A Beginning, a Muddle, and an End by Avi

Author:Avi
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

"My point exactly. So, just go ahead and say something," suggested Edward. "I'll disagree, and then, there you are, we'll have our very own argument. Then you can write about it."

"What if you agree with what I say?"

"Just pick something that's easy to argue about."

Avon became thoughtful. "Got it!" he cried out after a while. "Let's have an argument about breathing."

"Breathing?"

"I think it's a good thing," said Avon. "What do you think?"

"Many things," said Edward.

"Edward," said Avon, "you're supposed to disagree."

"I can't argue about breathing!"

"You could if you wanted to."

"Avon, nobody would say breathing is bad for you."

"A rock might."

"Why would a rock say that?"

"Because rocks don't breathe. I've always assumed it's because they don't like it."

"Avon," cried Edward, "rocks don't think, or talk. Why are you grinning?"

"I think we've found an argument."

"Good. Then go write about it. The truth is, arguments make me sleepy."

"I won't disagree," said Avon. He thought for a bit, and then he wrote.

"Edward, I think I've got a title for my book. I'm going to call it The Little Rock That Didn't Like to Breathe."

"What would happen in the story?"

"The rock would hold its breath."

"For how long?"

"Until it changed its mind."

"Forgive me, Avon, but rocks don't have minds. They are thoughtless."

"Really?"

"No question about it."

"That explains it."

"Explains what?"

"For years I've talked to rocks. When they didn't answer, I always thought they just didn't want to speak to me. Now you say they are thoughtless. I certainly don't want to write about rude rocks!"

And he scratched out his title.

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