Here's part 1 of a wonderful and rather surreal story of a twitch ,awash with unusual characters and strange events. It tells you all about the eventful preparations, as well as the journey to Owl Springs. I'll tell you where it comes from and who wrote it in the final installment. Here we go .... It was Uncle's birthday, and he had planned a celebration. He told the Old Monkey at breakfast that they were going to Owl Springs.The Old Monkey jumped for joy. If there is any treat that he likes, it is this visit. The springs are not up to much, and it's very hard to get a good look at the owl, but all the same there's something fascinating about the place. People come from all round, especially when there is a rumour that the owl is about, but, as a matter of fact, the only person so far who had really seen the owl was the Old Monkey.One wet Friday night when everyone else had gone away he saw it quite clearly for about five minutes. Most people have not even had a glimpse of it, and those who have are notable characters for the rest of their lives. They telephoned to Cowgill for the traction engine. Although it was Uncle's birthday, he had only received a few presents as yet, a packet of ginger-nuts form the Old Monkey, and some mangoes from Butterskin Mute, while Alonzo S. Whitebeard had simply given him a medal that he had picked up in the street.He gave it to Uncle because he thought it was no good, but he was surprised to discover that it had a very useful quality that nobody had expected. Uncle found this out by accident, while they were waiting for the traction engine. It suddenly turned blue when he stepped on to a little mound of earth , then became silver-coloured again when he stepped off it. He had the curiosity to dig the mound away a little, and found, just under the surface, nine half-crowns wrapped in grease-proof paper. It was evidently a buried-treasure detector. Uncle was delighted, for he had often wanted a thing of this kind, but Whitebeard was very depressed, and wished heartily that he had been generous enough to buy Uncle the half-penny typewriter that he had been looking at for days in Cheapman's window. At last they started, Uncle, the Old Monkey And Alonzo S. Whitebeard, with Cowgill as driver and engineer. The road to Owl Springs goes through a deep valley. Lots of people were also travelling there that day, some on foot, some by car, but most by motor coach. A man called Onion Sam gets up these trips during the May to September season. "Hallo ,Uncle !" said Beaver Hateman. " Going up to see the owl ?" " I hope to do so," replied Uncle calmly. " Well, I don't think you will ; I passed Wizard Blenkinsop on the road, and he assured me that the owl would not be seen after ten this morning. It's now half past nine and we shall be there in ten minutes, while you will get there about eleven! So long, Uncle !" ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Well readers .... there's your first gripping installment ... and already we've got a tense situation ! Does this fabled "Owl" really exist ? Is the "Old Monkey's" account just the fuddled imaginings of an aging ape ? Will they get there in time ? Is what Beaver Hateman said true ? Bearing in mind that he is Uncle sworn enemy ! Is this Wizard Blenkinsop character reliable ? Surely they should have taken provisions. He'll need more than a few ginger-nuts and mangoes. Where's the One-Armed Badger ? He usually carries them. Music Time .... a fine, spirited, clever song by that Jethro Tull again... " Up to me" ...... Take you to the cinema and leave you in a Wimpy Bar -- you tell me that we've gone to far -- come running up to me. Make the scene at Cousin Jack's -- leave him put the bottles back -- mends his glasses that I cracked -- well that one's up to me. It's up to me Buy a silver cloud to ride -- pack the tennis club inside -- trouser cuffs hung far too wide -- well it was up to me. Tyres down on your bicicle -- your nose feels like an icicle -- the yellow fingered smoky girl is looking up to me. Woah, you know it's up to me yeah Well I'm a common working man with a half of bitter -- bread and jam and if it pleases me I'll put one on you man -- when the copper fades away. Oh, it's up to me Whoa, he said it's up to me yeah The rainy season comes to pass -- the day-glo pirate sinks at last -- and if I laughed a bit to fast. Well it was up to me Take you to the cinema and leave you in a Wimpy Bar -- you tell me that we've gone to far -- come running up to me. Woah, you know it's up to me yeah!
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AuthorThat's the author up there ... I was young and sprightly then. Archives
October 2022
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