Hullow Sammich - Sketch

A few days ago I had a strong sense of nostalgia hit me that implanted a character into my consciousness whom I haven't thought about since I was probably maybe six or seven years old.

The  nostalgic spark also reminded me of why, in my formative years, I was drawn more and more to fantasy as a genre, and magical spaces.

I distinctly remember going with my parents to these Christmas productions they used to do there for families.  Not the typical "Santa running around gathering cultists for free cookies" stage performances, but ones that had this almost impossible to describe, early 80's fantasy and magic vibes.  Some were parables done in different styles.  The lazy grasshopper and the worker-ant was one I remember clearly, but there was one that literally felt like it was magic to me.  These days it would probably be akin to a fever-dream or way to 'hippy' for people, but I remember it solidly embedding itself in my consciousness and it was the first time I wished I could go to one of these places.

It started with the ceiling being converted to stars.  Before the play even started, there was about 20 min. where the lights went down, and the ceiling turned to stars, and I was _utterly_ enchanted by it.  I remember they moved, and flickered in places.  It was a projection of a universe, with music that softly started to play.

When the play itself started, I remember it taking place in a 'hidden glen' amidst these large glowing mushrooms and false plants that had xmas lights strung through them to create this amazing effect of everything just being infused with some eldritch power.

The protagonist was a young dragon girl, who loved books.  While I don't remember exactly what the plot was outside of broad strokes, I do believe that she was my first 'crush'.  Or at least, my five-year old self as just enchanted by her.  I remember her father, an older 'dragon' who chided her for always having  her nose in books, and not going out to see the world with the others.  I remember part of the plot being her father (or family?) going missing one day, and she had to tentatively step out in to the bigger scary world to go save them (From a knight.. It was brilliant!).

In the end, she managed to defeat this knight, and his goon sidekick not with breath weapons (She tried, but could only cough-cough and sputter), but with the knowledge she picked up from books.  I guess the lesson was that a balance of being an introvert with books and going out to 'get the job done' was what saved the day.

While, sadly, the meet and greet with the characters after the show had a huge lineup, and we couldn't wait around, I remember bringing the dragon girl with me.  She became an imaginary companion.  A friend who stuck with me for years after.

As we all do, we lose some of these friends along the way as we grow older, and the weight of the world starts rolling onto our shoulders.  I hadn't thought of her in nearly four decades until a few nights ago.

But she can, at least, say hello again.  Her name is Soot.  I don't think that was her original name in the play production, but I do remember calling her Soot (I was five.. My ability to name things wasn't exactly stunning ;).  She's ever the reader, and apparently is going to rawr a sammich.

She's been happy all these years.

-T.J.