Tolliver's Travels . . . with Mr. Mouse in the Worldwide Web

By Fred Stang

"On his twelfth birthday, Tolliver Tilden III turned on his present, a brand-new shining computer, and was promptly swallowed by the World-Wide Web.”

So begins the adventures of Tollie with his newfound companion and guide, Mr Mouse, in this strange new world where they encounter a host of problematic characters, each unique, each with a unique challenge, and each calling for Tollie and Mr Mouse to help. Help they must, for they cannot move forward in this world without first facing and solving these challenges.

In a brisk, whimsical style reminiscent of Alice in Wonderland, Gulliver’s Travels, and The Wizard of Oz, the story moves along as challenges and characters present themselves and Tollie and Mr Mouse wend their way to the odd end of their journey and Tollie’s final challenge.

The reader will be charmed by Tollie’s unfolding comprehension of the World-Wide Web, its unique rules, shifting time scale, and instantaneous transport according to his very thoughts. As he learns to control his thoughts and direct his own adventures, he grows in his capacity to think creatively and understand with an open mind the many possibilities offered him. As he helps those who ask for it, he is himself helped in unleashing his imagination and reasoning powers.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Fred Stang
• Release date: Feb 24, 2016
• ISBN: 9781310443732

Fred Stang

Fred Stang haunts Manhattan Island and frequents the World-Wide Web while residing in Westchester County. He has a firm belief that real learning cannot help but be fun for the learner, and has tutored kids for many years according to this principle. He has never failed to find that kids like learning whenever the fun of it is allowed them. They are, after all, learning all the time, no matter what it is they are learning. They are especially learning when they are playing.Fred is himself a pupil of Socrates in his imagination. The Socratic Method of Reasoning and of Teaching are his guideposts in these works. Learning happens best when it is drawn out rather than drilled in. Mark Twain noted, “There’s nothing like a little schooling to ruin a wonderful education.” Socratic inquiry will bring about happier results without ruining the education.

Book preview

Tolliver’s Travels

...with Mr. Mouse in the Worldwide Web

A Book of Entertainments and Diversions

by

Fred Stang

Smashwords Edition

Copyright © 2016 by Fred Stang

All Rights Reserved.

Table of Contents

Preface

1. Into the World-Wide Web

2. The Identical Men

3. The Evil King and the Fair Maiden

4. A Stern Teacher and His Brilliant Young Pupil

5. In the Shadow of the Great Pyramid

6. The Grumpy Camel and Thousands of Bananas

7. Two Timers – The Hard-Boiled Egg Story

8. The Case of the Missing Dollar

9. Apples and Oranges

10. The Big Cheese

11. The Friendly Isle of Amiti

12. The Truth of the Matter

13. Between the Lions

14. Which Doctor?

The Island of Doctor Yes, Doctor No, and Doctor Maybe

15. Mr Quirm

Many a Quaint and Curious Volume of Forgotten Lore

16. Chessboard and Dominoes

17. No Big Deal

18. Pick a Number, Any Number

19. The Monte Hall Paradox

20. Reflections on the Cigar Game

21. Ping-Pong Ball… and Pins Galore

22. Same Place, Same Time

23. Farewell, Mouse

PREFACE

Here, presented for your entertainment, are the adventures of Tolliver Tilden III in the World-Wide Web, a tangle of puzzling encounters, all accompanied by his new friend and helper, Mr Mouse. Unlike many storybooks, you can read only the parts you are enjoying and be welcome to skip what does not catch your interest. But, a brief word about the reading of it.

These challenges are presented one by one as the pair travel along in their virtual world, all in all twenty questions, more or less. At a certain point, in each and every case, you will see that the challenge has been presented and it is clear what is to be discovered, found out, or devised as a solution. At this point, you are free to put down the work and find this solution on your own. Or, you can simply keep reading, to find clues and hints perhaps, and to read the solution proposed. You will not have to look up an answer!

It is suggested that more fun can be had by taking the time to find the answer for yourself, but this is entirely up to you. The first commandment for you here is enjoy!

CHAPTER 1

INTO THE WORLD WIDE WEB

On his twelfth birthday, Tolliver Tilden III turned on his present, a brand-new shining computer, and was promptly swallowed by the World-Wide Web. It was the first time he had ever worked a computer or gone online all by himself, a very exciting moment, but what an unexpected outcome!

A deep whooshing sound transported him through a swirling maze of zips, zings and zwiggles, flashing lights and gossamer wires, depositing him in the middle of a country road facing toward a low hill. And that was odd because, only moments earlier, he had been thinking about just such a road, with a view of just such a hill.

He heard someone singing:

"Happy, happy are the mice.

happy are the nice, nice,

nice, nice mice…"

Before him, something he had most definitely not been thinking of, cavorted a mouse, about four feet tall, roundish in figure, and wearing the most unmatched outfit Tollie had ever seen – a plaid jacket, red and white striped shirt, polka dot tie (yellow on black), and checkered pants in purple and orange. The toes of his natty black shoes curled upward. The shoes were themselves impossibly well-polished and glinted giddily over his green socks.

Hello, I am Mouse, but you may call me Mr Mouse. He spoke! He also stood upright on his hind legs and walked on these as easily as a human walks on two feet. I am here to serve you, Tollie.

How do you know my name? Tollie was a very curious boy, having caused his parents no end of dismay in having to answer his endless questions day in and day out, though they miraculously remained patient with him. To themselves, they silently (and optimistically) hoped he was just going through a phase.

Ah! I am your personal mouse, here to take you wherever you want to go. Of course your name was given to me before you even came here.

I was wondering, Tollie said, how I landed exactly here, when this was what was in my mind, just before I got here?

You will find, Mr Mouse told him in a gentle, patient manner, that this is how things work here in the World-Wide Web. You will end up in the middle of many things that you only just thought of, and also many that your natural curiosity will just lead you to. You’ll get used to it.

Quite a contrast to Tollie’s first impression of the cavorting, singing mouse. Are you in charge here? he asked.

Mr Mouse considered this as if the thought of someone being in charge of the World-Wide Web had never entered his mind before.

Noooo… I couldn’t say that… Maybe we will find out together just who is in charge, if anyone is. He looked genuinely perplexed.

CHAPTER 2

THE IDENTICAL MEN

As if on cue, two roly-poly gentlemen came jaunting over the hill toward them. You could tell they were gentlemen as they wore identical vests and glasses. But Tollie knew for certain that they were not in charge! They were altogether too silly.

And they were identical, both with wide brown eyes, straight black hair that ended in bangs just above their eyes, and smiles that showed their gleaming white teeth to good advantage.

They’re twins, Tollie whispered to Mr Mouse.

NOT! Mouse whispered right back. I have encountered them before.

The first man said in a jolly way, Hi, I’m Hop Hop, and, to illustrate, did a little hop on his left foot.

And I’m Hip Hip, said the other, performing a couple of little bumps with his right hip to illustrate.

Tollie stifled a laugh. And I’m Tollie, he introduced himself, tossing his head back and forth so that he, too, had his own signature gesture.

Hi, Tollie, they both answered breezily. And hello, Mr Mouse, we meet again.

Mr Mouse tells me you are not twins. Tollie could not keep his curiosity in. But you look so alike! How can that be?

Well, we are identical and born of the same woman at the same time of the same day of the same year, Hop Hop answered.

"And, we are not twins!" Hip Hip chimed in.

They both giggled merrily, seeing the puzzlement in Tollie’s face.

How can it be? Tollie wondered out loud.

Think, Tollie, Mr Mouse said gently and patiently, as Tollie came to learn was his way. There is a possible explanation. Think what they could be, if not twins.

But they have to be twins! Tollie protested. If everything they said is true, about being born the same time, then they must be twins.

Tollie, Mr Mouse went on, "if everything they said is true, then it is also true that they are not twins, as they said."

Tollie could not argue with this logic and thought and thought, long and hard, and then some, his face scrunched in concentration, as was his way. How can it be? How can it be?

Indeed, how can it be?

After a good amount of thinking, he was ready to give up… but…

Over the hill now came a third roly-poly gentleman, and he, too, was identical to the first two!

He did a little hop and then a little hip bump. Hi, I’m Hip Hop, he announced. The three of them stood together sharing their mirth at Tollie’s expression.

Well, of course you are! Tollie said, laughing with them.

Understanding came visibly to him as it dawned on him what Mr Mouse had hinted at.

You’re triplets!

As you say, so we are, Hop Hop, Hip Hip and Hip Hop said in unison. They hopped, hipped and hip-hopped away, waving goodbye in unison as they went their merry way.

The first two men were not twins, but two of triplets, Mr Mouse summarized, as Tollie would come to learn was also his way. There is an explanation, as I promised. I will not lead you astray, Tollie. All your challenges will be fair. But you will have to think!

Tollie shook Mr Mouse’s gray hand and nodded, smiling. "Very good, and I’ll