Short story by JRR Tolkien, 1938-39, first published 1945
Niggle was a painter always trying to finish a painting that started as a leaf and grew to be a huge landscape with tree, forest, mountains in the distance. He loved thinking about the painting and working on it – in his shed – but hated all the interruptions, especially from his neighbor, Parish, a lame old man. The last interruption occurred during a wet and windy day. Niggle rode his bicycle to town to get the doctor and a builder to come to see Parish’s wife and repair Parish’s roof, respectively. Unfortunately, or fortunately, Niggle fell ill and went on his journey – unprepared – I think he goes to Purgatory – then Voice One and Voice Two discuss him and he gets to go to a beautiful place that is his picture in reality. He realized he needs Parish to make it perfect. Parish comes and together they live, work and garden in his paradise – drinking from a spring. Niggle gets to thinking it’s time to journey to the mountains, so he and Parish walk to the Edge. They are met by the Shepherd – Niggle continues on with Him. Parish stays behind to wait for his wife. The Good Works we do on Earth are the building blocks of Paradise – Do good works on Earth!!!