“Then, suddenly Christopher Robin who was still lookin 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 anymore.”
“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.
“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 a little.”How old shall I be then?”
“Ninety-nine”.”
Pooh nodded, “I promise,” he said.
Still with his eyes on the world Christopher Eobin put out his hand and felt for Poo’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 along the way, in that enchanted place at the top of the Forest a little boy and his bear will always be playing.
“The House at Pooh Corner”
A. A. Milne
Illustration: E. H. Shepard
Methuen & Co Ltd, London: 1928