'You go in. Corky, and have a look round' said Miss Wise, 'and we'll visit you later when you want us'.
He walked through the open doorway, over which was inscribed in green letters, 'Corky's Cottage', and straight into a delightful room. It had a low ceiling with oak beams, white walls and a stone fireplace with an open grate filled with logs. Over the fireplace was a mantelpiece with brass candlesticks and little ornaments of cats and dogs like the ones he'd admired in the window of a big store. There were two comfy chairs and a settee covered with rose-patterned material. Along one wall was an empty bookcase and in one corner a rocking-chair - 'Just like Gran's' he thought. This was how he had imagined a cottage would be like.
He stood in front of the glassless window and stared in wonder at the magnificent view. In the far distance was the pearly rock he recognised and all those friendly trees and the emerald green grass. He suddenly realised why there was no glass because 'out there' he thought was 'right in here!' It was a REAL landscape in a window-frame instead of a picture - frame. 'Cor! If only Barney could see this!'
He sat down in the rocking-chair feeling so happy. To think that this was his very own cottage! For the first time in all his life he'd got a place to himself. But he wanted to share his excitement with the others, so he called out 'come in everybody' and he THOUGHT they could all squeeze in somehow, even Geraldine for he remembered her collapsible neck and legs.
Before he could say 'Cor!' Leo was stretched comfortably on the settee with his tail dangling over one end and Pet playing with it. Geraldine was in one armchair, her neck and legs in folds like a concertina, and Miss Wise in the other. The children were sitting on the floor and he was still in his rocking-chair which he decided was his favourite.
'How do you like it Corky?' they all asked together. 'It's the most loverliest room I've ever seen!' replied Corky, and they looked pleased. He had a sudden wish that his Mum was here and could see it all.
'Oh but she is!', said Miss Wise. 'Look! On the wall over there!' Corky stared. Above the fireplace in a glistening gold frame was her picture! ' 'Owever did that get there? ' he asked in amazement.
'We just THOUGHT you'd like it' she replied.
'And your map's on the wall behind you' said Tiny.
'And you flowers are in a vase on the window cill with your pencils' said Susan. Corky was lost for words!
'It's only a one-room cottage', explained Miss Wise, 'because we don't need bedrooms in THINK LAND as we don't need sleep, and we don't tell bedtime stories because we've no beds and no time!'
'The bookcase is empty' she went on, 'because we weren't sure what books you read. You only have to THINK which ones you'd like and they'll appear, although the adventures you're going to have here will be far more exciting than anything you can read about!' Corky had never felt so thrilled in his life, in his very OWN cottage, surrounded by his new friends who seemed to go out of their way to make him happy.
'Of course, you don't actually need a fireplace' said Geraldine, 'as it's never cold here. Pet is the only one who wears woollies! In any case there's no chimney but we THOUGHT it looked like your idea of a cottage. You've got a hearth and it's a GRATE idea isn't it?' And she gave her usual guffaw and everyone else laughed at her little joke.
'We shall leave you now' Miss Wise said, 'but remember. Corky, if you want us, all you have to do is to use your THOUGHT power and send out a message to us and we'll be here instantly. There's no such thing as loneliness in THINK LAND!'
In a flash they had all disappeared and Corky remained in his chair, rocking forwards and backwards and forwards and backwards. Then his eyes alighted on the picture over the mantelpiece and his Mum seemed to be smiling at him, or at least he THOUGHT she was!
