Friday, November 27, 2009

Search the trashbag for food


As the swimming mate wakes from his underwater nap, you begin to feel like sticking around will not pan out well for you and Old Man Friendship.  Meanwhile, everybody's buddy is preoccupied with what to feed his new friend.  You suggest that he forage through the bag of trash he collected earlier in search of more edibles.  Old Man Friendship has plenty of time to look while the swimming mate struggles with the waking process.


After minutes of stumbling, the river being finds a way to rid itself of the motion-inhibiting water goo.  At this rate, it will be clean and coherent in no time.  Old Man Friendship is now standing beside you with a smile on his face.  He is holding something behind his back.  The mate seems just about ready to emerge from its industrial chrysalis...


As it turns out, the river muck was hiding a cheerful young boy.  He seems happy to see Old Man Friendship, and looks as if he has something to tell him.  But first, Old Man Friendship has a surprise for the small lad.  He brings his arms from behind his back to reveal a cereal box, which Old Man Friendship has fashioned into a piece of clothing for the little guy.  It even has the boy's name on it, which Old Man Friendship has given him.


Little Chunks-o-chunks eagerly points to the spot in the river where he was sleeping so peacefully.


Contrary to what Old Man Friendship originally believed, Chunks-o-chunks's extended stay in the opaque waters was no magical feat.  A consistent stream of air is rising from a small small hole in the river floor.  Not six inches from this hole lies another from which a faint yellow light is escaping.  Old Man Friendship decides to hop in and take a look-see.


A more careful examination shows a mysteriously candle-lit hole containing crayons, a healthy snack, and a well-crafted portrait.  If he didn't know better, Old Man Friendship might think this underwater cave was someone's secret clubhouse.  He always wanted to join a club, but he could never afford the dues.  Old Man Friendship figures he had better leave the clubhouse before a wealthy club president demands he pony up the dough.

As Old Man Friendship rises from the clubhouse, he catches the tail-end of an escape: Chunks-o-chunks has scampered off.  Upon closer inspection, he notices that Mother Squirrel is missing.  To top it off, someone kicked over the anthill.  Who could have done such a thing?  Oh well, he thinks.  As they probably say, it's time to be moving on to the next chapter of life anyway.

On that note, Old Man Friendship has forgotten why he is now in the industrial part of town.  At any rate, the day is young, and he should probably leave.

Where should Old Man Friendship go next?


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