Dr. Herbert Benjamin
“Yes,” said the Professor, who opened the book
again, and went on. “A pickle is a bad situation. In other
words, if you are in a pickle, you are in a bad situation.”
“That
explains
it!” said Perry. “He’s a bird without
wings and a fish without fins!
That’s
a bad situation! I
knew
Professor Parrot would know!”
Professor Parrot closed the book, smiled, and hung
his head modestly.
Suddenly they both felt sorry for Henry and looked
at him in concern. “Anything
we
can do to help?” they
asked together, with a sincere look in their eyes.
“Yes, there
is
!” said Henry, who began to shiver
frightfully. “Could you fly me home
right away
? I don’t
want to wait any longer. I want to get back as quick as I
can
! Enough of this
traveling
! A fish without fins, and a
bird without wings! Is
that
what I am? That sounds
awful
! Isn’t there anything in that book about me that
sounds
better
?”
Professor Parrot shook his head sadly.
“Well!” said Henry. “If I were you, I’d get a new
book. If that book tells what I am, then I’m
not
what I
am, or the book is wrong! I’m not a fish and I’m not a
bird. I’m a pickle! And a pickle doesn’t
need
wings or
fins!”
Professor Parrot became thoughtful. “You
are
? It’s
not
? You
don’t
? It
doesn’t
? Maybe a new edition has
come out since I left civilization.”
Then his face brightened up again. “Maybe not!”
he said. Maybe the man who wrote this book doesn’t
know
about you yet. Maybe
nobody
knows! I’ve always
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