The Doctor’s garden wasn’t very large, but it was a little paradise. It was a sunny summer day and all the roses on the trellises were red and the sunflowers were tall and yellow. There was a pond full of gold-fish and a big oak-tree with a swing. There were flowers of every color and little stone statues. And the Doctor’s many pets were there too, such as the parrot Polynesia, the owl Too-Too, the hedgehog, the fox cub Rinkitink, and many more. They were all running about and playing.

Too-Too, the owl, was sitting on a fence, turning his head around and around, as owls always do. The Doctor called to him. “Too-Too!” he said. “Do you know what today is? Today’s my birthday! I’m forty-nine years old!”

But Too-Too just went on turning his head and did not answer. That’s how owls are. They don’t care about your birthdays and always prefer to talk about worms and bats.

The Doctor was interrupted again by his sister, Sarah, who came running excitedly. “John!” she cried. “There’s a crowd of people at the front door asking to see the Myrmekes! They say if they can't see it, they won't give you a farthing! Oh what a mess you’ve gotten us into this time! Why did you have to bring that Myrmekes to Puddleby? It’s nothing but a nuisance. And you know I hate being the talk of the town!”