Elroy At The Museum

[Kristine_ES]

Elroy lay under the Haida canoe studying every inch of the hatchet marks, scrapes and designs, ignoring the fact that it was probably restored with modern tools. He lay motionless for so long that Ike the security guard had to stoop down and check his breathing. Ike never chased away the Emperor Penguin that worked the bar
up the block: Elroy was a good guy and didn’t bother anyone.  He was in another world, straining to hear
Inuit then Anishinabe while Lakota Sioux came to him on waves of Maya. Elroy watched the herds of hooded youngsters scuff and strut by in a hurry to get to the food court, certain their language would be the new Esperanto. He wondered if any one of them would believe the South Pacific was the cradle of the world—not that it mattered on a cold New York Sunday afternoon.

[Kristine_ES]

thank you kindly from Elroy.

credit goes to Sandra for this one because one of her sixes got me thinking about language--specifically accents. this started me youtubing all kinds of beautiful language.  at first i was going to have Elroy practicing accents in the bathroom of the bar... but it turned out more interesting this way. 

Bill... grammar and i are mortal enemies, but sometimes we find a truce.  Elroy might be a stand-in for my ruminations, but mostly i think i'm living vicariously through him.  either way.  Cita and Angela, he'll be back.  (where is Angela, by the way?)

[Joe Gensle]

fascinating. just utterly fascinating :) Six thumbs up! (and two flippers!)

[Bill Floyd]

I always say this with relation to Elroy, but--damn this is so original!  I don't know if he's a stand-in for your most poignant ruminations or what, but the dude's got his own personality and a widening circle of friends that I love to visit.  I notice that you took some care with your grammar here, as opposed to some of your more free-form poetical tides.  I like Ike, and that the hooded youngsters are speaking the new Esperanto.  Chock full of gems, this one.   

[Angela]

So glad to see Elroy.  It has been a while.  He is so philosophical and tender today.

[Gita]

One of the hardest things to do is combine intelligence with an awww-cute vibe, and you did it!

(I was hoping the canoe was made by the Canadian West Coast Salish from one of the giant redwoods out in British Columbia. )

[Jeanette Cheezum]

This would make the perfect beginning for the next great novel.

[Cita]

Oh, I like Elroy.  May we read more of him?

[Kristine_ES]

puleeze don't give him a big head. he's got all he can do to not make comments to the pretty girls... but he's learning.   (and thank you for liking him, he needs all the like he can get.) 

[Teresa]

The way I see Elroy is that he's always been around, the oldest of souls.  He's the Jesus of penguins.  The messiah of all creatures.  He's humble and wise, psychic and real.  He's waddling one minute then illuminated the next, too often underestimated.  It never bothers him.  I really like this character.