| Dedicated to the ever young, adult child Once upon a time, there were many many toys. Shiny toys. Fuzzy, soft toys. Sparkly toys. Beautiful toys! Every child's dream! These toys were loved.... once. Posessed, they were quickly forgotten. Maybe the child was spoiled and got too many new toys, they never understood the meaning of being greatful. Maybe the child grew up. Maybe the child died (same difference?). We will never know. All senarios are sad, indeed. The toys had lost their loved ones. Rather, their loved ones had put them aside, boxed them up and stuck them in the garage in the dark until time for donations at the local junk store. Don't they understand, toys have feelings? These beautiful, shiny, sparkly, soft and fuzzy toys, were orphaned. Oh no! This is tragic, because they are capable of such unconditional love. Even when tattered, patched, sprung and broken. They just keep on loving. Or at least hoping... Or at least trying... So, through the rarest of circumstances, these toys all ended up on one big pile to be sorted and put in bins and on shelves at the junk store. ''Put all the broken toys in that box over there, will ya?'' the manager said to the employee. On the box was written, ''Broken Toys''. Now, toys generally do not converse in public but keep their antics very private and among themselves. Today was different. They were visibly shaken as to their fate, and the box. Patchwork Bunny speaks first: ''I'm scared. Where are we?''. ''I've heard about this before'' said Kitty. ''Legend has it that when toys aren't wanted anymore, they go to Broken Toyland''. Simply put, thrown away. ''Where is Broken Toyland?'' Bunny askes. ''No one really knows'' answered Kitty. ''I know where it is!'' spouts Pickle, a worn out dollie with matted hair and one button eye. ''Well, where then?'' demands Kitty. ''Broken Toyland is a beautiful place, with no children to pull our hair and pull off our eyes. It's a place where we don't have to hide. We won't be thrown into boxes and taken away from our homes. We can walk the streets and talk with other toys any time we want!'' All the toys started talking amongst themselves, astonished at the news. Some in disbelief. Others had more information to add. Still others kept silent and took it all in. Was this a spark of hope? Or was it just another myth? One by one, they were all yanked and thrown into one box or another. The ones that ended up in the box with Broken Toys written on it, seemed to feel priveleged. They all thought they were going to Broken Toyland, as Pickle said. You could hear muffled whisperings from the box, as more and more toys were tossed on top of the pile. So many toys and all destined for Broken Toyland. Why us? they wondered. Patchwork Bunny, peered up from the box and watched as many other toys were placed on racks and shelves with a paper stapled to their ears or a sticker stuck on them somewhere with strange symbols on it. Bunny didn't understand why the others didn't get to go along, but was happy to be destined for a new and better place. He sunk back down into the growing pile of toys and told the others what he saw. They all agreed they were the lucky ones. Suddenly, the box was closed and sealed. They were in total darkness. ''What now'' one of the toys said. ''They're taking us to Broken Toyland'' Pickle said authoratatively and with confidence. The box started moving. The toys were very excited and speculated how long it would take to get there. The box was moving off and on for a long time, then it stopped and was very still for awhile. A violent scoop and the feeling of height. Not pleasant at all. Then falling. THUD! as the box came to rest somewhere. The toys were anxious so they all started moving about, each trying to get to the top first. ''Push!'' instructed Bunny and they all pushed against the flaps of the closed box. It finally flung open and a greyish brown haze lay over the sunset sky. The smell was most aweful and everyone started to choke. Horrible noise accompanied the scene and they could see the source. A huge yellow monster with a long neck and a massive jaw! CRUNCH! went it's mouth, as it tore through anything and everything in its path, and its path was headed straight for the box marked, Broken Toys! All the toys screamed, and piled over each other, trying to get out of the box and out of the way of this monster who obviously wanted to make a meal out of them. They made it just in the nick of time and as they rushed down the hill the box sat atop, the huge yellow monster with the massive jaw, gobbled up the box and everything around it! They didn't look back, but kept running. They ran down the hill strewn with bottles, cans and other stuff. Bad smells everywhere too. Smoke and noise. Terrible terrible! Once down the hill and under the smoke, they could see a road, so they took it. There were about 50 of them altogether, hurrying down the road. They had no idea where they were going. They just knew they wanted as far away from that yellow monster as possible. At the end of the road, there was an arch and a gate. Each of them squeezed under, through or around the gate, onto a dirt road. As they proceded down the road, Bunny looked back over his shoulder and saw a large sign over the arch, above the gate, which read: CITY DUMP. What does that mean? Each of them shrugged with an unknowing expression. ''Broken Toyland should be around here somewhere'' yacked Pickle, still certain. The other toys just looked in disbelief, not knowing what to expect anymore. They didn't understand this world. They walked for what seemed like an eternity and came to crossroads where there was an abandoned car. They sought shelter in this car to rest until dawn. Then they could see something they might understand... some direction. At first light, they piled out of the abandoned car, and started again down the road. They choose North. Who knows why. They found a stream running along the road and followed it. Higher and higher they went. The forest closing in around them. Rocks and boulders towered. This wasn't what they were used to at all. Then something happened..... Three shiny beings sprang up out of holes in the rocky terrain, each holding a wand with a star atop. Each had brown and light blue stripes on their body with a strange head, large eyes and blank expressions. The toys all hide in the rocks for fear another crushing danger was upon them. The strange and stripey beings with the wands, fluttered out of their holes and flew up and over the hidden toys. They did some kind of chant and waved the wands about. Suddenly the sky turned pink and full of clouds, and huge striped drops of rain started falling on the parched ground. Moments after this event, the ground started to spring forth with all sorts of life, which turned into all manner of candy and sweet things. The toys couldn't help themselves. They came out from behind the rocks and wandered through this magical moment. ''Look! A door!'' exclaimed Kitty, and all eyes turned in the direction being pointed to. The scene was truely surreal, as a pink hue was cast over everything and a mist emanated from somewhere and covered the ground. Pickle started to rush towards the door in an instant but Kitty cautioned her. Kitty was ignored. Pickle stood in front of the glittering pink door and slowly reached for the knob. As she turned it, a blinding light flooded through the widening crack as the door was opened. The sound of a hurricane, breaking glass and a mighty waterfall was heard all at once. The toys tried to run, but couldn't, as the force became too strong to fight, as the vortex pulled them all through the doorway. Like a tornado in strength, there was no fighting it. They screamed and were swallowed up by the beautiful and unknown portal. SWOOSH! down the funnel of pink smoke and debris. Down down down into who knows where. Some time later, it was still. They were all assembled in a quiet place. Stunned, they seemed to awake out of their stupor in unison. Dazed by what happened, confused by everything, they looked at each other for answers. No one said anything. Their attention diverted to their new surroundings. Each mouth dropped open and each eye widened as they stared in amazement. The skies seemed to streak with new colours and changed when they looked in another direction. The clouds sometimes looked light and puffy, and other times they looked torn and pasted. Very strange but all so beautiful. The terrain was hilly and also not uniform. Some hills were checkered, some striped, others polkadotted. What was this place? Pickle started to cry from her one button eye. ''We're there. We're in Broken Toyland'' she said as she wiped her tears. The other toys looked around and started to chatter. They started to run about and explore. They had to touch everything, as this was the most beautiful and amazing place they'd ever seen. Everything had a magical smell, texture and even taste. The sounds were unlike anything they'd heard before too. They took their fill of the surroundings and gathered together for a conference. ''Well, since this seems to be our new home, we have to make due. We have to get on with our lives.'' Each agreed and as they bid each other good luck, set off in small groups to settle in their own desired locations. Each promising to keep in touch. The story doesn't end here of course, but is told via paint and canvas, as seen through the artist's minds eye. You might ask, ''What exactly is Broken Toyland?'' Did they actually experience a magical event and were taken mercifully to this place by the striped beings they encountered? Or did they actually die on the garbage heap and Broken Toyland is a heaven-like place for cast off and forgotten toys? Is it a toy's worst nightmare? A hellish experience? Is it all pure symbolism? Were these toys so broken by abandonment that they have severe emotional issues and are in need of medication to aliviate the trauma of experience? Are they living in a prozac fog? Are they self medicating themselves into a false sense of security? Do they mirror human creation, apathy and existance? Were the names changed to protect the innocent?? Yes and no :) Are you are the kind of adult child who has a tiny spark remaining? You can see the pink skies, the changing hues and morphing clouds. You can smell the odd and wonderful scents. You might see one of those adorable tin space craft sailing overhead, past the ever changing expression of the sun or moon. You must be able to imagine the long shadows cast by the leafless trees over a colourform ground. What about the finger puppets that collapse when you press the bottom? They always look so joyous. There's Babuszka and Pickle and Rat and so many others. Could you gaze into the one button eye as you share a martini with Patchwork Bunny? You can pick your own lollipops and wonder what happened to Armless Clown. You can chat with Two Headed Bunny who has double the opinion of things. Fantastic? Of course!  |
