You unlock this door with the key of imagination. Beyond it is another dimension. A dimension of sound... a dimension of sight... a dimension of mind. You are moving into a land of both shadow and substance, of things and ideas. You've just crossed over onto... The Twilight Bored.
Narrator: Today’s post on The Twilight Bored is somewhat unique and calls for a different kind of introduction. This is cyberspace, and there's a little piece of the internet there called The Bored. The Home For The Weary. On a given morning not too long ago, the rest of cyberspace disappeared and The Bored was left all alone. The BBs were never sure whether the world was destroyed and only The Bored left untouched or whether their place had somehow been taken away. They were, on the other hand, sure of one thing: the cause. A monster had arrived on The Bored. Just by using his mind, he took away the political posts, the games, the fun - because they displeased him - and he moved an entire on-line community back into the dark ages - just by using his mind. And you'll note that the BBs have to smile (even sss). They have to think happy thoughts and post happy things because once displeased, the monster can wish them into the chat field or change an avatar into a grotesque, walking horror. This particular monster can read minds, you see. He knows every thought before it's posted and he can feel every emotion. Oh yes, I did forget something, didn't I? I forgot to introduce you to the monster. This is the monster.
His name is Marley Fremont. He's six years old, with a cute little-boy face and blue, guileless eyes. But when those eyes look at you, you'd better start making happy posts, because the mind behind them is absolutely in charge. This is the Twilight Bored.
Scene: Marley has a discussion with MarleysDad
Marley: No BBs logged in to play with me today, not a single one, and I wanted someone to play with!
MarleysDad: Well, Marley, you remember the last time a BB logged in to play. The one they call Ghost.
Marley: I had a real good time.
MarleysDad: Oh, sure you did, you had a real good time, and it's good that you had a good time, it's real good. It's, uh, just that...
Marley: Just that what?
MarleysDad: Well, Marley, you, uh, you wished her away into the chat field. I’m sure somebody, somewhere misses her.
Marley: Don’t count on it.
Scene: Young Marley shows off his latest creation
MarleysMom: What do you have there, Marley. It’s wonderful.
Marley: It’s a three-headed possum avatar,
MarleysMom: That’s the best avatar you’ve ever drawn and it’s good that you can draw them. It will win.
Marley: Win what?
MarleysMom: If we had a contest for the best avatar, it would win.
Marley: I don’t like it anymore. I think I’ll make it go to the chat field.
Scene: Thursday night is Marley TV night. All the BBs gather around
Marley: It’s Celtic Thunder in concert on PBS. My favorite.
MarleysDad: Yes, Marley. That’s a good choice you’ve made. An excellent choice. We all love watching this over and over and over again.
Marley: I think I’ll watch it upside down this time
MarleysMom: That’s a very good thing to do Marley. It’s good that you can see things like that.
Scene: Marley’s parents discuss their son
MarleysMom: We can’t keep living this way. Isn’t there something we can do?
MarleysDad: Be careful. He can hear your thoughts. You wouldn’t want to displease him, would you?
MarleysMom: He’s my son but sometimes I wish we could put an end to this so can have political posts and movie discussions and God forbid, Lyrically Speaking?
MarleysDad: Shhhhh! Pleasant thoughts and pleasant posts. Pleasant thoughts and pleasant posts. Just keep thinking that.
Scene: A few BBs gather for a singalong of Marley’s favorite songs. Tangredi plays the piano
Tangredi: Say, Marley, these are some swell songs you’ve chosen. I know I can’t get enough of these Irish drinking songs. Isn’t that right dear?
Hottie: It’s true. Marley only picks the best songs and we’re so lucky to hear them over and over again.
Tangredi: But wouldn’t you like to hear something different just once, Marley. You know like some old time rock and roll [starts playing a an old Chuck Berry song on the piano]
Hottie: Please, stop!
Tangredi: Maybe it wouldn’t hurt to mix things up a little, like we used to during Lyrically Speaking Winter Edition. You remember it, don’t you honey?
Marley: You don’t like my songs! You’re a bad man!
Hottie: No, Marley! He didn’t mean it!
[Marley gives Tangredi the evil point…
…and slowly turns him into a Merry Man]
MarleysDad: Please send Tangredi to the chat field. Please Marley.
[Poof!]
Scene: Marley with MarleysMom and MarleysDad
MarleysDad: It's getting very slow on the Bored, are you making it slow?
Marley: Yes, I'm making the Bored slow.
MarleysDad: Why, that’ll make it nearly impossible for others to log in...see how fuzzy we’re getting.
MarleysMom: [tries to calm him] MarleysDad!
MarleysDad: [coming to his senses] But it's good that you're making it slow, Marley, - it's real good. And tomorrow - tomorrow's going to be a real good day!
Narrator: No comment here, no comment at all. We only wanted to introduce you to one of our very special BBs, little Marley Fremont, age 6, who lives in a cyber village called The Bored in a place that used to be cyberspace. And if by some strange chance you should run across him, you had best think only good thoughts. Anything less than that is handled at your own risk, because if you do meet Marley, you can be sure of one thing: you have logged onto
The Twilight Bored.
Lyrically Speaking Winter Extravaganza
Does Not Exist Anymore!
Thanks to Marley
