Today’s writing spark was Muppet Mania. I took the prompt: You meet Jim Henson, who gives you a magic mushroom that turns you into your favorite Muppet for 24 hours. Who have you become? What happens?
If I were…
It must have been the mushroom. What else could it have been? I was talking with one of my favorite creators, producers, and innovators of TV and movies, Jim Henson. I was somewhat speechless.
We talked about his career and all the muppets he had created, when he asked me which one was my favorite.
Before I could answer, he gave me something to eat. It was a mushroom. It was then that I realized Jim Henson was dead. How could I be talking to him? This was a question I would have asked him, except there was no one there.
I also felt this odd sensation over my body. As I looked down at my feet, I noticed that they had changed. They had just turned to furry red feet. As a matter of fact, my whole body was covered with red fur.
“What is happening to me?” I said.
That was crazy. That’s not my voice. I had a suspicion as to what was happening. Was I turning into Elmo?
I slowly went over to a mirror that was on the wall, and sure enough, the reflection that was staring at me was Elmo.
“This is very strange,” I said. Now, I recognized the voice.
What I like about Elmo is his insatiable curiosity and naivety.
Well, if you’re going to be Elmo, might as well be Elmo.
I left where I was and just walked around the neighborhood looking at everything that passed.
“Hello, birds,” I called out. “Where do you all live? I never see any nests.”
“Hello, tree. How come your leaves always change color?”
Luckily, I didn’t run into any people, which was probably a good thing. I’m not sure how they would react to 5’ 5” Elmo strolling in the neighborhood. I’m not sure how I would react either.
This went on throughout the day. I kind of forgot who I really was and became the Elmo that I knew I must be.
It was at this point that I started to notice other things about my surroundings. The sky, getting dirtier. There weren’t as many animals and plants as I remembered from when I was younger. Though I didn’t see any people, there sure was a lot of noise in the surrounding areas.
“What happened?” I cried.
“Why are there so many problems with people and keeping this beautiful world safe?” I pondered.
“Everybody needs to stop and take a look at what you’ve done.”
I could hear my voice change as I said that. I looked down, and I was no longer Elmo. That innocence and gentleness that embodied this character I loved was gone. And with that, I was back in the real world, wondering the same questions that Elmo had raised. Hoping that soon we all might be able to listen to the child within us and bring back all the wonder in this world that is surely lacking.
