Fork In The Road - August 22, 2011

Fork In The Road

2011 - Mixed media on canvas

www.ErikVP.com

Here is a first draft of the story.

There is a fine line between genius and insanity. In the case of three intelligent but misunderstood penguins, their diagnosis was the later. Sentenced to life in a maximum security mental institution, the penguins spend their days locked in a room with blackboard covered walls. Their daily meals are earned by solving complex mathematical equations for the government.

Going crazy from boredom, the penguins construct an ingenious escape plan. The three escape with ease, and take their friend fish, and three large forks to ward off any guards. They roam the city in celebration, forks swinging in the air, and screaming out nonsensical poetry. Numerous attempts are made to capture the penguins, and their repeated escapes gain worldwide media attention and a fan club. The embarrassed authorities now claim the penguins never existed, and accuse the media of creating the hoax.

Just outside the city lies an old abandoned zoo. The animal cages and walls destroyed long ago, and all that remains is an iconic metal entrance gate and the word "ZOO". Inside the zoo lives a group of eccentric animals and their fearless leader known as the zookeeper. During an expedition thought the Amazon, zookeeper battled a giant Venus fly trap and narrowly escaped with his life, minus a left arm.

Zookeeper and his tribe of animals spend their time inventing technological gadgets, contacting extra terrestrials, and creating large scale art sculptures for public exhibition. Most of surrounding community consider the zoo an unofficial insane asylum and keep their distance.

One day the crazy penguins are spotted just outside the zoo. Two-headed giraffe wonders if they are dangerous with their forks swinging wildly. Zookeeper is intrigued by the penguins and wonders if he can persuade them to join the zoo. A perfect fit for our community, if I can just disarm them of those forks.

Zookeeper
(rides out on a unicorn to confront the penguins)
Greetings penguins.
Please surrender your weapons.

Penguins
(hysterical laughter, followed by all three yelling out poetic gibberish.)

We are three penguins with super powers

A collaboration between three

Fighting evil villains with forks

(more laughter)

He rides a mysterious pony

A one armed bandit and his mighty red shoe

Bad animals locked up in the zoo

If happiness is short, then we are happy!

(hysterical laughter)

Zookeeper
(Very annoyed by the penguins. Raises his giant magnet. Forks fly through the air, sticking to the magnet)
I too have super powers.

Penguins
(silent, in complete disbelief over the power of zookeeper's magnet)

Zookeeper
You have two options. I can return you to the nut house and collect a large reward, or you can join the zoo.

Penguins
(ponder for a moment, observing the large sculptures on the zoo property)
Do we get to make sculptures and contact UFO's?

Zookeeper
Absolutely, and you can entertain us with your poetry as well.

Zookeeper brings the penguins to a scrap pile inside the zoo and shows them a few sculptures for inspiration. The penguins immediately begin constructing, working non-stop through the night. Unicorn stands guard in case the penguins get any devious ideas.

The next morning, zookeeper goes to check on the penguins. All three are silent, and gazing up at their creation. Three giant forks, aligned in a row, prongs facing up towards the sky. Protruding from the ground, right at the crossroads where zookeeper and the penguins met. Zookeeper notices the sun rising directly above the sixth prong. The first day of June. Genius! Zookeeper smiles and walks away.