The End of the Beginning (5 page)

"That's it exactly," said the cricket. "That's exactly the way I feel about cheese."

"Give it a try," suggested Edward.

The cricket sang, "
'Cheese, cheese, cheese, cheese...'
" Just as he was about to conclude the song, a bird swooped down and tried to gobble him up. Fortunately, the bird missed.

The cricket was very upset. "If I sing that song," he cried, "I'll be so different from all other crickets that every bird in the world will know where I am and try to eat me."

"I suggest you sing it in your house, then," said Edward.

"But if I do that," protested the cricket, "no one will hear me."

"Better and better," said Edward. "Have you ever
never
heard a cricket?"

"True enough," said Avon. "Every cricket I ever heard I could listen to."

"Precisely," agreed Edward. "You," he said to the cricket, "will be the one-in-the-world cricket who, when creatures listen, won't be heard."

Excited by the idea, the cricket hurried to his house, shut the door, and began to sing.

Nothing could be heard.

"Gosh," mused Avon, "being creative
does
make a difference."

And the two adventurers continued on their way.

It was late at night, and Edward was almost asleep, when Avon called across the dark.

"Do you realize," said Avon, "that in all the time we have been traveling, I have not written one letter. No, not even a postcard."

"You could start now," suggested Edward. "Is there someone you want to write to?"

"I'm afraid not," said Avon.

"Yes," agreed Edward, "writing a letter is easy enough. It's deciding whom to send it to that's the hard part. Have you any friends?"

"You."

"Why not write to me, then?"

"Would you mind?"

"I should say not. It's wonderful to hear from friends when they're traveling."

"I'll do it, then," said Avon. "Good night, Edward."

"Good night, Avon."

Taking out pencil and paper, Avon wrote:
Dear Edward.
Then he thought for a long time about what to write next. Not getting on very well, he called out, "Edward?"

"Yes, Avon."

"What sorts of things do you like to hear about in letters?"

"Oh," said Edward, "something interesting, unusual. You know, I would just like to learn how you're getting on."

"Oh, fine. Good night, Edward."

"Good night, Avon."

Looking across the paper, Avon realized there wasn't very much room to write all the things that were of interest to Edward.

"Edward!" he called.

"Yes, Avon."

"I don't have much room here. Of all the things you said you liked to read about, is there one in particular you would find
most
interesting?"

"Most of all," said Edward, "I'd like to know what you're doing."

"Oh, well," said Avon, "that's easy enough. Good night, Edward."

"Good night, Avon."

Avon wrote:
I am writing you a letter.
It took up just about all the paper.

"Edward?"

"Yes, Avon."

"In the letters you get, what kind of salutation do you like at the end?"

"Avon, a salutation comes at the beginning. What comes at the end is a closing."

"Thank you," said Avon. "That brings a conclusion to my confusion. But I still want to be open about closings. So do you prefer ...
Yours truly, Sincerely yours,
or
Best regards?
"

Without a moment's hesitation, Edward said, "
Yours sincerely.
"

"Why?"

"It's ... sincere."

"Edward?"

"Yes, Avon."

"Would you mind very much listening to the letter so I could get your opinion of it?"

"Not at all."

Avon read the letter: "
Dear Edward, I am writing you a letter. Tours sincerely, Avon.
"

"An excellent letter, Avon," said Edward. "It tells me everything you're doing."

"I'll mail it tomorrow morning," said Avon. "You should get it in a few days."

"Wonderful," said Edward. "There's nothing better than coming home from a long trip and finding a letter waiting for you. It brings you right up to date with your friends."

"Good night, Edward."

"Good night, Avon."

"O
hhhhhh.
"

Avon and Edward stopped to listen.

"
Ohhhhhh.
"

"It sounds like a creature in trouble," whispered Avon.

"Be calm," said Edward, who had found a good place to listen behind Avon's back.

"I think we should help," said Avon. "That's what they do in the books. It's sure to be a thrilling adventure."

"Never rush into anything which may want rushing out of," cautioned Edward. "If the sound comes again, I may be able to tell you something more."

"
Ohhhhhh.
"

"What is it?" Avon asked in a hushed tone.

Edward considered. "It's something going,
'Ohhhhhh.'
"

"Can you tell what the matter is?"

"No, only what it's saying."

"
Ohhhhhh.
"

"It's right over there!" cried Avon, becoming more and more impatient. "This is my big chance."

"It may be a warning to keep away!" shouted Edward, but it was too late. Avon was heading directly over to the other side of the branch. Edward followed slowly.

When they got there, they found a worm curled up in almost a complete circle so that its two ends were nearly touching.

"
Ohhhhhh,
" moaned the worm. The sound didn't come from one end or the other but from somewhere in the middle.

Speaking to neither end, Avon asked, "Were you calling for help?"

"Oh dear, oh dear," said the worm. "Yes, perhaps you can help me. I went to sleep, but when I woke up, I had forgotten which end of me was the front and which end the back. I don't know which is the beginning and which the end!" he wailed.

Avon was astonished.

"No clues?" asked Edward, who had remained calm.

"Can
you
tell which end is which?" asked the worm, a bit vexed.

"No, I can't," admitted Avon.

Edward thought for a moment. Then he picked up a tiny bit of leaf and waved it through the air. "What I suggest," he said, "is that I tickle one of your ends and then the other. Whichever end sneezes should be your nose. With that as a start, we should be able to make a good guess of things, putting an end to your problem."

"But my problem
is
my end," said the worm. "Besides, I'm terribly ticklish."

Edward became cross. "Now see here, Worm. Pull yourself together. This is no laughing matter. It's not we who have lost our wits. If we can't help, you are doomed to a life without an end."

The severity of Edward's tone calmed the worm. And when he considered what the ant had said, he realized how helpful Edward was trying to be. "I'm ready," the worm said grimly.

Like a careful doctor, Edward applied the leaf bit to one end of the worm.

Nothing happened.

Edward stepped back, frowning. "I'll give it a try on the other end. If I'm wrong this time, I'm afraid we are in for an unhappy ending."

Avon was so tense, he looked the other way.

Edward applied the leaf bit again.