The next day I was walking--in the early morning again as is my habit--when I was astonished to see the same strange markings on an abalone of my acquaintance!
"Ahoy, there, Sailor Bill!" I called, knocking rather loudly on his shell since he was a bit hard of hearing.
"What are these peculiar marks on your shell?"
"Avast there! Leave off the shoutin' and racket!--oh, it's YOU, Constable! Nice to see ya' this fine mornin'! And what might I be doin' fer ya?"
"I would like to know what these strange markings on your shell mean, Bill?"
"Market? Nah--I ain't been ta the market, Constable. An what would I be doin at the market anyhow?"
"Not MARKET, Bill! MARKINGS! I would like to know about these MARKINGS on your SHELL!"
"You are jokin' Constable! Ain't no MARKINS on MY shell!"
"But the ARE, Bill!"
...
A lady mollusk shyly opened the shell.
"Yes?" she asked.
Good morning, Ma'am--I am Constable Crab. I noticed some marks on your shell and was a bit concerned. They look almost like words--but not quite--so I was wondering what they meant..."
"Marks?" She said. "I am not aware of any marks. And of course you know that we mollusks can't see the outside of our own shells. It's the way we're built."
"Of course, Ma'am--but I assure you that there ARE some strange marks on your shell. Do you know how they got there--or why they are there?"
"I'm afraid I don't know anything about it, Constable. What do you think I should do?"
A few shrimp had gathered nearby to see what was happening so I asked one of them to confirm for the mollusk the fact that there was indeed some marks on her shell before I replied.
"Oh yes, Mum." stated one of the shrimp--"There is indeed some strange markings on ya's shell! Never saw anything like it!"
"As to what you should do about it", I continued--I guess nothing. If it doesn't bother you--well, it is no trouble to me either. Thank you for your cooperation and have a pleasant day!"
And I continued my early morning walk.
...
I was taking an early morning stroll in the rocks on the beach when I saw something odd--something I had never seen before.
One of the mollusks clinging to a large mossy rock had some strange marks on its' shell.
When I approached more closely--I was astonished to see that I could practically READ the marks!
This was strange, unnatural and bizarre!
I went over to the mollusk and politely knocked on its' shell to see if anyone was home.
...
Well, Hello!
I see you are ready for a new adventure and have I got a doozy for you!
This next case from my casebook I call: The Strange Case of the Marked Mollusk.
SO--hold on to your hats and get ready for a VERY strange story!
...
Well, that's about it.
The Case of the Last Sardine, as I've named that case from my casebook--and--as it turned out--the missing sardine--the last sardine--turned out to be a new friend.
That's the way I like my cases to turn out!
If you enjoyed this case, be sure to be on hand when I begin the next case from my casebook.
See you soon then,
Constable Crab
...
We were seated quickly and efficiently at a small table--front and center again--right below the cozy club-sized stage. ( VERY different from the immense arena stage at the clam shell, of course, but also VERY nice.)
The audience was in a thrill--waiting for what they expected would be one of the memory-making experiences of their lives--the debut of a new act: "The Mable and Cody Show"!
Starry and I were eager too.
The house lights dimmed and the stage lights came up--red plush curtains parted and the crowd burst into applause.
Mable, alone at first in a single dazzling spotlight, looked totally stunning holding a silver microphone and gazing smilingly out at the packed house--Cody looked dashing and pleased as he soon took his place behind the keyboard.
"Dear Friends!" she said, and at her first words the audience hushed to absolute silence. They didn't want to miss a single sound from this famous sardine!
"Cody and I thank you all from the bottom of our hearts for your applause and for coming out to welcome us here this evening..."
"We loves ya Mable!" shouted a lone voice from somewhere in the darkened room.
"And I LOVES ya too--Alls of ya!" Mable laughed back happily..."But we are going to start our program with a new song I wrote for a certain special Crab--he knows who he is--without whom we would not be here."
As Cody played a few introductory notes I must admit I blushed when she glanced down at me. Then she began to use that marvelous, unusual voice of hers to sing:
"A friend is one who is always there--
Who picks you up when you are down--
Who lets you know that someone cares--
Who smiles when every else will frown.
And even when you make
Some dumb and selfish mistake
Will stay by your side
'Til the change of the tide
A friend in need--
That friend indeed--
My friend!
"My friend!" She quietly spoke these last two words looking right down at me and it WAS one of those memory-making moments which life sometimes brings.
The audience was silent for a moment and then there was a storm of applause. Mable and Cody were a sensation!
...
At Father Neptune's Restaurant I caught Alfonse The Waiter's eye and, rubbing his claws together, he hurried up to greet us.
"Ahh, 'Allo, Monsieur Crab! It is delight to see you zis evening. As you see we are crowded with overflowing--all are, how you say, agog, over debut of Mademoiselle Mable avec Monsieur Cody!
Mais--I will set up a small private table for you and your starfish friend next to the stage, non?
Nussing is too good for Monsieur Crab and his friends!"
...
