‘How many of you know what’s important?’
Up went all the hands.
‘Very good,’ said Stuart, cocking one leg across the other and shoving his hands in the pockets of his jacket. ‘Henry Rackmeyer, you tell us what is important.’
‘A shaft of sunlight at the end of a dark afternoon, a note in music, and the way the back of a baby’s neck smells if its mother keeps it tidy,’ answered Henry.
‘Correct,’ said Stuart. ‘Those are the important things. You forgot one thing, though. Mary Bendix, what did Henry Rackmeyer forget?’
‘He forgot ice cream with chocolate sauce on it,’ said Mary quickly.
‘Exactly,’ said Stuart. ‘Ice cream is important.’
E.B. White, Stuart Little.
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