Enga mellom fjella

The moss covered mountains of Kansas

Based on this: https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/TheMountainsOfIllinois

For June '22 edition of

Journalistic Intentions  (18+) This is for the journal keeping types that come to PLAY! New round starts July 1! #2213121 by Elisa: Snowman Stik

Not in Kansas anymore

She had pricked her thumb on a thorn, her knees now sore from scooting on the brick path.

Tin Man offered to help her up.

Dotty shook her head and held the drooping flowers in her clenched fist. Poppies. Bah.

The pine-clad mountains loomed over her. The thick pall of twilight threatened overhead. The slick gumbo and gloom fit her mood like a glove. The ever-present warning sign, "Beware of Wolves" with its ever-dripping graffiti of red fangs seemed almost comforting... almost.

We pray that we may evermore dwell in... I'm not in Kansas anymore.

They were rehearsing for a centuries-old play that had been recently discovered. Flat plains? Whirling winds? Witches? What was a witch?

"Witches are..."

Stop reading my thoughts.

Tin Man was her pet robot, ever-present, all-knowing, totally-annoying.

"We could go see the Wizard if you like."

And dumber than a straw-filled whatever-they-called it.

"We can go see Whizz-Kid tomorrow." She shouted. "Today we have to rehearse our lines."

Tin Man grinned and started to sing in a flute-like falsetto. "Follow the golden brick road."

Dotty groaned.

There's no place like Rome. There's no place like Rome. There's no place like Rome.

Original in: "Not in Kansas anymore [179.30] 195 words " 

COMMENTARY:

"Twilight meets the Wizard?" Maybe I should put it on an island with palm trees and "Beware of Jets" signs with graffiti of "Jaws"? Anyhoo... the basic "Mountains of Illinois" is a setting out-of-place... or in this case... also out-of-time with a couple poorly translated lines. Or are they?

The mindless joy of silliness, the ectasy of short prose, the Antigone of de feet.

And, unlike Robert, I don't even drink. Although... Robert's perfectly funny when he's sober.

If this were presented in the future a time-traveler would have to stifle a guffaw or three. Same with the long-lamented, but unfortunately not forgotten play "Romeo eats Jules" by Swings-a-lance (another poor translation).

Ah... how to do a trope and avoid a cliche.

© Copyright 2022 Kåre Enga [179.30ji] (13.juni.2022)