The Timothy Spoon
A Tale for the Youngest, the Young, and the Young at Heart
Timothy Spoon was a spoon; a silver spoon (and He was something more). Timothy could see and hear and think; that made Him different from other spoons. He lived! As far as He knew He did not have eyes or ears or a Heart or a brain, but live He did.
Timothy Spoon was originally purchased at a general store by Mrs. Gertrude Jaloppy of Cedar Bay. The ride Home from the marketplace was a wonderful one: Gertrude perused Timothy in the bright Sunshine as the Horse and buggy rolled onward to Her cabin. As fate would have it, Mrs. Jaloppy would not own Timothy for long. She was soon to give Him to a newlywed couple as a wedding gift. The couple was Mr. and Mrs. Wynn Pommo of Parrot’s Beak. The Pommos used Timothy for many years. Timmy watched the Pommos grow old together. He doled out many heaps of butter and sugar for the Pommos. He even acted as a mirror for their Children, warping their cute faces into those of gargoyles.
One day the Pommos sold Tim to Miss Penelope Voot (of a town called Golden Beam) for a copper coin. Miss Voot hardly ever used Timothy. Instead, She displayed Him in a beautiful wooden showcase beneath glass, along with porcelain cups and plates, and a silver candlestick. My relative! T. Spoon thought. Over the years hundreds of People marveled at Timothy and his fine Friends. Those were great years; some of the best of Timothy’s life. Sadly, one day, Miss Voot (who had grown very old) passed away. Being without Family Miss Voot’s belongings were donated to Charity. The Charity would resell donated goods to the public in order to raise money.
Then Timothy was taken from a dark, cramped warehouse (where his only Friend was a garden hose) and placed on a table outdoors. Timmy was purchased for a paper bill by Mr. Nathaniel Junjoy. The ride Home that day too was a great one as Mr. Junjoy’s car rushed along the country roads. Timothy could see the Sun playing Peek-A-Boo through the tall Trees as He lay on the bench. So Fun! Fun! Fun! The Sun! Sun! Sun! Like an Eye! Eye! Eye! In the Sky! Sky! Sky! Timothy mused and giggled. Once in a clearing the Sun would roar like a Lion and Timothy would bask.
Mr. Junjoy lived alone in a house in Clearsky. He owned Timothy for many years as well. Timothy thought that Mr. Junjoy was a good owner because He always bathed Him in warm water with lots of soft suds; Timothy appreciated that. The baths always kept Timothy's mind from yearning; the baths were something He could enjoy. You see, Tim had big Dreams. Ever since He was a little Boy Timothy had wanted to be a championship rider of Horses. He would daydream constantly about it. He pictured riding His Horse through Forests and fields and over obstacles, and He envisioned the rumble of the crowd as He stood on the winner's platform and received His medal or ribbon. Tim also dreamed of helping Children with their needs. He loved Children so much and had been used at a thousand birthday parties (or so it had seemed). Lastly, He had always wanted to visit the Orient; to travel through it and take in its sights and cultures. Oh to behold the bronze statues of the Orient, Timmy would think. (Being silver He felt a kinship with the copper used in producing bronze.)
These were His Dreams and, unfortunately, being a spoon, Tim felt, made them next to unattainable. But Timothy never, ever, let his Dreams fade. Not once did He ever give up Hope. At times it was hard to continue on; the boredom and loneliness when He was not being utilized were unbearable. However, Timothy Spoon was strong; He would neither bend nor break. He would wait for company to come over or for meals where He could listen to the conversation and feel like a part of the Family. Timothy really loved the Holidays and special parties because He was employed for hours on end. And throughout His life He had served many purposes: He was often used to dig in the Earth when it came time to plant the Garden (the Golden Sunshine always felt so great, although one time Tim chipped a stone, Ouch); He was instrumental in coloring eggs (and to see and hear the Children laugh warmed his Heart—or whatever it was that was Timothy's Heart; whatever it was that had kept Him alive for all of these years); oftentimes someone would use Him to play rhythms on a table; and other times He had to give someone bad tasting medicine (Yuck and Eww! Timothy would think).
Months could go by before The Timothy Spoon was used again but at least He was always near People. It made it easier for Him to concentrate, to plan. How was He going to attain his goals? During these inactive times He would recite a poem written early in the century of His forging. He loved it so.
In exile I sacredly observe
The custom of my fatherland
I freedom to a birdlet give
On Spring's holiday serene.
And now I too have consolation
Wherefore murmur against my God
When at least to one living being
I could of freedom make a gift?
Well, in the back of His mind (and in spite of the fact that He had always very much liked the Pommos, Miss Voot, and Mr. Junjoy) Timothy knew that to truly fulfill His Destiny He would have to leave and brave the World. He had known this from the day He first dreamed only He had never contemplated the thought. He understood that what it was He really wanted from Life lay beyond the doors of the homes in which He had lived; somewhere beyond. But is it possible? Tim would think, to escape, to fulfill my Dreams? No sooner had He asked Himself that very question when the answer revealed itself. He had been living His Dreams all along: Timothy was helping Children when one of them ate food off of Him; He was helping them to grow strong. Concerning the Horses? Through the years Timothy had gathered an incredible Knowledge of Horses simply by watching the races between sips of Mr. Junjoy's soup. You see, Mr. Junjoy would eat his dinner every single night in front of the screen while He watched the contests. Tim knew precisely what He would do if ever He got his chance to ride atop a Horse. He decided that He would continue to go over the drills in His head. And that He did. Regarding he Orient? For the time being He could Imagine it in His Mind’s Eye (or whatever it was that was Timothy's Mind’s Eye) and plan what it was that He would do if ever He visited the Grand Orient. Maybe He could travel there in his sleeping Dreams (when the Spirit projected); Or maybe He would be brought along in a traveler's luggage. That seemed very possible at the least.
T. Spoon was living His Dreams all along because Dreams are in our Hearts and in our Souls. They are real once We Dream them, and as long as We have life We have time to do as much. So it was very well for Timothy Spoon that this should be the case because one day Mr. Junjoy brought Home new silverware and Timothy Spoon was placed in a box with the rest of the old and tarnished cutlery. Together they were placed deep in the back of Mr. Junjoy's attic; left there to gather dust. It looked bleak for Timmy, but He kept His Dreams alive once more while He was sealed in that confounded box for years. And one day when Mr. Junjoy sold his Home and left only the box of old utensils behind, Timothy’s Dreams persisted.
New homeowners moved in: Carl and Gus Overandover. At that time, Tim thought, My chance! The new owners will use Me once again! After all of these years and although I am now an old spoon, I am free!
And forget this not: Even though the new owners of Mr. Junjoy's residence never even bothered to open up that box; and even though Timothy sat in it for decades, until a day now long past, His Dreams lived on. Perhaps they still live.
May your Dreams live.
Copyright 2005
Poem by Alexander Pushkin (1799-1837). The producers retain commercial use licenses on file for all photographs. |
|
