Being alone in a room was an extremely new experience for Corky. 'But I don't feel a bit lonely' he thought. 'Funny fing that! It's like Gran; she lives on her own but she's never lonely'. He'd never realised this before. Now it suddenly occurred to him that the reason why she wasn't lonely was her THOUGHTS. 'She's always finking about the nice fings she's done or about us or them other old people she goes and talks to'.
It was very exciting to know that all he had to do was just to THINK hard about somebody and they'd appear! 'Just like a conjuror wot gets a rabbit out of 'is 'at. It's MAGIC!'
Now he knew his Mum wasn't in THINK LAND, nor his Gran nor Auntie Glad because this was the 'Children's Realm' Geraldine had told him about. The only grown-ups were Tumble, the clown, old Jack, Miss Wise and somebody they all loved called 'Amy'. 'I wonder if she's like Auntie Glad?' he thought. She was their neighbour, a big cuddly woman to whom he always went with his troubles. She'd time to sit and listen to him and he could make her laugh so much she'd wobble like a jelly! She loved to hear his imaginary adventures and always seemed to understand what he was feeling. Of course. Corky loved his Mum very much but she never had time to LISTEN.
'I'd like to meet this Amy' he decided, 'so I'll send her a THOUGHT message, that's wot I'll do! I wonder if it'll work? But if I FINK it will, it will'. So Corky held his pebble and said, 'Amy' three times, then waited.
'Hello, Corky! May I come in?' said an unfamiliar voice. He looked up and there standing at the doorway was a large lady with the friendliest smile he'd seen. She was so like Auntie Glad, he jumped up and rushed into her arms. It was like being wrapped in a cosy warm blanket. 'I THOUGHT you needed me' she said, 'Even though you're free to do what you like here in THINK LAND, freedom can be a bit alarming at first if you can't decide what to do with if.
She walked over to the settee. 'Come and sit down and we'll have a chat'. Corky held her hand and felt very safe. 'Now, to begin with dear, wouldn't you like something more comfortable to wear?' she asked. Corky was surprised at this remark, because he'd never even thought about what he was wearing. He looked down at his torn trousers, and his jacket with holes in the elbows and buttons missing
'What about a tunic like the other boys?' she continued. 'They've got lots of pockets, and no buttons to bother with'. Corky considered this and decided it was a good idea. 'The others 'ere must fink I look a proper Charlie' he said, 'but they've never said nuffing'.
'Of course they haven't. The children are only interested in YOU, not what you're wearing. Now, what colour would you like?'
'Green', he replied immediately. 'It's my favourite colour'.
Amy glanced round the room. 'You need a mirror over there', and she pointed to the wall opposite the fireplace, 'then you can see your Mum's picture reflected in it and the room will look bigger'.
No sooner had she said this, than a mirror miraculously appeared. Corky got up and ran towards it. He stared in amazement. Looking at him with his mouth wide open was a small boy dressed in a green tunic and shorts. Over the top pocket embroidered in red letters was 'Corky'. 'Why! That's ME!'
He turned round and ran up to Amy and hugged her.
'I THOUGHT you'd be pleased' she said, and smiled with amusement as he stroked the loose silk sleeves. There n a practical voice she said 'Right. That's settled. Now let's look at the map Tiny gave you and I'll point out the interesting places for you to visit'.
They stood in front of it and Corky cried out excitedly, 'Why! There's Jewel City. That's wot I must 'ave seen from the top of the tree when I first came 'ere, with 'orl them roofs sparkling. I'd like to go there'.
Amy shook her head. 'I'm sorry. Corky' she said, 'but that's one place you can't visit yet. You see, it's the Grown-ups Kingdom'. He looked very disappointed but she assured him there were other places just as exciting. 'Now, there's Fantasy Fair to begin with, run by Tumble, the clown. Everyone laves going there as it ' s such fun'.
'You'll come too, won't you?' Corky asked
'Certainly, if you want me to and I'll let the others know. Now THINK hard and say 'FANTASY FAIR' and you'll be there with us!' And with that, Amy disappeared as suddenly as she had arrived, and Corky THOUGHT hard!
