Bol and Bel are urban (and sometimes, urbane) creatures who live on a planet called SOM (short for the "Ship of Monkeys") populated by four distinct species -- Monkeys, Doggies, AEs (short for the "Arch Enemies") and Rwaonds (short for the "rest who are of non-doggie species). Bol is a beautiful, headstrong, worldly, unpredictable (of the "Captain Jack Sparrow" ilk, for "Pirates" fans), somewhat irresponsible, adult Doggie. Bel is a somewhat cloyingly sweet, overly curious, naive, gangly teen Doggie, who appears attractive in a certain light. Bel and Bol were both lovingly adopted and live with Ma Monkey and Pa Monkey who bestow all kinds of affection on Bel and Bol and as such, are sadly, the unwitting slaves of these two Doggies. These are their conversations....
Evening pink has just started to crowd out the shades of blue in a deepening sky over SOM at the end of another gorgeous day. Pa Monkey is on his daily evening walk with Bel and Bol in tow. While Pa Monkey stops to discuss something important (no doubt) with a Neighbor Monkey, Bel and Bol are left to their own devices, albeit securely tethered to Pa Monkey on a long leash. Bol’s keen eyes spot an AE sprawled on the steps of one of the nearby houses on the tree-lined street. The AE spots Bol; their eyes lock. But, surprisingly, the AE does not budge from the reclining position favored by Greco-Roman Epicureans. Bol, unable to believe his eyes (and his luck), ambles over and Bel dutifully trots along with him.
Bol: (makes a snapping motion right at the AEs face)
The AE: (yawning and scratching it’s tummy says brightly) Hi there!
Bol: How dare you address me? More importantly, why haven’t you run up a tree yet? You all are good at that particular escape route.
The AE: (stretching into and out of various yogic postures) Why should I run? This is my house. And, I must say, you’re not very nice. (spotting Bel) Hi there! Aren’t you a cutie!
Bel: (shyly, and completely forgetting the Bol-imposed rule of not talking to AEs) Hi, what’s your name?
The AE: (much less shyly, in fact, not shyly at all) Pumpkin!
Bol: (unable to contain himself and thus, losing all sense of composure starts sniffing Pumpkin’s tummy) Sniff, sniff!
Pumpkin: (coyly) Hey, aren’t you the forward one!
Bol: (surprised at how good Pumpkin smelled unbeknownst to himself starts wagging his tail) Aren’t you at all afraid of me?
Pumpkin: Why should I be afraid? You two look perfectly harmless and rather cute at that!
Bel: (uncharacteristically speechless and feeling a twinge of jealously at Bol’s fascination with Pumpkin)
Bel: (cautiously nipping Pumpkin’s left ear and surprised at the affection he feels wellingg up inside for an AE) You’re not at all what I imagined AEs would be like.
Pumpkin: Is that so? But, how would you know if you’ve never stopped to talk to one and all you’ve ever done is chase them? (a trifle sharply) Now answer me that, genius!
This happy bucolic scene is brought to an abrupt end as Ma Monkey tears down the street toward them.
Ma Monkey: Pa, watch out! Bol’s going to make short work of that cat!
Pa Monkey immediately jerks Bol’s and Bel’s leashes and takes them to a safe distance away from Pumpkin.
Ma Monkey: Poor kitty! Did bad Bol scare you?
Bol: (sputtering his indignant protest) But, But…
Pumpkin: (purring and generally trying her best to look cute) Purrrrr…
Ma Monkey: Bad Bol! Pa, you better continue on your walk.
Pa Monkey walks off with an understanding smile and a wink at Bel and Bol. Bol gives the unjust world and its tyrant, Ma Monkey, a sulky look. Bel is happy to have Bol back all to herself again, which accounts for the spring in her gait. Pumkin sidles off into a nearby bush. Ma Monkey walks back home shaking her head at Bol’s audacity and general naughtiness.
THE END
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment