Paddington Here and Now Read Online Free PDF Page B

poster on a nearby wall, one of many Paddington had recently seen dotted about the area. “I don’t suppose for one moment you would care to do a recital for me, would you? I’m putting on a concert in aid of charity, and a piano-playing bear is just the kind of thing I needto round things off. The icing on the cake, as it were.”
    “Jonathan and Judy will be home for the half term, and Mr. Brown is taking us all to see it as a treat,” said Paddington doubtfully. “So I shall be there anyway.”
    “Splendid!” exclaimed the man. “In fact, it couldn’t be better.”

    “I shall have to ask Mr. Gruber first,” said Paddington. “It is his piano, and he says there aren’t many like it left in the world.”
    “Leave all that to me,” said the man. “Don’t say another word. You shall have the best piano that money can buy. One that will suit your unique talents. Your obbligatos have to be heard to be believed. As for your glissandos…words fail me.”
    Paddington had no idea what the man was talking about, but he couldn’t help feeling pleased. “It isn’t easy with paws,” he admitted. “I fell off the stool when I was playing the ‘Trish Trash Polka.’”
    “It happens to the best of players,” said the man, brushing it aside. “Perhaps we had better have your paws insured. On the other hand, you may have been trying to run before you could walk.”
    Paddington stared at him. “It happened only this morning,” he said excitedly. “And that’s exactly what Mr. Gruber said.”
    He considered the matter for a moment or two. “I shall need some rolls,” he announced.
    “My dear sir”—the man raised his hands to high heaven—“you shall have all the rolls you need atthe party afterward. They will be yours for the asking.”
    “It will be too late then,” said Paddington. “I need them while I’m playing.”
    “You do?” The man looked at him in amazement.
    “This is fantastic,” he cried. “A novelty act! I can hardly believe my ears. There may be other bears in the world who play the piano, although I can’t say I’ve come across any before, but there can’t be many who have their supper at the same time.”
    “If you like,” said Paddington eagerly, “I could eat a marmalade sandwich while I’m playing. I usually keep one under my hat in case of an emergency.”
    The man went into ecstasies at the thought.
    “I can see it all,” he cried, closing his eyes as he gazed heavenward. “You might save that until the end. It could bring down the house.”
    Paddington eyed him nervously. “I hope it doesn’t land on me,” he said.
    “Ah, so you tell jokes as well,” said the man. “This gets better and better.”
    Reaching into an inside pocket, he produced some papers. “May I have your signature, kind sir? I just happen to have a form in my pocket.”
    While he was talking, he handed Paddington a gold pen. “Just sign along the dotted line.”
    Paddington did his best to oblige, and because the man looked important, he added his special paw print to show it was genuine.
    “Forgive my asking,” said the man, eyeing the print with interest. “Are you by any chance Russian?”
    “I was,” said Paddington, “but I’m nearly home now.”
    His words fell on deaf ears as the man tried reading the writing above the blobs. “Is that where you were born…Paddington?”
    “No,” said Paddington. “It’s my name. I’ve always been called that, ever since Mr. and Mrs. Brown found me in the railway station.”
    “In that case, we must change it to avoid any confusion,” said the man. “We don’t want the audience turning up at the wrong place, do we?”
    “Change it!” repeated Paddington hotly.
    “How about Padoffski?” said the man. “It will look better when I overstamp the posters, but you’re not to tell anyone that.”
    “How about Mrs. Bird?” asked Paddington. “She doesn’t like changes.”
    “Not until after the concert,” said the man,