Leonard Farnsworth
Leonard Farnsworth’s neck was rigid, and he didn’t turn his head when he spoke. The only things that moved were his eyes. One afternoon in his neighborhood bistro, he looked to the right and caught a man and a woman staring at him. “What are you looking at?” he snapped. The two people, who were visibly uncomfortable, covered their mouths and whispered, “Should we switch tables? Should we talk to him?” “I said, WHAT YOU ARE LOOKING AT?” Leonard was not used to his newfound celebrity and had lately felt paranoid, jealous, insecure, and skittish. He assumed that everyone in the room was talking about him. Sure, he had just opened his new play, but it didn’t mean that he had to put up with this intrusion! “Sorry, Mr. Farnsworth,” the woman said sheepishly. “We didn’t mean to upset you. We just saw your play, and we loved it!” “Oh, well … thank you … uh, thank you.” Leonard ate the rest of his meal in silence. After he paid the bill and opened the bistro door, he was met by the fiercest rainstorm he ever had the displeasure of encountering. “Bugger!” he yelled at the sky. “My new suit and shoes will be ruined.” |
Leonard had one suit and one pair of nice shoes, which he had bought the week before at a discount store in the dodgy part of town. He had looked over his shoulder every minute, hoping that no one would see him there. Now he was on his way to the play’s opening- night afterparty with ruined clothes. He didn’t have time to go home and change. Even if he did, he had no other respectable clothes to wear. He was a professional playwright now, and he told himself that he had to look the part. Judgment, criticism, lack of privacy, and other unwanted behavior would undoubtedly follow him wherever he went. That was the deal. Leonard walked on the windy streets—with no umbrella—and asked himself, “Is this what I want for my life? Did I think this through?” After a few more wet blocks, he arrived at the party and climbed the six slippery stone steps. As he opened the front door, he looked at his soggy clothes and silently whined, “Oh, no! I look like something the cat dragged in.” Leonard looked up and into the room. He saw the crowd turn toward him, and a loud wave of applause erupted. Congratulations, encouragement, excitement, compliments, camaraderie, and open affection filled the air. Leonard was stunned. At no other time in his life were people as gracious, welcoming, friendly, and happy to see him. “Perhaps I could get used to this,” he mumbled as he cautiously joined the party. From Carpet Creatures: Tales from the Deep Pile To join the Carpet Creatures project, please visit our TAE Gallery website. |
