Floyd and Veneer's Imagination Adventure

Mr. Peekaboo

Just then, the parrot spoke, "Peek a Boo!" Veneer and Floyd exchanged puzzled looks. But before they had time to think, "Peek a Boo! Wait a minute, that's my name." Someone peeked out from behind one of the curtains, "Who's out there?" Then he disappeared again. A few seconds later, a smaller door in the front door opened and there he was again, "Peek a Boo!" Veneer and Floyd started to laugh as the door closed again; then it popped open again, "I see you!" The two laughed again as the same thing happened

The resident stepped out, "Floyd! Veneer! Hello, hello, hello! Oh, I'm glad you made it. I'm glad you're here! Yay, yay, yay! But why are you here? No wait, I can remember this." Veneer and Floyd watched and shared a secret smile as he tried to remember, although it wasn't so surprising that he knew their names. Barney likely told him they were coming, "You're here to meet somebody, right? He needs you for something important?" The two nodded, "Somebody tall and purple with green spots. Their name starts with a B and ends with a Y. Billy!" Floyd held back a laugh as Veneer put a hand over his smile and shook his head, "No, Benny? Bobby?" Finally, Veneer couldn't help himself, "Barney!" he giggled. The friend looked at Veneer in realization, "Barney! Oh, I'm so embarrassed. I get a little forgetful...okay, I get a lot forgetful. So, thank you for helping me remember. Oh, and thank you Bartholomew Bird as well."

"You're welcome." Bartholomew replied. "Let's everybody say hi to Bartholomew." The two boys turned to each other. Floyd shrugged, "Why not?" So they joined the friend in saying hi to Bartholomew. Then he realized, "Oh, I forgot to tell you who I am.

I'm Patrick Aloysius Bartholomew

But you can call me "Mr. Peekaboo"

My name is the same as my favorite game.

Peek A Boo!

I'm so happy you all are here.

How do you do?

My name is the same as my favorite game.

Peek A Boo!

OK, I'm different. I like many things.

Just take a look and see.

A funny house with lots of doors,

A tub with an umbrella, and a box full of springs.

I'm Patrick Aloysius... Bartholomew!

But you can call me "Mr. Peekaboo"

My name is the same as my favorite game.

Peek A Boo!

So glad to see you

Peek A...... Boo!"

Floyd and Veneer giggled as they applauded the introductory act. Mr. Peekaboo took a bow, "Thank you!" Then he stopped and picked something up from a nearby crate. He stood and held it up, "Do you know what that is?" Floyd swallowed another laugh, "Looks like a magnifying glass." Mr. Peekaboo nodded, "Yea! You know? I'll betcha Barney put it there to help me remember to see if you're both here. Now, if you're here, raise your hand." The boys smiled and rolled their eyes, but raised their hands, "I'm here!" Veneer announced. "Me, too!" Floyd announced. Mr. Peekaboo nodded and set the glass down, "Looks like you're both here. You know, boys, there was something else I needed to remember. It was very important."

"What was it?" Floyd asked. Mr. Peekaboo thought, "I need to...clean my room!" He shook his head, "No..."

"Open the door, open the door." Bartholomew said. "Open the what?" Mr. Peekaboo asked. "Open the door."

"Open the door? Oh! To Barney's Park!" He swirled around, "That's right, I need to open the-" he stopped, "But which door is it?" He tried all the doors, but none of them were the one. Finally he came to the red door, "You know, I'm not supposed to open up the red door. I can't remember why. Do you want me to open the red door?" Veneer and Floyd looked at each other. Veneer shrugged, "Why not?"

"Who's to know?" Floyd added. Mr. Peekaboo stepped closer to them, "Are you really really sure?" The boys nodded, "Yep!" Mr. Peekaboo walked towards it, "Alright, if you're really really sure. I'll open up the door, let's see-" Immediately, water spurted everywhere from it. Veneer and Floyd screamed in surprise as they started to get wet. Mr. Peekaboo closed the door, "Now I remember. But I still can't remember how to open the door to Barney's Park. Do you have any ideas? Do you know, Bartholomew? Open the-"

"Imagination!"

"What was that?"

"Imagination."

Mr. Peekaboo looked at them in realization, "We need to use our imaginations. Is everyone ready to imagine?" The boys nodded.

"Great! Let's all imagine a beautiful park with tall green trees and chirping birds and grass and flowers and...I know, enough park benches for everybody to sit on." Veneer and Floyd put their heads together and pictured the park in their minds. Mr. Peekaboo looked intently at them, "Are you imagining?" They nodded, "Yep," Floyd replied, "and it's a pretty nice one." Mr. Peekaboo looked at Veneer, "Are you?" He nodded, "Yep!" Mr. Peekaboo gave them an excited look, "I know I am. Do you think it's working?" Veneer looked at Floyd, "I think it is, do you?"

"Definitely."

"You do? It-" Mr. Peekaboo stopped short as the sound of thunder came from the waterfall. They all looked and saw the water part to form an opening. Mr. Peekaboo pointed to it, "It is working. You did it!" He headed back to the front door, "I'll see you inside."

Veneer and Floyd walked through the parted water to the other side, "Woah!" Veneer began to stare around in awe. Floyd felt equally mesmerized, "It's so awesome."

"It's just like we imagined it." It was everything Mr. Peekaboo instructed them to imagine. To the left was a ranger station and, in the middle, a hill that looked like a stage. Veneer began heading towards the benches, "Let's get good seats." He chose one close to the stage, "Can you see okay?" He asked Floyd who, the whole time, had still been sitting on Veneer's shoulder. Floyd considered for a moment, "Yep, it's perfect." As soon as he stopped, whistling to the tune of If You're Happy and You Know It came through and Mr. Peekaboo walked onto the stage carrying Barney. "Mr. Peekaboo!" Floyd and Veneer waved over at him as he stopped mid-whistle, "We're here!"