Entry 15: Samson’s Letter
The happiness was short-lived. The mini-car’s engine gave out about 10 minutes into the road. Not that that was a bad thing. They were way too conspicuous and would have probably ended up on the evening news before long.
Once the car sputtered and stopped, Louis grabbed Kookie by the wing and somehow managed to haul him and his enormous weight up into a tree.
“We need a new plan to get to Sausalito,” Louis said. “Since you don’t fly and it’s way too far for a casual stroll.”
“You think I will stroll?” Kookie was indignant. “Why walk when you can portal.”
“That’s not a verb!” Louis calmed himself, “Alright look, I don’t want to try these portals anymore. We can hitchhike in a ute or something.”
“A… ute?” Kookie nodded, pretending he knew what a ute was. “Yes, a ute. It is a perfect solution for our problems.”
“Let’s keep an eye out for the next one coming up the road.”
“Yes we wait. For a ute.”
While waiting, Louis returned to thinking about his plans to record Kookie’s life story. Maybe it was an epic waste of time, who knew, but he had run out of ideas for career goals.
“So while we wait, maybe you can tell me more about your time in Sausalito?” he said to Kookie.
“S-s-Sausalito?” There it was again, Kookie’s unhinged excitement about Sausalito.
“What is the deal with you and this town?”
“I shall find some delicious sauces this time!”
“What happened last time?”
“I was employed in a factory that manufactured tomato sauces in good variety. It was the best solution to sample all the sauces and find the most magical one.”
“You sampled sauces on the job?”
“Yes I ran through 50% of the company supplies. They fired me. It was not worth it for me. None of the sauces were the magical sauce I was dreaming of. So I extended my search and then I went to see Puffin-”
“Hang on, there’s a ute coming. Let’s go!”
Louis grabbed Kookie once more and they managed to crash into the open back of the ute just as it went by.
On the way up the main road, Louis saw signs for San Francisco. He had examined a map of the USA on the wall while stuck in the bird cage back in Disneyland, and he knew that San Francisco was close to Sausalito. So they were on track, for now. But it would take hours.
Louis soon drifted off to sleep. Kookie fell asleep too, dreaming about spirals.
When Louis woke up, the sun had dipped in the sky and it was close to sunset. The ute was parked in the back of a burger shop. Louis looked around – Kookie was gone.
“Where is that stupid, fat bird!”
He got out of the ute and went searching. It didn’t take him long to find Kookie, who was in one of the massive bins behind the shop, fishing for some stale French fries.
“Stop being so gross! You already stink.”
“Not to worry, the rain will solve it.”
“It isn’t even raining.”
Louis flew on to the rim of the bin and from there he could see a road sign reading: ‘San Jose city centre’.
“Oh that’s just great. We’re still too far from Sausalito without flying.” Louis considered then sighed, “Maybe we can try another portal. You know of any here?”
Kookie shook his head. “Next one is in Sausalito. This is San Jose. I have my PO box here, I must go and check my mail.”
“Your what?”
Kookie jumped down to the concrete with a thud and started waddling to the parking lot exit towards the footpath.
“Who would send you mail?” Louis said, but started walking alongside Kookie anyway. They entered the mailbox room a few buildings down. It would be fun to see him opening his ‘PO box’ and finding it empty.
So Louis felt resentful when, after taking a key from underneath a chrome lamp, Kookie opened an actual PO box to find a bunch of letters.
Kookie picked up the first in the pile – a massive green envelope with a loose sheet inside covered in large clumsy writing. It was from Samson, of all possible correspondents:
Dear KOOKIE,
Yes I remember we are friends! Surprised I write? Well I am more articulate by writing than I will ever be in speeches! So what anyway? How are you? I was informed by one of your business chums to reach you on this address, I don’t know where this is but you are there – it must be so good. How is your newest business investments going? Where is my cut of the wins??? Jk, ROFL. It’s my turn to treat you when you are back at The Cafe. By the way the owner threw me out, saying ‘no birds allowed’ since ever the bear came with the bullet vest, remember? Turns out it was dangerous, who would have thought it?? I for one will not give up on sugar. So where are you, will you be back? The cafe owner must let us all back in when you come back as you are the top paying customer of all time after all. Why they need to rely on birds so much for incomes is anyone’s guess it is a failed business model! Or maybe not if you are back. Why should I work three jobs if I can no longer purchase desserts? Back to NO jobs and rummaging for food in the bins LOL (laughs on laughs). Need to fight the ibises that’s it, why they have those ugly beaks for? Anyway please return and all will be solved. Almost worth it paying for those scrumptious sweets with too many jobs to count! And I perform them so well. By the way is our friend with you? Forget his name - must have been [note to self - remember to insert name before posting!] Oh and also I went to an optometrist and need new glasses I mean frames, no need for lens. I disagreed, why argue with a pigeon? So will I see you soon yes?
Your friend,
Samson
P.S. I saw the Duck who said he prefers to see you and Looois than me. I was so hurt but I think I will be ok with therapy. Yes so the Duck had a message for you! He knows you have a Cwazy virus, like I don’t know is it like the flu? He said if you don’t come back with Looois he will burn your home forest to the ground! That is with all your kookaburra family. Saying the world will be rid of the Cwazy virus for good! I laughed along but I had the chills. They were good chills, not bird flu chills - which you have?? So there’s that. But more importantly be back because I need me more of the sugar! LOL you know me so well. Don’t forget the forest burning.
