Disclaimer: I don't own Puddleglum, and I don't own the Wizard of Oz, but I am just retelling it to Puddleglum for its humorous effect.
Once I was in Narnia, having eel pie with Puddleglum, shortly after the time of "The Silver Chair". And he wanted to hear a story. We were talking about so many other things that were interesting, what his world was like and what my world was like. I had for instance explained to Puddleglum how my country was at a war and that there was a faction that did not like the war.
"That is sad", Puddleglum had remarked. "I am a tenderhearted person, and I don't like there being wars and people getting killed".
"But it is a just war", I explained."There is another country that is trying to develop dangerous weapons. There are tyrants who torture people and terrorists who walk into buildings with explosives strapped to their backs - powders that are bewitched to explode when you press a button or something. There are nutters who for the sake of Tash are willing to pilot airships into buildings, killing themselves and thousands of other people in the process. And as long as these people are in power, the world is becoming an increasingly sad and dangerous place to live in".
"That's too bad. As much as I hate war, I do know that it is sometimes necessary. Anyway, won't you please tell me a story".
"Alright, I will tell you a story, but I shouldn't think you'll like it. It's got witches who pretend to befriend people, and you never know what their real intentions are until the end".
"I don't mind if you tell me a frightening story. It might do me some good. In fact, we marshwiggles love to sit around campfires and tell each other horror stories, when times are going good. It keeps life in perspective for us".
"Very well".
