Sugar Beast
The livelihood of this tiny beast was one of thievery and tricks. At night, when the motion of man became still and the night bugs began to sing, he would emerge from his secret abode. Silently, slowly, he would wander into some unknowing camp. As dying flames cast long shadows, he would unzip the tent and creep inside. Then his nose did the rest of the work, sniffing out all the sugary treats. Most always, there was a nearby bag still holding the decadent remains of his favorite food of all - s’mores. This was his nocturnal ritual for many seasons now.
The next summer a hugely terrible change happened. Humans began to eat health food. As you can imagine, this put our thief in quite a despairing predicament. His s’mores were no longer found in the woods, but were replaced with sprouts and wheat germ.
Not long after his last piece of licorice the headache began. That was weeks ago and now it was tormenting him. Biting his nails didn’t help; hitting his head on rocks didn’t knock it away. He sucked on clover flowers and sassafras roots but nothing helped. His hole under the old Sycamore tree seemed to get bigger, but really, he was getting extremely skinny.
“I must have sugar!” he desperately cried.
He thought and thought about how he could obtain this precious commodity and suddenly it occurred to him.
“Gas Station.”
“Let me see…hmm… yes, that’s it!” A plan formulated in his sugar deprived brain.
~ ~ ~
Doc Armstrong was the local dentist. When one would visit his office, they could find pictures of Machu Picchu and the Great Pyramids of Giza adorning his walls. The Doc was a world-traveling photographer, adventurer, and dentist to the poor children of the nations. He was also a bit of a detective, used to sniffing out lions before they sniffed him out.
He noticed something awry that Saturday evening as he filled his jeep at the nearest gas station. Strange tracks shuffled around the dumpster. Before the Doc went in to pay, he took a closer look. The tracks were from a four-legged creature with five fingers but walked on two legs.
~ ~ ~
Anticipation filled the creature as the night was finally here. In the waning twilight, he easily slipped in the backdoor and waited just a little while.
“Aah, that’s it,” the now familiar sound of locking doors.
He tiptoed out into the open store. He looked around, anxiously withholding the tremendous weight of addiction, and then, let loose!
He went straight for the Mountain Dew. Lying on his back under the fountain drinks, he guzzled a gallon easily. Then he bounced to the candy aisle and inhaled three king-sized Snickers bars, four Kit-Kats and a bag of Corn nuts.
Oh, he was ecstatic! Finally, he had what he desired and his headache was gone. Then he went for a lighter…
Click
Doc Armstrong opened the door slowly and methodically. He followed a sticky trail to the last aisle only to behold the most interesting sight he could imagine. There sat the fat creature on his butt, holding a s’more in one hand and roasting it with the lighter in the other. They peered for a moment at each other and the creature, with lightning quick speed, fled out of sight.
It wasn’t fast enough though, as the Doc had hoisted his weapon and already fired several rounds at the animal. The creature paused at the unfamiliar liquid that filled the ammunition. One small lick and he was horrified at the putrid taste. Doc had filled them with Listerine. The momentary hesitation was enough to spell out the future of that animal. Doc’s strong arms pulled the creature to the counter-top. Hurriedly, he squirted medicine on its mouth. Hammers, drills and elbows in the air gave way to something new.
Now, calmly, the Doc stepped back and there sat a new creation. It was a beautiful white-toothed raccoon. Doc Armstrong took him under his wing and eventually taught him how to eat better and brush his teeth. He even gave him a name - Mr. Clean.
-The two traveled happily ever after-
Jeremy D Kirby
Comments
Post a Comment