Once Upon A Shadow, Deep Inside A Dream

Monkeys 08-04-04

I was walking down the street in my home town,
When, suddenly, there were monkeys all around.
I love monkeys, everyone knows that's true,
So when I saw all those monkeys, I didn't know what to do.

I clapped and shouted and moved in as close as I dared,
I smiled and laughed and watched as the monkeys shared.
I finally captured the attention of one monkey and I smiled,
The monkey grinned widely and all the other monkeys became riled.

"Wait!" I shouted as they turned and ran up the road screaming,
"Please, I love monkeys!" I pinched myself to be sure I wasn't dreaming.
The monkey that grinned at me stopped and turned, I wondered what he'd do,
Surely, I thought to myself, not all monkeys fling poo.

The monkey moved closer and reached out his furry little hand to me,
I flinched but there was no poo to fling...at least not that I could see.
I shook his furry paw and said, "My name's Julie and I love monkeys."
"How do you do?" asked the monkey. "I do too but I hate fleas."

I thought on this a moment. "I hadn't thought of them," I said,
"But I guess I don't really like fleas either." I decided.
"My name is Bandi," the monkey replied and I knew at last that he was a she,
"And humans I dislike nearly as much as fleas!" stated Bandi.

"Oh," I muttered as I felt my heart drop down to my shoes,
"But you seem nice," Bandi added at last. "What have I got to lose?"
We looked at each other for a moment before I smiled and she smiled too,
Then I began to talk to the monkey...I'm a Doolittle...it's what we do.

"Well," said Bandi, at long last. "I guess I should be going home."
"Yes," I agreed. "Me too." Though I no longer lived there, I lived in Rome.
"Good-bye," said Bandi, the polite female monkey on the streets of my hometown.
"Good-bye," said I, the obsessed monkey fiend of Rome visiting relatives who were down.

The monkey began to head up the dark and empty three lane street,
And I began to follow the lovely friendly monkey after only a beat,
For I truly do love monkeys, they are my best friends, you see,
Or, at least they would be, if there were any that hung out with me.

I arrived at the house of Bandi just as she closed her front door,
And I wondered if I should have brought something, a gift from the store.
I decided that I had no ideas what monkeys actually liked or didn't,
So I thought that I could have brought a banana but it was too late so I couldn't.

I skipped up to the door, which was painted yellow, or looked so under the light,
And I rang the doorbell, gently, but it still sounded like a monkey fight.
I put my hands behind my back and whistled while I waited,
The tune sounded sort of like Another Postcard, but that tune's dated.

The door opened and Bandi looked up at me, confusion in her large brown eyes,
"Julie?" she asked as she looked behind her, then back at me, expecting truths and lies.
"I'm here!" I stated as I threw my arms open wide, as though I could fly,
"I see that," Bandi stated, plain as can be, "But I don't see why."

"Well, I don't live here, see? I live in Rome." I said, just as calm, just as plain,
"And what does that have to do with me?" Bandi asked as through the doorway she came.
"You went home," I replied. "But I could not. So, I decided to follow you."
"I don't want you here right now," Bandi stated. "I'm tired and there's nothing else to do."

"I'm sure we can find something," I argued, "That would be fun for us to do,"
Bandi looked away a moment, "Tomorrow is another day, we can start anew."
"But I don't have anywhere to go," I cried. "You said you were my friend, remember?"
Bandi shook her head, "It's too late at night for us to talk about September."

I stared a moment then frowned, "I said remember not September. Are you all right?"
Bandi squinted then blinked, "Good-night." she said as she went inside and turned out the light.
"No!" I shouted as I pounded on the door. "We're friends! What should I do?"
"Go to a hotel," came Bandi's voice from behind the door, "And tomorrow bring a shoe."

"But-" I muttered as I stood by the yellow door in the dark, feeling the begining of fear,
"That's why I don't like humans," the monkey said loud enough for me to hear.
I turned and walked away, wondering where I could go, where I could stay,
Then I decided that I should go back to Rome, I should go back to my part in the play.

On the plane I realized once more that I do love monkeys and I always will,
Even if they're rude and smelly, even if they fling poo and steal.
Bandi was my monkey friend, she was just tired and I understand everything she did and said,
Except for when she mentioned a shoe when she sent me away, it stays in my head.

Because what good is one shoe...even to a monkey named Bandi?