The Adventures of Mini-Prop

By Chris Matthias
(With help from Borsky & Fuzzbuddy)
from the MLA Euro Meetup 2006

Cast

Stickman As Mini-Prop

Chapter 1 - The lake-lands

Mini-prop decided one day to make a pilgrimage to the stone circle, to honour the beginning of the dog days.

Taking little provisions, he set off on a perilous journey not knowing what dangers he might face.

After a while, Mini-Prop entered the lake-lands, a dangerous place where the ducks lived. Climbing a tree, he looked out over the land to survey what terrors might lay ahead.

In the distance, he noticed a group of ducks gathered by the water at the edge of the main lake.

Mini-Prop had heard about these creatures, and their terrible addiction to stale bread. He'd heard they'd roll you for an old bagel as soon as look at you. Realising it'd been a mistake to wear that 'Brown Bread' aftershave, he set about a plan to avoid a confrontation with the poor loaf-addicted ducks, as he pitied their terrible state.

Using his finely honed ninja skills, Mini-Prop crept up to the lake, keeping himself down-wind from murderous ducks. Seeing a fence running past the lake, he made a break for it, just slipping behind the fence just as a dark eyed duck looked around for a baguette.

Keeping very still, he held his breath for what seemed like an age, waiting for the duck to move his attention away.

Sensing the duck had left, Mini-Prop silently moved along the fence, keeping the ducks away from him and not having a large battle where the local Chinese restaurant would have to order extra pancakes and hoi-sin sauce from the ensuing carnage (Mini-Prop could easily smack the crap out of a whole horde of ducks.)

Travelling away from ducks, Mini-Prop was nearing the edge of the lake-lands.

Chapter 2 - The Guardian and the Stone Circle

As he neared the plains, Mini-Prop climbed another tree to scout the outlying lands. In the distance, he could see the goal of his adventure, the stone circle.

Climbing down, he strode purposefully while crossing the plain. Mini-Prop had heard frightening tales of a guardian who patrolled these lands, whispers told to children to scare them into good behaviour. Mini-Prop was a stickman of the world though, and didn't have time for children's tales; so with careless abandon, he made his way towards the circle.

With the stone circle dead ahead, Mini-Prop heard a rustle nearby. With lightning-quick reflexes, he flipped out of way as the stone guardian leapt at him, a children's nightmare manifest. Mini-Prop stood amazed, his inner child quivering, with this creature of terrors before him. It seemed in shape of a lion, yet it was stone as flesh, moving as skin.

Being a bit bad-bad ass, Mini-Prop flew in foot first...but bounced off the hide of the creature. Mini-Prop realised why the ducks never came up here, there was no bread.

The Guardian charged Mini-Prop, trampling him, injuring him and severely loosening up his body. Mini-Prop felt like his head had fallen off (and this wouldn't be the last time he felt like this today!) Staggering to his feet, Mini-prop spied a stone collar around the creature's neck and began to wonder as the monster turned for it's next charge.

Just as the Guardian was nearly upon him, Mini-Prop jumped at the collar, holding on just beneath the neck!

Clambering up the neck, Mini-Prop grabbing the collar of the beast and pulled, constricting the beast's throat. It would appear that despite being made of stone, this creature breathed as a creature of flesh and blood. Struggling to draw air, the beast made a guttural roar, bucking and thrashing, attempting to throw off the mini assailant. Mini-Prop was steadfast though and slowly choked the creature, and it slowly grew tired with for the effort.

As the creature slumped to the floor and with the last twitch gone, Mini-Prop left the newly departed Guardian on the plains.

With this, Mini-Prop continued up to the stone circle to welcome in the dog days.

Standing there in the sun, Mini-Prop wondered what fate would bring him this day.

But that is another story....

Disclaimer: No Props, ducks, stone statues of lions or critters were hurt in the making of this story, a stickman might have had something happen to him later.