March 12th

Journey of a Big Tube.

I've been stuck in the NW corner of Rivendell preschool for the last few years. Ignored. Bored. Tired. I was starting to dream of a trip to the Great Recycling plant, but this morning was different.

I woke up on this miserable rainy on the art table, surrounded by sharpies. Teacher scribbled on me a little, but it didn't spark interest. Next I was picked up by Azrael and was used an elephant trunk. I think. Could have been some kind of monster thing. Soon Honey took the other end and then there was a lot of yelling and screaming down my sensitive hole. But then I was abandonned for a while.

Honey was the one to pick me up and bring me out into the big room. I soon inspired a game called TIMBER. It was very dangerous. They took turns standing it up and dropping it down. I was afraid I would crush someone, but they managed to keep me safe. And themselves too. When this ran it's course, Azrael started stuffing a tarantula down my hole. Teacher suggested he stuff as many stuffies as possible (she thought it would be fun and that then they would have quite the challenge to get them out), but that idea didn't spark. I was abandonned again while the tent was erected, but Honey remembered me again and started chasing everyone around the room while holding my middle. Lots of shrill screaming. Mayhem. But I survived and found myself learning against the loft, where Teacher suggested dropping Sausage Guys down my hole, but something happened, Honey's fingers got smushed a little, and I was almost put away on Honey's request. But instead I landed on the Art Table. Ooooh boy. It tickles when they draw on me....I loved that.

Teacher brought me out at Circle Time and invited everyone to ride behind her on top of me, and they had a nice gallop aroumd the room. And then she challenged each of them to come with a circle game with me. They stood on me. They rolled on me. They drummed on me (I think I still have bruises). They lay on me. And they showed remarkable Teamwork and care as they carried me around the room. I liked that. But then they left to eat and venture out into that nasty weather....

I got named when the kids returned. They brainstormed awhile. A lot of them wanted to name me after themselves, but they liked Toobie too, so I guess you can call me Toobie Hahazoopel. (Hahazoopel has a couple of letters from everyone's name. It has a nice ring, don't you think?) But then they forgot about me again.

Finally, at the end of the day, sweet Honey set me up on the loft slide and zipped on down my smooth exterior, time and time again. No rug burns. And then Eloise decided I should be planted and stabilized, and she pushed over the block stools to keep me erect! I can say without hesitation that this has been the very most exciting day of my life, at least since I was part of a living tree.

And I think the kids had a pretty good day too.