The Laughing Stockpot

From story to stage

The workshop was taking place at the ABC artroom and what an art room it was, it was not closed off by four walls and the walls it had, were covered by art, even the outer walls.

Claire Le Michel was her name and the book she had written was called ‘The Mysterious Journal of Mr Carbon Crow’. Her French accent, added charm to her story telling and then Claire put it on us to come up with our own stories. First we were put into groups, my group and like the others, was a bunch of all sorts, we started with five, a school girl, dressed in uniform, a couple of foreigners, I was one of them, the other an beautiful South American woman with the most luscious golden curls. Another member of our group was a local man in his 50s and not long after, Kee joined us. Inspired by her book, Claire, gave us the writing prompt of, a conversation between two animals.

Written by an interesting collab of young, old, teens and inbetweens from around India and a few from overseas on the 2 February 2023. I hope I did it justice.

The sun peeked through the blinds near Princess's dog bed, warming her white luscious spoodle coat. Princess stretched out her arms and legs and let out the cutest yawn,

"Do you know what day it is today, it's my birthday, mummy and daddy are taking me to my favourite place, the zoo.

Did you see what they got me, a new shiny diamante collar, some fur coats and those divine, home baked snackos with the dried kangaroo jerky on top.

I love it, love it, love it.

I can't wait to tell that old boring Francis, he's going to be so jealous, he acts like he doesn't care but what does he know, he is a zoo animal after all, all he knows is his cage."

With the car all loaded up to go, Princess's daddy calls "Princess, it's time to go".

At the zoo, the usual was in motion, the monkey's were fighting over who gets the most scrumptious snack, the meerkats were taking turns bopping up and down like whacka-mole with out the whacking. The birds singing all sorts of songs for attention and like clockwork Francis the elephant was taking his morning stroll.....

"Oh Hello Princess, that is a fine collar you have on" Francis said in his deep voice as he strolled along with his calming demeanour

"I'm so glad you noticed it, mummy and daddy got it for my birthday. They also got me some new coats and my favourite snacks. I am the luckiest fur baby."

"I am so happy for you, Princess"

"Happy for me??do you even get presents here at the zoo" questioned Princess in a snarky tone

"The Zookeepers are good to us here, we get our favourite snack"

Princess was horrified by Francis' answer "pfft is that it, oh Francis, you are so simple, I get my favourite snack every day. Do you even get toys, do you even know what fun is?

Francis smiled and replied "fun is different for everyone, being able to walk here with you is plenty of fun"

Princess answered in disbelief "Francis, Francis, you are so boring, But what do you know, you live in a zoo, I live in a house, I get to do whatever I want, eat whatever I want, walk where I want, I am free to do whatever I want, do you even know what that feels like?

Francis nodded "my dear Princess, I am free....."

Before Francis could finish, Princess' human sister began to cry and Princess feels a strong tug on her neck,

"Come on Princess, we have to go"

Princess resists and tucks back on the lead, daddy picks her up and walks behind mummy who is pushing the stroller.

As daddy is carrying Princess away, all Princess can think of it Francis unfinished sentence, she mumbles to herself "stupid elephant, how can he be free, he lives in a cage"

The family walked towards to picnic area, where mummy settled the baby on bench seat, while daddy laid out the picnic blanket. Since both her parents were distracted, Princess saw her opportunity to run to back to Francis.

When Princess reached the elephant enclosure, Francis wasn't alone, it was a small herd of elephants.

Francis saw the pooch "Hello again Princess, meet my family"

and to his family, he announced "This is my friend, Princess, it's her birthday today"

Simultaneously, they lifted their trunks in the air to celebrate and called out "Happy Birthday Princess"

Princess smiled and thanked them

"Francis, I came back to ask you, how are you free"

Francis looked at her with the kindest eyes and with all his sincerity he spoke "my dear Princess, I am free...... I may live within the walls of the zoo but I have all the food and water I need, I am free to eat when I want, I can walk, play whenever I want, I am blessed to have a family. I am blessed to have friends that come to visit me from all over the city, you are one of them."

Princess looked at Francis in awe and before she could say anything...

Princess! it was daddy, "I thought I'd find you with Francis, bad girl, you shouldn't runaway like that"