Tommy was up early the next morning.
He did his chores quickly and then headed for the doctor's house.
When he arrived, the house seemed empty.
"I hope it's not too early," Tommy said to himself.
"Hello? Dr. Dolittle?" Tommy called out, but there was no reply.
Tommy took a few more steps inside.
Suddenly he heard a low, growling noise.
Tommy was about to turn around and leave when he heard a familiar voice.
"Jip! Stop that! You know Tommy!"
Dr. Dolittle came running out, wearing a funny pair of glasses and rubber gloves.
"Good morning, Tommy!" The doctor smiled.
"I was trying to speak with the wiff-waff," said the doctor.
"Have you made progress?" Tommy asked politely.
"No, not really," sighed the doctor.
Tommy patted Jip.
"Where are Polynesia and the others?" he asked.
"Out in the garden for their morning walk."
Dr. Dolittle removed his funny glasses.
"Would you like to see my garden?"
Tommy did indeed.
Dr. Dolittle led Tommy through a thick forest.
He heard all kinds of animal sounds but could not see anything except trees.
Then suddenly, Tommy stopped in his tracks.
The forest opened into a large field.
The field was full of all sorts of flowers, animals, birds, and insects.
It was the most beautiful sight Tommy had ever seen.
Tommy spotted Gub-Gub rolling around in mud.
He saw Dab-Dab diving in and out of a pond.
And sitting on a large tree branch, Polynesia was chatting to another colorful bird.
Suddenly Tommy let out a scream.
A large black snake was sliding over his foot. He jumped.
"Well, I told him to move his foot, didn't I?" hissed the reptile.
"That's Stanley. Don't worry, he's harmless," Dr. Dolittle said, smiling.
"Do you have any lions or tigers?" asked Tommy.
"I'd like to, but they would eat up all the other animals," the doctor said sadly.
"Oh, you have a deer!" Tommy pointed excitedly.
"No, that's not a deer," the doctor said.
Tommy could not believe his eyes!
The creature had two heads.
"Look at him staring," said one head.
"How rude!" remarked the other head.
"It's his first time seeing you, that's all," the doctor said kindly.
"Come here, Tommy," the doctor called out.
"This is the rarest animal in the world.
It's the pushmi-pullyu, from Africa."
Tommy walked over to it nervously.
"Can I get back to my breakfast, Doctor?" said the pushmi head.
"I'm so hungry."
Tommy gently touched the creature.
"Well, at least he doesn't scratch," said the pullyu head.
Tommy was amazed.
"It's a wonderful garden, Doctor," he said.
"But it's a lot of work." The doctor sighed.
"I could use some help to look after all the animals."
Tommy's heart leaped.
"I could help you, Dr. Dolittle," he said excitedly.
"Yes, I do need an assistant," the doctor replied thoughtfully.
"I'm a hard worker and I do love animals," Tommy said eagerly.
The doctor rubbed his chin.
"I think it's a great idea," Polynesia said.
Tommy looked at the doctor hopefully.
"All right, Tommy.
If your parents agree, you can be my assistant," smiled the doctor.
Tommy let out such a loud shout of joy that all the animals stopped and stared.
"Humans are so strange," remarked the pushmi-pullyu to itself.
"And they say we're loud!" quacked Dab-Dab.