“We didn’t suppose you would,” said Bob. “But Mr. Brandon is going to make his headquarters in Clintonia for several weeks, so you don’t have to worry about that. As soon as the doctor says you can make the trip, we’ll see if we can’t borrow or beg an automobile somewhere, and make the trip to the sending station in style.”
“Now that I’ve got something to look forward to, I’ll get well in a hurry,” Larry assured him.
“Let’s see if you can still make the little birdies jealous by singing their songs better than they can,” suggested Jimmy.
“You certainly flatter me, but I’ll do the best I can,” laughed Larry. “What shall it be first?”
“How about the mocking bird?” suggested 121 Herb. “I think that’s one of the prettiest ones, Larry. I never heard a southern mocking bird, but if it sounds like that, I’m going to take a trip to Dixieland some day just to hear one.”
“I never heard one, either,” confessed Larry, with a grin.
“You didn’t!” they all exclaimed. “Where did you learn it, then?”
“A professional bird imitator taught me most of the notes,” said Larry. “Of course, I didn’t need any lessons to imitate the cute little canary bird, and the robin’s notes and a few others I learned by listening to the birds themselves. I suppose it would be best to learn them all that way, if you could, but I never had the time or the money to go traveling all over the country.”
“Well, we’re still waiting for the mocking bird,” Herb reminded him. “I’ll sing ‘Listen to the Mocking Bird,’ and you come in at the proper places with the bird effects.”
“Nobody asked you to sing, did they?” asked Jimmy.