"That's a long speech for an empty space to make!"he said."But I can understand how you feel,and I might be able to help you."
"But you're only a bird,"said Nothing-at-all."How can you help me?"
"I am a JACKDAW,"said the bird proudly,"and as such it is my task to carry home everything I see.Once I even found a Book of Magic —wait!I'll be right back,"and the bird was gone.
When he returned,the jackdaw said,"It's just as I thought.In the Book of Magic there is a chapter called NOTHINGNESS AND SOMETHINGNESS.
And it says that he who is Nothingy,yet wishes to be Somethingy,must get up at sunrise and whirl around and around and around.While whirling thus,he must say this magic chant:I'm busy getting dizzy.
This,says the book,he must do nine days in a row at sunrise,and he shall see what he shall see.Goodbye,I'm off!"and the bird was gone.
The next morning before sunrise Nothing-at-all was wide awake and ready to try his magic.As soon as the sun peeped over the hilltop,he began whirling and twirling and swirling,and he said:"I'm busy getting dizzy I'm busy getting dizzy."
After he had stopped whirling,what do you suppose had happened?
Do you think he was a dog whom anyone could see?No,he wasn't.He still looked Nothingy but now his Nothingness had a shape!When he held up his paw,he couldn't see the paw but he could see a paw-shaped space,and he was very happy about that.
"Well done!"cried a voice which was the jackdaw's."You are a pleasantlooking shape,I must say.Keep it up!"and the bird was gone.
The next day Nothing-at-all worked at his magic as before.As soon as the sun peeped over the hilltop,he whirled and twirled and swirled,and said:"I'm busy getting dizzy.I'm busy getting dizzy."
When he stopped,the jackdaw came and said,"Yes,the magic is working well.That's a fine black spot you have on your back now.Keep it up!"and the bird was gone.
The third morning at sunrise Nothing-at-all whirled and twirled and swirled,and said:"I'm busy getting dizzy.I'm busy getting dizzy.I'm busy getting dizzy."
When he sat down to rest,the jackdaw came and said,"You're doing better than I expected.You've added quite a few spots today.Goodbye!"and the bird was gone.
The fourth day,after Nothing-at-all had whirled and twirled and swirled and repeated his busy-dizzy chant,the jackdaw came and said,"You are certainly working hard at your magic task.That black tail-tip is a beauty,I must say!"
The little dog was so pleased that he wagged his tail wildly,and although the tail was still invisible,its black tip showed the wagging plainly enough.The jackdaw laughed at this and then disappeared.
By the fifth day,Nothing-at-all's eyes were visible.
By the sixth day,his nose and mouth could be seen.
On the seventh day his tongue was visible.
On the eighth day his ears and paws could be seen.
And then came the ninth day.
Nothing-at-all whirled and twirled and swirled as he had never done before,and he said:"I'm busy getting dizzy.I'm busy getting dizzy.I'm busy getting dizzy."
Until he was so dizzy that the whole world seemed to swirl around with him.
When he stopped to rest,the jackdaw came.
"Good work!"he cried."Now you are SOMETHING after all —a really truly see —able dog!And a most lovable round-eared puppy you are,to be sure.Good luck!Goodbye!"and the jackdaw flew away.
Now the little dog was so happy that he jumped to his feet and barked and picked up sticks and tore about wildly.
Round and round in a circle he ran.
With leaps and bounds and somersaults he ran.
In twists and curves and zigzags he ran.
Back and forth,in and out,over and under,around blossom bushes and puddle ponds and poppy patches he ran.
There in front of him were the boy and the girl.They were coming from the far forgotten corner of the old forgotten farm,and were pulling a long red cart on which were:the pointed kennel,the curly kennel,and the roundish kennel,all in a row!
With a run and a jump,the round-eared puppy hopped into his roundish kennel,and now he too was taken to a new and happy home.All along the way he wagged his black-tipped tail,and with joyful barks he said:
"I've always been small And not very tall;I used to look like nothing at all.I'm still rather small.And not a bit tall.But now I'm a see-able dog after all!"
But the boy and the girl didn't know what the little dog was saying.Nor did they know what Pointy and Curly were saying when they met their long-lost brother again.
But maybe,perhaps,almost surely,they said:
"How happy we'll be,all three of us here;with our dear old kennels to live in,and the two kind children to play with.And oh,little Something-after-all,it is so nice to SEE you!"