Cucumber,” said a big form that looked like a huge
smooth pickle with no wrinkles.
“Glad to meet you,” said Henry. “But you don’t
look like a pickle to me! Are you sure you’re my cousin?”
“Sure!” said Crispin. “I’m what a pickle looks like
before it gets pickled. I’m an original pickle.”
“Hmm,” said Henry doubtfully. “Where’s your
pickle juice? You don’t have any pickle juice on you.”
“Oh, I get my juice from the rain and soil. Most of
it comes up through that stem there, see?” I’m never out
of cucumber juice. It’s practical that way, you know.”
“You’ve got quite a set-up out here,” said Henry.
“Any disadvantages?”
“Well, one thing, I’m stuck to the ground. I can’t
travel about like you, and see the outside world. And
another thing is, I’m so full of cucumber juice, I’d be too
cucumbersome to travel.”
“That’s a shame,” said Henry. “Otherwise you
could come along with me. I could use a guide. I don’t
know anything about the outside world. This is my first
trip.”
“I don’t know much about it either, Henry,” said
Cousin Crispin. “I just sort of stay stuck here in the
cucumber patch, like I told you.”
“Where do you think I should go first?” asked
Henry.
“Just out,” said Crispin. “Just go out and see what
happens. Don’t make any plans first.”
“I’m not sure Poppa Pickle would approve of this,”
said Henry. “Maybe I should have waited to get his
HENRY
THE
PICKLE
46
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