The Blurtso Chronicles (selections from episodes at http://blog.blurtso.com)
On
“Bonny and Pablo sip chocolate and talk of the future”
Maybe we should make plans for the future, said Pablo. The future? said Bonny. Yes, said Pablo, what are we going to do? We’ll be together, said Bonny. Yes, said Pablo, but what we will we do? We’ll walk around, said Bonny. And then? said Pablo. Then we’ll eat and drink, said Bonny. And then? said Pablo. Then we’ll sleep, said Bonny. And then? said Pablo. Then we’ll walk around, said Bonny. And then? said Pablo. Then we’ll eat and drink, said Bonny. And then? said Pablo. Then we’ll sleep, said Bonny. And the next day? said Pablo. Yes, said Bonny, and the next day. Wow, said Pablo, that sounds wonderful. Yes, said Bonny, it truly does.
“Bonny has a surprise for Pablo”
I’ve got a surprise for you, said Bonny Bray. What is it? said Pablo.
It’s a stuffed animal I bought at the market, said Bonny. Hey, said Pablo, it looks like Blurtso! Do you like him? said Bonny. I love him! said Pablo. What’s his name? said Pablo. I don’t know, said Bonny, maybe we should call him Blurtso. No, said Pablo, if we call him Blurtso we’ll never know if we’re talking about the real Blurtso or the duplicate. Yes, said Bonny, I suppose you’re right. Hmmm, said Pablo, he’s just like the original, but he isn’t the original… what if we call him Ditto? Ditto? said Bonny. Yes, said Pablo, he’s a ditto of the original. I like it, said Bonny, I wonder if he likes it? Why don’t we ask? said Pablo. O.k., said Bonny, I will… hello Ditto, do you like your name?
Yes! Yes! Yes! said Ditto, hopping up and down.
“Ditto wakes up early”
Pablo! Pablo! Pablo! said Ditto. What?! said Pablo. Wake up! Wake up! Wake up! said Ditto. Oh no, thought Pablo, this might have been a big mistake…
“Bonny and Pablo have an idea”
What are you reading? said Bonny. Walden by Henry David Thoreau, said Pablo. What’s it about? said Bonny. It’s about the year Thoreau spend living in a one-room cabin on
“Bonny and Pablo and Ditto go into the woods”
This looks like a nice place, said Bonny. Yes, said Pablo, the foundation is solid, but the hearth has been neglected…
“Bonny and Pablo admire their work”
The balcony was a great idea, said Bonny.
“Bonny, Pablo and Ditto settle down for the night”
Dinner’s on the table and the wine’s in the glass,
the jack and the jenny are together at last,
the troubles of the day are fading into night,
and the room is warm in the soft firelight.
All the wild oceans and the white-water threats,
the quarreling clouds and the fire in the west,
are now the starry river where two hearts can find rest
and share the simplicity of… tenderness.
The wood is by the door, the day’s work is done,
the night flowers open to the vanishing sun,
this is where the hours will give up their race,
and a jack and a jenny can finally embrace.
All the wild oceans and the white-water threats,
the quarreling clouds and the fire in the west,
are now the starry river where two hearts can find rest
and share the simplicity of… tenderness.
“Bonny and Pablo are dumbfounded”
I’m hungry, said Pablo, is there any more pie? I thought you finished it, said Bonny. No, said Pablo, I didn’t finish it. Hmmm, said Bonny, I wonder who did?
“Ditto plays in the garden” (I)
Hello insects, said Ditto.
I thought we left Ditto inside, said Bonny. We did, said Pablo.
“Bonny and Pablo flirt on the balcony”
There are many flies today, said Pablo. Yes, said Bonny, in the summer there are often many flies.
“Ditto plays in the garden” (I)
What a lovely day in the garden…
Hello snails, said Ditto.
“Ditto plays in the garden” (III)
How many? said Ditto. I’ll take two…
“Bonny and Pablo go for a walk”
Shall we walk around the pond? said Pablo. Yes, said Bonny, that would be lovely. Should we take Ditto? said Pablo. No, said Bonny, he saw a caterpillar this morning and he’s afraid to go outside. That’s just silly, said Pablo, Ditto’s a stuffed animal.
Caterpillar… are you out there?
“Ditto looks at the water on a hot day in August” (I)
That water is certainly clear, thought Ditto. It’s so clear I can’t even see myself, unless those rocks on the bottom are me... maybe those rocks at the bottom are me. Ahhh... It’s nice to be a rock in the stream on a hot day in August.
“Bonny and Ditto share some quality time” (I)
If you look closely, said Bonny,
you can see the trail of waterbugs on the water.
“Ditto thinks about a leaf”
Hmm, thought Ditto, would you look at that… a leaf caught in the stream. It’s a dry leaf, yellow and crinkly. I wonder how long it will remain here? I wonder what will become of it when I’m gone? Will it miss me? Will I think of it when I’m home? Will it still be here, softly striking the stone?
“Bonny and Ditto share some quality time” (II)
Look, said Bonny. See how the grass bends in the wind?
“Pablo dangles a line”
Any luck? said Bonny. No, said Pablo. I'm not using a hook.
I just like to watch the bobber go up and down.
“Ditto thinks what he thinks”
Is my reaction to my flow of thought
simply a part of my flow of thought?
“Pablo goes to town”
Over the hill and through the woods…
to my greenhouse I will go…
I’ll fill a wagon and return to our cabin…
…where we’ll all live like H.D. Thoreau.
“Bonny and Ditto share some quality time” (III)
See how the fish make use of the shadow?
“Pablo goes to town” (II)
Hello, said Blurtso. Hello, said Pablo. What are you doing? said Blurtso. I’m taking veggies from my greenhouse to my cabin. How about you? I’m going to class, said Blurtso. Oh, said Pablo. Would you like to come visit when you’re done? I don’t think so, said Blurtso. I’ve got an exam tomorrow. That’s too bad, said Pablo, we could go for a swim. With the ducks? said Blurtso. Of course, said Pablo. Hmm, said Blurtso. Do you know anything about the underlying causes of World War One? No, said Pablo, but I’m sure we can figure it out while we swim. Great! said Blurtso. I’ll see you after class.
“Blurtso visits his friends on the pond”
I see, said Blurtso. So WWI was the result of a series of diplomatic clashes over European and colonial issues that stemmed from the changing balance of power after 1867. Exactly, said Pablo.
“Ditto sees himself in nature”
Here I am… and there, and there, and there, and there.
“Pablo and Bonny stop and eat the flowers”
“Ditto is concerned about color”
Hmm, thought Ditto. The leaves change color before they die. Red, brown, yellow, orange… brown and yellow? Pablo is brown and Bonny is yellow. I hope they don’t die! I wish they were grey like me.
“Ditto continues to think about color”
What a relief, thought Ditto. I guess donkeys live forever.
“Blurtso walks to Walden”
Mmmm, thought Blurtso. The cooling air makes the grass smell sweet… and the sounds seem more distinct. A raven… an owl… an axe... and the quickening pulse of the crickets.
“Blurtso finds no one home”
Over the hills and past the pond, to Pablo and Bonny’s house I go…
Hmm, said Blurtso. No one’s home. Except Bonny’s stuffed animal. He sure is funny-looking. Rabbit-sized ears, boxing-glove nose, two eyes that may as well be one. I wonder what he’s supposed to be? His hoofs are wrong for a rabbit, and his nose is wrong for a rhino… maybe he’s a camel or a mouse… or an overstuffed rat… I wonder if he can swim… maybe he’s a sea creature who yearns for the land, or a land creature who yearns for the sea… He sure looks funny! But even so… he's really quite handsome.
“Blurtso meets Pablo on the street”
Hello Pablo, said Blurtso. Hello Blurtso, said Pablo. I stopped by the other day, said Blurtso, but you weren’t home. Oh, said Pablo, I’m sorry I missed you. That’s alright, said Blurtso, I had a nice chat with Ditto. With Ditto? said Pablo. But Ditto’s a stuffed animal. Yes, said Blurtso, but he’s remarkably intelligent.
“Bonny and Pablo hit the hay” (I)
I love to watch the firelight, said Pablo. Yes, said Bonny, the reflection flickering on the ceiling, and the shadows shrinking and stretching. Do you think it’s snowing? said Pablo. I hope so, said Bonny, Ditto loves the snow... is there any more popcorn?
“Bonny and Ditto share some quality time” (IV)
Yes, said Bonny, snow is always white when it’s new.
“Bonny and Pablo hit the hay” (II)
It must be midnight, said Pablo. I can hear the last train to Boston. Imagine all the people, staring out the windows, seeing their reflections in the glass. And the darkness beyond. I wonder what they're thinking? I don't know, said Bonny. Is there any more popcorn?
“Bonny and Ditto share some quality time” (V)
Yes, said Bonny, water is remarkable.
“Bonny and Pablo hit the hay” (III)
It must be midnight, said Pablo. I can hear the last train. After dark the passage of time is marked by sounds... and the waning fire... and the last kernels of corn.
“Bonny and Ditto share some quality time” (VI)
Yes, said Bonny, time is different on an overcast day in winter.
“Bonny and Pablo hit the hay” (IV)
It must be midnight, thought Pablo, I can hear the last train. Today was a good day. A day of food, shelter, and company. I wonder what tomorrow will bring? Another day, I hope, of the same.
“Bonny and Pablo hit the hay” (V)
I can hear the last train, thought Pablo, the night animals will be out. In the morning I’ll see their tracks in the snow. It must be exciting, moving quietly through the snow, feeling the pulse in your temples, seeing the hills in the grey light, and hearing the slender sound of the creek.
“Pablo looks at the moonlight”
It’s a full moon, thought Pablo.
Maybe I should go out for a walk…
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Pablo, why are you stoking the fire? Please come back to bed...
“Bonny and Pablo hit the hay” (VI)
It’s raining on the roof, thought Pablo. The last snow is melting and the earth is beginning to open. Soon the breeze will be warm and the smells will be sweet. It was a long winter, but the cabin was cozy with Bonny and Ditto and a cellar of food. And the crackling fire. What a pleasant place to be, on the edge of spring, in the rain, in the warmth of our cabin.
