A TALE OF TAILS


by
James S. Nyman


Copyright 10-25-98



     First published as "A Tale of Tails" in the first issue of the newsletter of the Illinois affiliate of the NFB in 1968.


      Once upon a time there were three blind mice. Their names were Winkin, Blinkin and Thinkin. (Nod was Thinkin's real name, but since blind mice are known to be philosophically inclined, it was natural that he should receive this nickname.) These mice were peculiar in one other respect as well: they had no tails. Experts debated long and acrimoniously about this feature. Some maintained that it had happened while the mice were pursuing a farmer's wife for reasons that were never made clear. Others (and they seemed to be the majority) argued that we simply had to expect that mice who were blind would also have other peculiarities.


     One day Winkin, Blinkin and Thinkin went for a walk in the forest. The forest was very dark, but the mice had no fear because they had received mobility training at ICBM (Illinois Center for Blind Mice). They walked swiftly and surely among the trees.


     Woof, an elderly retired dog guide saw the mice enter the forest. He knew that it was dangerous for blind mice to walk alone in the dark woods, so, without thought for his own safety, he immediately plunged into the shadows cast by the huge trees and ran swiftly after them. Since dogs have longer legs than mice he soon caught up with them. "Stop! I'll help you!" he barked; but since it was so dark in the forest, he leaped right over the mice and became lodged between two trees five feet beyond where the mice stood in amazement.


      Woof began to groan and swish his tail in rage as he thought of the irony of fate that had turned his courageous effort into agony.


     Winkin, Blinkin and Thinkin stepped back a few feet and began to consider the situation. After due deliberation they decided to form themselves into a committee for dog watching and, keeping well to the left to avoid being wagged by the tail of the dog, the three blind mice continued on their walk, leaving Woof with this parting advice, which they shouted over their shoulders from a safe distance, "you can't see our forest while you"re hung up on those trees!"


     Woof wept bitterly.