Life in 3D

From the final chapter of Winnie the Pooh, by A.A. Miline

"What do you like doing best in the world, Pooh?"
        "Well,"  said Pooh, "what I like best?" and then he had
to stop and think. Because although Eating  Honey  was  a  very
good  thing  to do, there was a moment just before you began to
eat it which was better than when you were, but he didn't  know
what  it  was  called.  And  then  he  thought  that being with
Christopher Robin was a very  good  thing  to  do,  and  having
Piglet  near was a very friendly thing to have: and so, when he
had thought it all out, he said, "What I like best in the whole
world is Me and Piglet going to see You, and You  saying  'What
about  a  little  something?' and Me saying,' Well, I shouldn't
mind a little something, should you, Piglet,' and  it  being  a
hummy sort of day outside, and birds singing."
        "I  like that too," said Christopher Robin, "but what I
like doing best is Nothing."
        "How do you do  Nothing?"  asked  Pooh,  after  he  had
wondered for a long time.
        "Well,  it's when people call out at you just as you're
going off to do it 'What  are  you  going  to  do,  Christopher
Robin?' and you say 'Oh, nothing,' and then you go and do it."
        "Oh, I see," said Pooh.
        "This is a nothing sort of thing that we're doing now."
        "Oh, I see," said Pooh again.
        "It means just going along, listening to all the things
you can't hear, and not bothering."
        "Oh!" said Pooh.
...............
Then, suddenly again, Christopher Robin, who was  Still
looking  at  the  world  with his chin in his hands, called out
"Pooh!"
        "Yes?" said Pooh.
        "When I'm--when-- Pooh!"
        "Yes, Christopher Robin?"
        "I'm not going to do Nothing any more."
        "Never again?"
        "Well, not so much. They don't let you."
        Pooh waited for him to go on, but he was silent again.
        "Yes, Christopher Robin?" said Pooh helpfully.
        "Pooh, when I'm--you know--when I'm not doing  Nothing,
will you come up here sometimes?"
        "Just Me?"
        "Yes, Pooh."
        "Will you be here too?"
        "Yes,  Pooh,  I  will  be  really. I promise I will be,
Pooh."
        "That's good," said Pooh.
        "Pooh, promise you won't forget  about  me,  ever.  Not
even when I'm a hundred."
        Pooh thought for a little.
        "How old shall I be then?"
        "Ninety-nine."
        Pooh nodded.
        "I promise," he said.
        Still  with his eyes on the world Christopher Robin put
out a hand and felt for Pooh's paw.
        "Pooh," said Christopher Robin earnestly, "if I--if I'm
not quite" he stopped  and  tried  again  --".  Pooh,  whatever
happens, you will understand, won't you?"
        "Understand what?"
        "Oh, nothing." He laughed and jumped to his feet. "Come
on!"
        "Where?" said Pooh.
        "Anywhere," said Christopher Robin.


        So  they  went  off together. But wherever they go, and
whatever happens to them on the way, in that enchanted place on
the top of the Forest a little boy and his Bear will always  be
playing.