Soul Searching: Chapter 4
It is a natural principle, that, barring sporadic occurrences of twins and triplets, in every school class there is one student who is the smallest. In the Allerton School’s graduating class at that time that specimen was little Bobby Fulton. Not only was he small for his age, his chestnut hair, alert, brown eyes, round cheeks and large front teeth made him resemble a squirrel to some degree. It could very well be that it was this combination of physical characteristics that drew Bobby to Cedric’s attention the evening when the pine-cone creature climbed through the dormitory window.
Bobby was putting his books and pencils together to go to the school library to study. Cedric jumped down from the window sill, and followed Bobby out into the corridor, taking great care not to be seen by anybody.
When Bobby Fulton had settled down with his books and pencils at a desk in the library Cedric finally made himself known.
“Good evening,” he whispered.
Thinking he was alone studying in the library, Bobby was startled and let out a cry.
“Shh!” the Librarian admonished. “This is a library, Master Fulton, not a fairground.”
Bobby Fulton looked around to find out who might have whispered the greeting. He couldn’t see anybody, but then he noticed Cedric on the floor next to the desk.
“Who are you?” he whispered. “Or, rather, what are you?”
“Shh!” the Librarian said, this time quite annoyed. “If you can’t be quiet you will have to leave the library, Master Fulton, and rest assured that I will report your shameful conduct to the principal if it comes to that.”
Bobby collected his things, stood up and gestured for Cedric to follow him out of the library. They sat down on a bench in the small park outside the library. It was getting dark, and Bobby had to lean very close to get a good look at Cedric.
“May I ask you a question?” Bobby said.
“Certainly. And may I ask you one in return?”
“Of course. Once again, please tell me, who are you? Or, rather, what are you? Are you an echidna perhaps? Or maybe a tiny armadillo?”
“I’m none of those. I’m a pine-cone creature, and my name is Cedric.”
“I’m Robert Redford Fulton, my friends call me Bobby. Very pleased to meet you. Now it’s your turn to ask.”
“Do you have a soul?” Cedric asked.
Bobby, quite naturally, thought it was an odd question. Cedric went on to explain that he would very much like to experience what it would be like to have a soul. Therefore he would like to borrow a soul for a short while, and perhaps Bobby could help him with that.
“I think I can help you,” Bobby said after deliberating the proposition for a while. “But I will only help you on the condition that you borrow somebody else’s soul and leave my soul out of the transaction.”
Cedric couldn’t possibly object to that condition, and so they came to an agreement.