Dr. Herbert Benjamin
“Then what am I doing now?” asked Perry, very
confused.
“I don’t know,” said the Professor.
“Don’t we exist?” asked Henry.
“I don’t think so,” said the Professor. “
I
exist. I’m
sure of that! But talking pickles and pelicans? No!” And
he shook his head sadly and looked at his two
companions. “My friends,” he said, shaking his head
sadly, “I am sorry to have to tell you you
don’t exist
.
That’s my expert opinion.”
Henry and Perry looked back and forth at each
other. Then they looked down at themselves.
Then Henry looked at the Professor. “Do you think
you could be
wrong
?” he asked.
“Yes,” said Professor Parrot. “I
could
be wrong. I
hope
I’m wrong. I hope very much that I’m wrong,
because you are such friendly creatures.”
Professor Parrot thought hard. “I have it! I have
the answer!” he said. “You’re ideas, not things! And
ideas have existence too! You exist,
after all
!”
“Thank you,” said Henry and Perry together,
feeling a
little
better.
And Professor Pickle sat between his two new-
found friends and hugged them hard with his wings.
“See!” he said, with tears of joy in his eyes. “Isn’t
knowledge
wonderful
! It just saved you
both
!”
“It did?” said Henry and Perry together. And they
looked around in a confused way at each other from
under Professor Parrot’s wings.
“You know,” I think I’m a
thing
!” said Henry. Not
91
 |
 |
 |
 |