm, all things considered. He only rattled the door a little while trying to open it the wrong way, and knocked over a pencil or two while sitting at his desk.
"Hey, buddy boy," said Mister Ed. "Why don't you look behind the barn?"
"Not right now," said Wilbur, nervously eying the telephone. "I've got work to do."
"No wonder," Mister Ed remarked. "You've been looking more at that phone than at your plans!"
"I am not," Wilbur replied. "I'm working as hard as ever."
"Then how about taking a short break and looking at what I have for you behind the barn!"
"Okay, Ed," sighed Wilbur. "I'm curious to see what you have up your . . . hooves."
Wilbur followed Mister Ed outside the barn, ensuring that the barn door remained open behind him - all the better to hear the telephone.
"Suprise!" said Mister Ed proudly.
It was a shiny black four-wheel buggy with white wheels, and canopy overhead.
"This is great" said Wilbur. "But . . . how much did it cost?"
"Nothing . . . I worked for it and paid the bill myself," Mister Ed answered.
"Amazing!" said Wilbur, looking at the shiny vehicle.
"I can carry you, Carol, and the baby around in it on a drive . . . while until the baby is old enough to learn how to ride," Mister Ed explained. "I can even carry the Addisons if they decide to sneak along."
"Why Ed!" said Wilbur. "I don't know what to say."
"How about a thank you . . . and some of those fresh apples you've got hidden in your filing cabinet?"
"Okay, Ed" said Wilbur. "Thank you."
Mister Ed followed Wilbur back into the barn where he watched him clumsily open the filing cabinet and drop the bag of apples.
"So Wilbur . . . when are you and Carol expecting the baby?" said Mister Ed.
Wilbur dropped the apples he had picked up.
"Any day now," said Wilbur, starting to gather the apples again.
"Humans" Mister Ed muttered to himself as he returned to his stall.