vignette ~ The Camera

Click, whrrrt ... click, whrrrt. The man put the camera down and started the lawnmower. As soon as he disappeared around the corner of the house, the camera shot forward. Yippee, I’m freeeee! I’m freeeee! I’m off to see the wizard, la lalala la la la la and it took off down the sidewalk.

Jogjogjog, hop-a-rock, jogjogjog ... pretty soon the camera was far enough away to safely stop and take stock of its surroundings. A bunch of trees, a mailbox, a ... wooooooo wooooooo ... a train! The camera quickly moved through the trees until it could see the gigantic cars lumbering down the tracks. Wheeeee! Wheeeee! With great excitement the camera hurried closer, admiring the huge stolid train cars.

It looked to the left and saw the engine disappear around a bend, then looked to the right to see ... oh no! The caboose was just about to move by. Don’t ... have ... much ... time ... with a prayer to almighty Toner and a giiiiiiiant leap, the camera launched itself up and landed gingerly on top of the caboose.

Ahhh, the view ... the wonder of it all ... a mighty-fine adventure ... I’m king of the world ... heh, it could get a little chilly up here but hey, who’s complaining ... the camera gazed around and lazed about, thoroughly enjoying its musings and quite content to literally watch the world go by. So pretty ... lalala ... all the trees, the cows, the farms ... it’s gorgeous ... I get to experience it all! I’ll be a world-traveler, world-famous -- the Cosmopolitan Camera! Yes, C.C., no, C.C., what do you think of this, C.C.! I can just see it n-- ... thwack ... tumble, tumble, tumble ... thunk.

Stunned, the camera slowly blinked, then noticed a woozy crow pick itself up and take off, wobbly flying away. Then it noticed nothing else was moving. Oh. My. Goodness. My adventure ... noooooooooo this can’t be happening .....

Sadly the camera moved away from the tracks and hunkered down out of the gravel and close to the weeds, almost in tears. Ah, the slings and arrows ... that it should come to this ... the world was mine oyster ... what’s gone and what’s past help should be past grief ... even so, this was the unkindest c-- ...

Crunchcrunch, crunchcrunch ... suddenly the camera was lifted aloft and cradled in small gentle hands. “Maman, vois!” An unintelligible conversation followed between a woman and a little girl, then the camera was tenderly wrapped in a handkerchief and sequestered in a cloth bag.

Oh joy! A new adventure! Fear not for the future ... life's enchanted cup sparkles near the brim ... zip-a-dee-doo-dah ... and off he went, snugly into the sunset.