"Bob the Blob"

I skip down the street of downtown Blobville. Hi. I’m Bob. I am short and have stubby limbs. I am a sky blue. I passed some of my favourite restaurants feeling starving but first I had to buy my dad a birthday gift. “Hello!” I said to Mr. Happy Pants. His name makes him sound super jolly right? Well, he’s emotionless. Nobody knows why. Mr. Happy Pants is a grey blob with a plant in his hands. I’m not sure how he does his job. He’s a crossing guard. I don’t know how he holds that heavy sign while clutching a plant. Anyway, while I was walking toward Cool Cooking (My dad’s favorite store) I saw a giant manhole. I try to jump over it but… sloop! I don’t jump far enough! I get sucked right into the manhole! Ahhh! What am I going to do?! I’m starving and I have not bought my dad a gift! Wait a second! I can jump! I bend my knees and lift off and… I get about three inches off the pavement. Darn these stubby legs! Next, I try to whistle for some sort of creature. I put my fingers in my mouth and Fweet! I let out the loudest whistle I could. Next thing I know gray, scrappy mice come rushing towards me. Yes! I think but The mice start attacking me! “Aughh!” I scream! After a minute or so the mice back off. I sulk for a few minutes. Why?! Why must I have jumped over a manhole? Suddenly my phone buzzes. It’s Frank! My pumpkin orange bestie!! I call Frank. “Hey, Bob! What’s up?” “I fell in a manhole! Can you come and rescue me? Please?” “Sorry, Bob. I’m in Taylortown remember? For the Taylor Swift convention? Oh yeah! Frank is a huge Swifty. “Oh right. Sorry for bugging you!” I say. “It’s okay. I hope you find a way out of that hole. Bye, Bob” I hang up. Then, I do the only thing I can think of. Scream. “Help!” I yell as loudly as I can. “Help! Help! Help!” Suddenly I see a metal pole reaching down. I grab on. I start being pulled up. Yay! I look up to see who is rescuing me. It’s Mr. Happy Pants! Once I am fully pulled up, I give Mr. Happy Pants a big hug. “Thank you for saving me! I exclaim. Mr. Happy Pants doesn’t answer but I think I saw a small smile creep across his face. After thanking Mr. Happy Pants one more time I dash to Cool Cooking and grab my dad a cool green, bowl. Then I run over to my favourite sandwich shop. I grab their famous BLT and Then I grab an extra ham sandwich. I make my way over to the crosswalk. I give the sandwich to Mr. Happy Pants. “Thank you” He whispers. I give a huge smile. I walk away feeling happy. It feels nice to repay kindness.

Reading given at the Reign of Christ Banquet at St. Peter’s Anglican Church on November 24, 2023