Once Upon A Playhouse
2009 Playhouses!

Mike, Denel and Matt came right home from school. They were excited to get their chores and homework done so they could spend more time in their playhouse. Their friends would all be there (their imaginary friends too). Moms and Dads were not allowed in the playhouse – this was for kids only!

The playhouse had a loft and a sliding peek-hole in the front door so they could peek and see exactly who was coming!

They and their friends could be anyone they wanted to be when they were inside. Sometimes they were pirates, sometimes they were Spidermen, sometimes they were elves and dwarves and unicorns and witches or wizards or giants or even astronauts. Sometimes they were just themselves.

Maybe they would have secret rooms and hidden compartments in the playhouse. Rooms where they could conduct scientific experiments with worms and jello, or rooms where things would appear and disappear if you only wished it! Or a magic room with a live-in magician who could turn brussel sprouts into cotton candy, or turn a toad into a handsome prince!

Yup – a good idea this playhouse. Mike and Denel and Matt and their friends even have beds and pillows out there. Some nights, when the weather is okay, maybe all the playhouse friends could sleep in it overnight!

Denny lived in a little town called Anywhere. One morning driving to work he was feeling the blahs – another boring day at a boring job at a boring company. While waiting at the stoplight at the intersection of Somewhere Street and Anyplace Avenue, Denny decided he needed some excitement in his life, just to help him escape the doldrums.

Suddenly he heard a strange, eerie sound that seemed to be whistling through the trees all around him. He decided to follow it.

Turning left on Somewhere Street, Denny found himself turning left again on Anything Place and on up the hill. Then right on Sometime Circle and a big U-turn on Whatever Boulevard.

There before him was the source of the mysterious sound, now not the whistling of the trees but a beautiful melody coming from the upstairs loft of a magnificent Maplewood Victorian house.

The house was all pink and lavender and green, and suddenly the window in the loft opened and Denny realized the beautiful melody was being sung by a beautiful lady whose golden hair was so long she threw it out the window and it reached all the way to the ground!

She told him her name was Kathy and it was her job to help unhappy people with their lot in life – to find ways to make their lives more interesting! She invited Denny to climb up her hair and have some lunch – which he did!

For many, many days Luanne had been wandering the country-side searching for a very special place. She had already been turned away by so many it was beginning to look hopeless.

Luanne had with her a companion, who followed her faithfully every step of the way. Whenever they found what Luanne thought was a “special place”, it seemed initially that everyone was happy to see them and welcomed them warmly, but eventually they were asked to leave – something about it “being against the rules”.

You see, Luanne’s companion was a little lamb and its fleece was white as snow. The special place they were looking for was a school. At every school they found the children would laugh and laugh, and play and play, for it was lots of fun to see a lamb at school.

Finally, Luanne and her little lamb arrived at the Prairie Schoolhouse. They cautiously approached the door. But this time they were welcomed with open arms, much to their surprise. The teacher, Mr. Walt, was the happiest to see them!

He introduced all the kids. Their names were Pam, Dale, Jeanie, Esther, Wilbur and Dave. They all gave Luanne and her little lamb hugs. Mr. Walt brought out treats for everyone; he even had a special place for the little lamb to stay while Luanne was doing her schoolwork.

Luanne and her little lamb were very happy indeed!

Bob and Tom were lost! Somewhere along the way they had strayed from the path. Darkness was beginning to fall in what seemed to be the deepest and creepiest part of the forest.

“What do we do now?” whispered Bob.

“If I knew that I wouldn’t be standing here!” Tom replied.

Way off in the distance, Bob and Tom noticed a dim, glowing light.

“Let’s head over there”, they both agreed.

The closer they go to the light, the more they realized it was coming from a small cottage. Slowly they inched their way toward the cottage, which actually looked like it was made of candy.

“Maybe whoever lives here can help us find the right path”, said Bob.

“Now wait just a minute,” Tom said, “Doesn’t this little cottage remind you of the cottage in that story about the little boy and girl who found a cottage in the woods that looked like candy, so they went in and found an ugly witch who wanted to eat them??!!!”

“Oh boy, do you think that’s possible?” gulped Bob.

They knocked and went it, and sure enough, there stood a witch over her boiling cauldron!

“What do we do now?” yelled Bob and Tom in fright.

But when the witch turned to face them, much to their relief, she was a beautiful, kind witch. She spoke very softly, asking Bob and Tom if they would like some freshly boiled mushrooms and could she help them find their way out of the forest! Needless to say,

Bob and Tom thought that was a very good idea!!