"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."