On an unnamed highway in the South, chaos had erupted: lights were flashing; dogs were barking and sirens were whistling; people were erratic. Car radios went on and off and flickered with static. Why? It was like a scene ripped from a chapter of a science-fiction book. Man-made products converged on the highway this day—they would brook no more insults; no more being used and disposed of; no more abandonment. They were putting on a “mass production” of their own. In moments destined to live in the minds of people everywhere: man made them what they were but they would no longer be thrown away. Yes—they intended to see to it, that ‘The Man’ would rue the day that he kept products under his sway.
“Hello? Yeah Marge…are you watching the tube? Noooo, I’m not at the store—hey c’mon, just click on the news! I’m held up in some kinda crazy mess! There are strings, screws, a bunch of nuts and flying objects everywhere!” said a man on his cell phone. “Huh?! No! Of course I haven’t been drinking! It’s happening right now. I wonder what people are thinking…” and his voice trailed off. Inside of a small SUV a young boy was crouched over in the backseat whispering, “…I don’t know if it’s the right thing to do but you’ve been so helpful to me. Now, I want to be helpful to you. You are free…” and he reached into his backpack and took out a battery-operated light bulb and said, “Now please forgive me. You’re very bright with adjustable levels to make you as bright as the sun. You know, people have levels too—but sometimes we just think on one. I never thought that you might not want to be with me. Listen: your batteries are long-lasting plus you’re new and now I set you free. I’m going to be thinking about you ‘BB’.”
Then the boy opened the vehicle’s door and lowered BB to the road. BB sparked up, winked at the boy and smiled saying, “Wow! You are absolutely fantastic! I’ll never forget you.” And with that, BB angled himself and whizzed away under rows of stalled cars. He was excited about the thought of meeting the ‘great leader’ of all of the products. It was dusk so people were turning their headlights on. BB giggled, “I am my own light to flick on whenever I wish.” Then he wiggled his bulb and zipped pass some of the Mixed Nuts who were playing ‘Leap Nut’ in the middle of the battle zone. BB glanced back and laughed, “Now that’s what I call clones!”
Straw was talking to String between shooting spitballs at anyone who went running by. He chuckled to String, “You look pensive buddy. Want to give it a try” and laughed some more. String smiled but shook his head, “Straw, it’ll be dark soon maybe it’s time we withdraw our troops to the park? I think that we have made our point here for the time being.” Straw agreed, “We’ve won a heck of a victory. Tomorrow is looking even brighter, you’ll see…” and just as he was saying that, BB slammed into him sending him flying into the air. Straw flipped several times and shot spitballs upside down back at BB. He covered him in them before crashing into the back windshield of a car.
“Okay! Who sent you? Talk now!” String yelled as he lassoed BB’s neck. BB was caught off guard and blinded by all the gook that Straw stuck to him. Then he started to shake and spin. The faster he spun, the brighter he became. BB lit up like a ‘Hollywood’ name. He had gotten so bright and hot that the spitballs popped off of him and became dried pelt popping off of him like popcorn. String said, “Ouch!” and let go of him “Whoa! You got kind of warm…” Straw slid down the side of the car and shook his head. He started hopping towards BB with his head down like a mad bull charging. String tied himself into knots and yelled, “Straw wait…!”
The Odd Plates were flying overhead. They formed into the shape of a triangle with Fuller leading their chase. They had been searching for ‘The Man’ who nabbed Inck Pen from this place. The plates alternately changed places by doing parallel transfers in the sky’s open space. Fuller noticed the commotion below though, and redirected their flight pattern. They turned up their edges and pointed their front rims towards the ground. Fuller bellowed to them, “Everyone, quickly we’re going down! I’m the only one who should touch the ground.” They all swooped low, looping in and out cars. Fuller was the only one who landed though to join String and Straw on the road. The other Odd Plates hovered about three feet above the pavement circling each other like they were told.
“What’s going on here?” Fuller asked as he stood deliberately facing BB. Straw went to speak but BB cut him off, “Hi…you must be the great leader I’ve heard so much about. I’m BB—that’s short for ‘Bright Bulb’. I’m a product too you know. I’m an ultra durable light with my own energy source. I was just released by this incredible kid about two miles up the road. His parents don’t know it yet—so I think that makes him bold.” BB was shinning. Fuller let him speak. “Then I was on my way here to meet you and tell you my story when I whizzed by a bunch of nuts up the street and then I accidently bumped into this guy. He did some martial arts moves and started to fly in the air and shot a bunch of spitballs at me for no reason…” Fuller started laughing. Charlie and Buck-L laughed too; Charlie even popped himself.
"So I see you’ve met our leader. This is Straw and I am sure you didn’t realize it but we are in the middle of a battle. So when you hit him—" Fuller stopped. At first BB’s face went dim then he shook his head in amazement and brightened up, “Ooooo…you mean YOU are THE Straw! Oh my gosh!! Everyone is talking about you! Oh my gosh! I can’t believe my luck! I…—“ String cut him off. “It’s okay kid, he doesn’t rule from some loft. He’s just your average recycled Straw” and they started laughing. Straw moved to BB and said, “BB your timing is impeccable. We have some things to settle in that park down there but now it’s dark. Some of our ah…’associates’ contacted us. They have ‘The Man’ surrounded. He is in an old ‘port-a-potty’ in the south area there. I was thinking before you arrived that if we only had some more light... and ‘bingo’! Here you go. How’s that for luck?”
BB laughed. Then Fuller asked Straw about the next move. “We head to the park pronto. String, please make sure everyone gets the word. But I need you with me.” String said, “No problem boss. Hey, everyone listen up. We’re moving out! Threadbare! Gather up those nuts; tell them to pack it in. Our job is done here!” The fantastic crew all made their way to an off-ramp. Rows of products seemed to be littering the shoulder of the road awaiting their instructions. Fuller called for the Odd Plates to form a ramp of their own. “Everyone that can fly or float, take whoever you can with you. There will be no products left behind!” Foolie Lou started yelling, “Ahhh! Boo-yaka! Boo-yaka! Let us be-nuts! Get it?” children in earshot and even some adults laughed when they heard that. Lou’s son said, “That’s right daddy! I feel ‘nutty’ like a crumb cake. Wooo!” Threadbare laughed and said, “Umm, that’s ‘fruit cake’ youngster.” Little Nut giggled, “Yeah, that too sir!”
String called out to Barry, “Go ahead of us; go with the wind. Fill up with air and go quickly my friend”. Old Rule slid over to String and nudged him “String sir…what happened to Slingshot?” String looked around and said, “You know what, I forgot to tell Straw that he pinged off earlier to canvass the area. But he’ll show up soon I hope because there’s no one to carry him and with nothing to ping off of once he leaves the road he might not get too far”. Then as if on cue, Slingshot pinged in, “Sorry for always being late. There wasn’t much to ping off of once I left the road…” Old Rule and String looked at each other and snickered.
“Okay everyone, board the Odd Plates if you can’t fly. We are reinforced foam plates. Hop on and give us a try! Just don’t hang over the edge or someone might find you and put you to good use” Fuller said and started laughing. When all of the Odd Plates were full, String asked Green to write a message on the white road barrier. It read, “Who’s the man now?” Then Green smirked and said he was happy to have found his popped top thanks to some crazy nuts and Con. And with that, Fuller ordered all the plates to set a course for the park, “…and no clowning around you guys! We have rookies and newbies aboard. Plus it’s dark so stay behind me. We have the new kid lighting our way”.
In a matter of minutes, they set down in the park a distance from the old port-a-potty. The twins Dixie and Trixie, floated over to them and said, “He’s in there”. Fuller ordered everyone off of the plates. “Odd Plates! Scramble up. Give us a perimeter around that ‘John’! BB turn your light on high.” The Odd Plates hovered the port-a-potty like they were making crop-circles. Straw yelled, “I want ‘The Man’ in that out-house. Hey, you in there! Are you ‘The Man’ or a mouse?” Threadbare giggled, “Frankly, I think he’s a louse but what do I know?” But all they heard was, “MEOW! MEOW!” String moved closer to the structure. He shouted, “Driver! Where are you? Undo these screws!” Driver came on command. “Anything you say chief ‘stringy-man’” and started laughing. “You think that was funny?” String said.
Driver undid the screws and moved away from the door. Red yelled to his sister, “Incky! We came to rescue you and even the score! Are you alright?” But they heard nothing except, “MEOW!” Straw said, “How is this? I know that I’ve heard that voice somewhere before. Well no matter…BB brighten up and String, pull the door!” The door came slamming down to the ground. And ‘The Man’ emerged laughing. “Hi there Straw. Someone wants to greet you! Alex, remember him?” and he let his cat Alex out of its cage. Alex ‘meowed’ even louder and exposed all of his teeth and claws.” Straw screamed, “No! Not him…!” and started shooting spit balls at everyone.
Author notes
Thanks for clicking on folks. This is yet another installment to our story. For new visitors, this is a deliberate effort at laughs (shamelessly cheap or otherwise...hahaha) and enjoyment. NOTE: This chapter includes a new character "BB" that actually my 10 year old son thought up as contribution to our story; later I'll add the picture that he contribtued to it. We try to make it as wild and fantastical as we can. If you laugh and enjoy it, well then - that's the whole point. Thanks for the visit.
In a list
Comments
1 - 31 of 31
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Wonderful
Well this is my first view of your story. it is very well written and full of great images. So very creative. Thank you for sharing.
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Thank you for these very kind words and your review. Perhaps I should insert a notice to readers about its length (so thanks also, for being able and willing, to read it through). I'm glad to know you liked it.
AsIThink...
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BB lights the way, what a great idea your son had for a character, he could be used in many ways in their fight against Man. This is another Fantastic add which is fantastic! lol. You put so much detail into your work. The part where the man is on the cell phone was great, and I loved the little scenario you created for the meeting between BB and straw. Well done...alby
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LOL...thanks for getting to this. I recall thinking, "wow, she's missed this one too?" (meaning 'you'...hahaha). What great comments and insight. Gives me lots of useful angles (whether you realize it or not). Naturally, with a person of your caliber 'chiming' in, I feel even better about the storyline and direction. So glad that you enjoyed this. By the way, should I scale back some on the details? Let me know what you think...
AsIThink... -
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No, I don't suggest you scale back on the details, it is the details that lift the story from ordinary to fantastic!
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That's is wonderful to read. Okay then, I read you loud and clear: keep the details...hahaha. Thanks for the speedy reply (you're quick like 'BB' I see...lol).
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lol
At first i was skeptical of even reading it because i was thinking "it isnt a poem im not reading it" but then i read the notes and well that summed enough up for me to read it then i couldnt stop i did quite enjoy this one i may as well search your page and scourge it for the other installments as well perhaps in the process i will find out how one actually comes up with such a fantastical imaginative story as this then again some thing tells me that it will either involve a few certain plants either set ablaze or ground to power (if you know what i mean) or i just trully wouldn't want to know the answer am i close at all? either way this was fun interesting and kinda worth it and now in the words of our for fathers
"This meeting never happened and i will deny all of its existence if you bring it to court and we all shal burn a forest to cover it up" no seriously i enjoyed this -
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Wow. Thanks a lot for the visit and great feedback. Now: LOL... "then again some thing tells me that it will either involve a few certain plants either set ablaze or ground to power (if you know what i mean) or i just trully wouldn't want to know the answer am i close at all?" - hahaha! Noooo...you're not even in the ball park with these thoughts (lol). Actually, I grew up mega-dosing on a crazy 'cartoon-diet' of "Tom & Jerry", "Popeye", "Bugs Bunny" and a bunch of other crazy antics...plus comic books. So, this is my 'fantastical ideas' frame of reference. Glad to know that you enjoyed this; glad that you came by.
AsIThink...
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Enjoyed it
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Thank you very much. That's what I was hoping for...
AsIThink...
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I thought that this story was very original in its concept. It's almost like a discarded product Alice In Wonderland. However, its a little hard to follow. I did enjoy it though and liked the idea behind it. Did I miss the first part of this? This is actually the first installment of this that I've read. What's the first one?
John -
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Thanks very much for the visit and read. Yes, I (we) realize that like so many stories, this one can lose a first-time reader. All of the story to-date can be seen from the "In a list" section above. Technically speaking (about a fantastical story..hahaha), the first story is called "Fantastic Lore: Rise Of String" (lol...sorry, but I laugh everytime I think of it). But we made a posting error here and so the first to show up is called "The Return Of Straw" (though it should have come after the first title - oh well...). It has come quite a ways since 3-4 months ago. This is part 30 (I kind of lost count).
AsIThink...
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long...epic even
I was not ready for this. maybe i will read it again in the morning. sorry, i write long ones, and this did me in. I will wait till I am in the right mood. promise.
. Rewarded 4
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LOL...this is so funny! Hey, listen - not a problem at all. It's all in fun; if you make it back then it'll be wonderful. If not, well thanks for clicking on. Appreciate your honesty and explaination.
AsIThink...
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I love it! I can actually see this in my mind
This would make a great cartoon!!!
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Wow...thank you very much. I'm so glad to see how this played out for you. My brother and I have said the same thing and are headed in this direction with the story. This really is some terrific feedback. Thanks again for the visit/read.
AsIThink...
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LOL! This is great!
Thanks a lot for sharing this here
and keep up the wonderful work!
Jeremy0826 -
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hahaha...wow, thanks for the visit and excellent inspiring feedback. Yeah, my brother ("Swangrnv") and I have been at this story for just about a year now. We do it in installments (me, him...etc.). Really glad you liked this! Come again any time.
AsIThink...
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First timer here.haha someone has put alot of wild thinking in this. Bravo
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hahaha...guilty as charged. Thanks so much for your feedback and visit. Yeah, as you may already realize, this is a connector-story with my brother "Swangrnv" (also here on AP). We were 'bitten' years ago by the 'cartoon/comic book/fantasy/action bug' (bet you never ever heard of that one, huh? lol).
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I laughed and enjoyed it.
I will be reading more.
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I laughed while writing it; thanks a million for this visit and gracious comments. I'll be looking for you.
AsIThink... -
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you'll be looking for me? Is that good?
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hahaha...very funny. I mean, I'll be glad to see you here again (smart alice).
AsIThink... -
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oh boy, when will you post another chapter?
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After "Swangrnv" submits his chapter/part. We take turns...Thanks for the interest in this.
AsIThink...
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Aye, 'tis a most humorous write. You've expressed yourselves quite well. Thanks for the chuckles. Again, well done.
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Thank you very much Trafalger679Curious...so have you with these kind words. I really appreciate this; such wonderfully powerful feedback...great to see you here again so soon. Glad you got some laughs from this - it makes it worth it if just one person likes it so thanks again.
AsIThink... -
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My pleasure.
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L.O.L. L.O.L. L.O.L. .L.O.L. L.O.L.!!!!
WOWEE! Alex, the man, the 'right'light bulb, and all the happenings has my head spinning in a fantastical whimsy state of mine! l.o.l. gosh! , I LOVE IT! needless to say this is the best lore ever! , no 4 real!1 l.o.l. wow ok ok you outdid yourself! "WHO'S THE MAN?..WHY THAT'S EASY..IT'S RAN!! l.o.l. excellent kid!
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Oooookay. I guess this means that you like it, huh? Thanks a million for the feedback and read and compliments and that you got your belly-full-of-laughs. Like you, why else do the Lore, huh? (hahaha). BTW, careful with the spinning so you don't knock over anything (like "Straw"...lol).
AsIThink...
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