IV.
Returning to his old abode
Ralph saw a flash—something explode—
high over Niceland's soaring spires.
Looking close, he saw within
Gene's penthouse pad a party wild.
Not only this!—the fireworks read,
"We Love You Felix—Happy 30!"
and other such. In Ralph's eyes, though,
there did exist a further slight—
right there, within Gene's penthouse walls—
Pac-Man! Eating all in sight.
"That cherry-chasing vacuum ball!
Not of this game! And yet I'm here—
no invitation came my way,
despite my role in this affray."
However Niceland might be built
for tiny folk a third Ralph's size,
he entered there.
Not once in all these thirty years
had Ralph within these hallowed halls
e'er stood. He took the lift, up to
the top; took breath; there rang the bell,
full stop. A moment passed.
Within the door, the party heaved;
the Nicelanders did toast their game,
drank, danced and sang—"Hooray for us!"
And Felix—was their favorite guy;
they drank his health—praise to the skies.
"He fixes things the best of all!"
…Ding-dong…a chime was faintly heard.
"Must be ol' Mario—always late!
I'll get the door," said Mary mild.
She pulled the handle, and did expect
to see a one of her own height.
But to her shock, eyes traveling up,
there loomed a well-known face—though smiling.
Ralph did try with all his pow'r
to hunker down and be her size,
and, as said, smiled most genially.
She screamed—and forthwith shut the door,
said to the others, "Ralph is here!"
"He'll wreck the party! What to do?"
"Fix it, Felix!" "Felix, do!"
They cried.
Smiling his usual grin,
he said, "Be calm—I'll talk to him."
Felix stepped into the hall—
slight fear, perhaps—but that was all;
Ralph did not seem to have the aim
to wreck a thing—he'd come to talk.
"Why, hello, Ralph—to what do I
owe pleasure such to see you here?"
"I saw explosions in the sky
and was concerned, in case that I
could help you out in any way,"
Fibbed Ralph. "Oh, those are just the
fireworks we have on hand;
tonight we celebrate our game—
a score and ten of years have we
persisted in good Litwak's halls.
How did we do it?"—and here he laughed
a nervous laugh—for they both knew
he treated on divergent aims
that they both had as Good—and Bad.
"Today's the day?" said Ralph with mock
surprise, and slapped his forehead large.
"I'm such a fool with dates and such.
Felicitations!"—"Uh, you too!"
An awkward silence did descend—
what more to say? Good Felix stood,
with simp'ring smile—and Ralph, content
to let him twist upon the wind
a while—stood too. Just then the door
swung back—a party guest told Felix
cake would be served, within two shakes.
"Hm, cake," mused Ralph. "I've heard of it—
that it's delicious, and the taste
of just one slice is heaven itself! But
no-one ever throws it out,
so I have never had a taste."
The silence dropped again.
"I don't suppose," said Felix meek,
"You'd like to come and try a piece?"
"Oh joy! Let's go!" said Ralph to this, and
next thing everybody knew,
the two front doors flew open wide—
there, Ralph and Felix—side by side.