Toad sensed that something had changed and excused himself. The jabberwocky had taken to cocking its head to one side as if listening to someone and had seemed since to be rather more polite about sharing their cramped quarters and Toad had come to have a certain sense of camaraderie with the fearsome beast.
Things went out of focus and all hazy for a bit and finally the hospital room swam into view. Toad suddenly remembered how uncomfortable this place was. Why had he come back here?
One usually doesn't think about breathing; it is one of those things that we take for granted, like the sun coming up in the morning, the rains coming in the Spring, butter and jam with scones. But when one hasn't been able to breath on one's own, one develops a new found respect for that enterprise. Toad realized what had changed and it struck a chord deep inside him. He was responsible for himself; he was breathing on his own. And then his head exploded
And just as suddenly he realized that his head was still intact but he had the worst headache he had ever known. Then another wave of pain. He closed his eyes and in the swirling mists he could see the beast in the little parlor. The poor creature was coughing, and with every spasm its head would hit the low ceiling. Toad felt a tear in the corner of his eye.
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