David Benedictus - Return to the Hundred Acre Wood (Winnie-The-Pooh Collection)

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Table of Contents

IN THE TRADITION OF A. A. MILNE & ERNEST H. SHEPARD

Dutton Childrens Books
AN IMPRINT OF PENGUIN GROUP [USA] INC.

Dedication

You gave us Christopher Robin and Pooh
And a forest of shadows and streams,
And the whole world smiled with you, as you
Offered us your dreams.
I took up the offer and page upon page
And line upon fanciful line,
I tried to show in a different age
Your dreams are mine.

Exposition

Pooh and piglet, Christopher Robin and Eeyore were last seen in the Forestoh, can it really be eighty years ago? But dreams have a logic of their own and it is as if the eighty years have passed in a day.

Looking over my shoulder, Pooh says:Eighty is a good number really but it could just as well be eighty weeks or days or minutes as years, and I say: Lets call it eighty seconds, and then itll be as though no time has passed at all.

Piglet says: I tried to count to eighty once, but when I got to thirty-seven the numbers started jumping out at me and turning cartwheels, especially thesixesandnines.

They do that when youre least expecting it, says Pooh.

But are you really going to write us new adventures? Christopher Robin asks. Because we rather liked the old ones.

I didnt like the ones with the Heffalumps in them, adds Piglet, shuddering.

And can they end with a little smackerel of something? asks Pooh, who may have put on a few ounces in eighty years.

Hell get it wrong,says Eeyore,see if he doesnt. What does he know about donkeys?

Of course Eeyore is right, because I dont know; I can only guess. But guessing can be fun, too. And if occasionally I think I have guessed right, I shall reward myself with a chocolate biscuit, one of those with chocolate on one side only so you dont get sticky fingers and leave marks on the paper, and if sometimes I am afraid that I have guessed wrong, I shall just have to go without.

Well know, says Christopher Robin. Well help you get it right,if we can.And Pooh and Piglet smile and nod their heads, but Eeyore says: Not that you are likely to. Nobody ever does.

D.B.

With acknowledgments to E. H. Shepard, original illustrator of the Winnie-the-Pooh stories.

The publisher would like to thank
the Trustees of the Pooh Properties Trust and especially
Michael Brown and Peter Janson-Smith who have
long striven to make this book possible and who
have made invaluable suggestions and contributions
at all stages of its development, and also
Janice Swanson of Curtis Brown whose advice
and patience throughout have smoothed the way
and been of the greatest benefit to all concerned.

Chapter One

in which Christopher Robin returns

WHO STARTED IT? Nobody knew. One moment there was the usual Forest babble: the wind in the trees, the crow of a cock, the cheerful water in the streams. Then came the Rumour: Christopher Robin is back!

Owl said he heard it from Rabbit, and Rabbit said he heard it from Piglet, and Piglet said he just sort of heard it, and Kanga said why not ask Winnie the Pooh? And since that seemed like a Very Encouraging Idea on such a sunny morning,off Piglet trotted, arriving in time to find Pooh anxiously counting his pots of honey.

Isnt it odd? said Pooh.

Isnt what odd?

Pooh rubbed his nose with his paw. I wish they would sit still. They shuffle around when they think Im not looking. A moment ago there were eleven and now there are only ten. It is odd, isnt it, Piglet?

Its even, said Piglet, if its ten, that is. And if it isnt,itisnt.Hearing himself saying this, Piglet thought that it didnt sound quite right, but Pooh was still counting, moving the pots from one corner of the table to the other and back again.

Bother,said Pooh.Christopher Robin would know if he was here. He was good at counting. He always made things come out the same way twice and thats what good counting is.

But Pooh... Piglet began, the tip of his nose growing pink with excitement.

On the other hand its not easy to count things when they wont stay still. Like snowflakes and stars.

But Pooh... And if Piglets nose was pink before, it was scarlet now.

Ive made up a hum about it. Would you like to hear it, Piglet?

Piglet was about to say that hums were splendid things, and Poohs hums were the best there were, but Rumours com efirst; then he thought what a nice feeling it was to have a Big Piece of News and to be about to Pass It On; then he remembered the hum which Pooh had made up about him, Piglet, and how it had had seven verses, which was more verses than a hum had ever had since time began, and that they were all about him, and so he said:Ooh, yes, Pooh, please, and Pooh glowed a little because a hum is all very well as far as it goes,and very well indeed when it goes for seven verses, but it isnt a Real Hum until its been tried out on somebody, and while honey is always welcome, its welcomest of all directly after a hum.

This is the hum which Pooh hummed to Piglet on the day which started like any other day and became a very special day indeed.

If you want to count your honey,
You must put it in a row,
In the sun if it is sunny,
If its snowy in the snow.

And youll know when you have counted
How much honey you have got.
Yes, youll know what the amount is
And so therefore what its not.

And I think its eleven, added Pooh, which is an excellent number of pots for a Thursday, though twelve would be even better.

Pooh, said Piglet quickly, in case there was a third verse on the way which would be nice, but time-consuming, I have a Very Important Question to ask you.

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