Fryaway Dream Part 5

To know what happened earlier in Fryaway Dream, read Part 1, Part 2, Part 3 and Part 4.

The day after, Penji took a towel and put in it some water and sugar (because that's a potato’s bread and jam. Old ones even call it that) wrapped it up like a sack and went away from home early in the morning, before the sun had risen and the barley had crowed. He wanted to ask someone for directions, but no one was out yet. Penji only knew that to France he must go. Blue, who'd read many books had once told Penji the Potato that it was to the West, past the sea, so westward Penji set. Penji walked many miles, and before the first vegetable was out, had crossed Varth, his village. Now, his little feet (so little you can barely even see them) were tired and painful, so he sat down under a tree. He was opening his little sack of sugar and water when he noticed an old potato, standing beside a hedge. He was small and wrinkled from top to bottom and side to side and front to back and corner to corner, not at all as healthy as a potato could be. But He had snow-white hair touching the ground. Before Penji could invite Him over to share some sugar, the old potato had turned her back to Penji.

"Hey, turn around! I want to share some of this food I have on the ground!" said Penji the Potato.

And the Old Potato stopped walking. He turned around and went to Penji, His hair dragging across the ground. He didn't look like he wanted any talking. He sat down and began eating without a sound. Penji watched Him eat a bit of his sugar and a drink a bit of his water, and then some more of his sugar and some more of his water, and then even more of his sugar and even more of his water until there was just half of his sugar and half of his water for Penji.

Penji said, "Oh my God, what did you do? You ate the food for two! Oh, there is no chance! I'm never going to France."

"M'boy, please do not be so angry so soon. You have enough food to go to the moon. Just an old and weak potato I am. Please do not deny me my bread and jam." (Bread and Jam was potatospeak for sugar and water, but only the old potatoes called it that)

Looking at the frail Old Potato, Penji felt sorry. "I said you could have my food and so you did nothing wrong. It was nice meeting you, but to France, the path is long. I'm sorry, but I must go or I'll be late. I shall buy more food to fill in what you ate."

"I'm thankful, my little young potato! I bless you for wherever you must go!"

And so, with the Old Potato's blessing, Penji now kept walking west, his little sack a little lighter. He walked again for hours and hours. But, with his sack lighter, he now walked a little quicker. Before the sun had set, he was in the town of St. Fizzed, the only town in all of the Earth with towers. After all, it was where all the fruits lived. On little Penji's face came a little frown. Things were so costly, that Little Penji, the Potato wondered how people bought things in St. Fizzed. Under the shade of the shed of a sugar shop, he sat down. He put his little sack with a little sugar and a little water on the ground. He wondered if it was right for a little potato like him to be in this town. But alas, when he opened his sack, there was no sugar and no water to be found! Penji slumped down and wanted to cry. He put his head in his hands and wanted to. But a tear did not come to a single eye. He wondered what he should now do. He thought he could walk to France without food. He had walked so far, maybe it was near. But, something told him that if he did, he would be boiled and mashed and stewed. Everything was a blur, but just a few hours ago, it was so clear!

And then, Penji saw again the Old Potato, standing right in front of him! Should he ask Him for help? Well, if he didn’t, his future was dim.

“Oh, please sir, do you remember me? I’m in such trouble, can’t you see? Can you give me some food so I may go to France? Oh, please, don’t give me just one glance!”

The Old Potato said, “Indeed, dear Penji, my help you need. But fellow potato, do my words heed. You are young and rash and quick to decide. You know not how tall Earth is or how wide. Do you even know, Penji, where France is?”

Penji said, “Sir, will you please feed me after this quiz?”

And then the Old Potato said “I shall not if you do not answer me.”

Penji said, “In the west, past the sea.”

The Old Potato said, “Do you know, Penji, how they make French fries?”

Penji said, “All I know is that potatoes go, and after many years go by, they become French fries.”

And then the Old Potato became very grave. He looked down and shook His head from one side to another. He took out a stick and gave a wave. And lo, no longer was He old and dried! He looked young and round like his mother. But that was if his mother had long white hair. His mother didn’t though. But on the Old But Now Young Potato, the white hair was still there. How it had happened, Penji didn’t know.

The Old But Now Young Potato said, “Penji, I have seen you for quite some time. You are now in a world which speaks just rhyme. ‘Bout your love for Lace I already know. You are a kind and honest potato. But of what’s outside Varth, Penji doesn’t know. I’m potatokind’s Godpotato. Yes, you may think that it is rather odd. But you should know, Penji, that I’m your God. Now, let us come to how French fries are made. First the potatoes are in the sun laid.”

And then, Penji saw many Laces in front of him, dancing and singing. He saw the dried potatoes being drowned in water and having their skin peeled off. There were strange vegetables walking around, with skins of many colours, and some had knives. The potatoes were put on the table... and oh no! All rhymes stopped for Penji in that moment. The world seemed ugly and cruel. The many Laces sang together:

“Oh, Penji please listen to us,

We are your Lady finger loves.

You dream of fries, you dream of France,

But there you will stand not a chance.

You will be cut, you won’t be boiled.

You will be dunked in hot hot oil.

You will be diced, you will be fried.

Was that all for which you tried?

Oh Penji please listen to us.

We are your Lady finger loves.

Oh Penji please listen to us,

We are your lady finger loves.

We lost you once, the loss is ours’,

But more than Charlie you have powers.

You are so kind, you are so brave,

To her half of your food you gave.

You may be dim, you may be round,

But you’ve a heart that’s stout and sound.

Oh Penji please listen to us,

We are your Lady finger loves.

Oh Penji please listen to us,

We are your Lady finger loves.

French fries so hot? French fries so dead.

Earth would rather have you instead.

It is not you who we shall wed,

For we are shallow and ill-read.

If you do want, you can get fried,

But in that case, you will have died.

Oh Penji please, listen to us,

We are your lady finger loves.

Oh Penji please, listen to us,

We are your Lady finger loves.

Please listen to us...”

The Godpotato said, “Penji, you have left your mother alone. Into a fit, ‘tater, you’ve had her thrown! You have been so kind to all all along. I hope that now, too, you shall not go wrong.”

And then Penji saw his mother sitting in the corner of their root, crying, “Oh, Penji, Oh, Penji! First your father, (she sobbed) and now you flee? Oh what shall I do? How shall I live without both of you!”

Penji again felt the starch inside him twist and turn and twist some more. But this time no voices spoke in his ears. Penji thought for some time and then he swore. In his eyes there were two tears.

Penji said, “I have been cruel, I have been so wrong. My mother, dear, has been right all along. To Varth I shall go back! For so long I have been on the wrong track!”

“You make me proud, my dear young potato. Though, I think I should call you young no more.”

And then, the Godpotato waved his wand...

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