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The Toilsome Tale of the Foo Bird
Three well-to-do friends, Buffy, Kip, and Campton, decided to go on a river trip down the Amazon. They booked passage on as luxurious a ship as they could find. When they arrived at the port, they found out that there would be a delay of one day, as the ship was waiting for its supply of Dom Perignon. Not wishing to waste their time at the port--they found there way to a small village of natives. They were embraced by the natives and asked to join them for a farewell feast prior to their departure.
After enjoying a wonderful dinner and a beautiful display of native dances, they were introduced to the shaman of the village, who wished to speak to them. Curious, they agreed to meet with him. He welcomed them warmly, and then gave them an ominous warning: We welcome outsiders to our Amazon river and wish them well on their journey; we must warn you all, however, that within the Amazon there dwells the most dangerous of beasts. "The leopard?," asked Buffy "No" said the shaman "The black mamba?" asked Kip "No" said the shaman "The alligator?" asked Campton "No" said the shaman
"You must fear the Foo Bird--if not careful, he will surely cause you a horrible death"
"However can a bird do that?" asked Buffy.
"The Foo bird flies through the jungle, calling out Foo! Foo! as a warning to all beasts," said the shaman, "When you hear that sound--run for cover, for the bird is about to let loose with the foulest of excrement."
"That's not so bad" said Campton "I've had enough pigeons hit me in the city--not scared of that"
"You should be," said the shaman, "For if any of the bird-droppings hit you--you must never clean it off--For if you do--YOU WILL DIE A PAINFUL DEATH."
With that the shaman would say no more, and bade the travelers a "bon voyage."
The three started their journey the next morning and had the best of times for the first few days, taking pictures, and watching all the fascinating scenery roll by. On the third night, however, after a lovely dinner on the portside deck, they heard the strange call--Foo! Foo!. At that sound, all the staff leapt into the ship or off the deck into the river--one even drowned in fear. The three thought it was just superstition and laughed at their folly. Then--it happened. A loud SQUELCH was heard and Campton yelled out--I've been hit. Sure enough, his hand was now covered with a pound of putrid yellow bird-droppings that steamed in the humid surroundings. Not thinking--he used the water pitcher to wash it off. As soon as his hand was clean, he suddenly went pale. He began to shriek, clutching at his throat, with eyes bulging. Within a few seconds, he was dead, his face contorted in unimaginable pain.
Buffy and Kip were in shock. Surely the shaman was not right--Must have been a weird coincidence. They decided that Campton must have eaten some bad food or something. They mourned their friend, but vowed to continue their journey.
Two days later, Buffy was sunning herself on the deck. The Foo! Foo! was heard--and before she could think to move--she was hit. A greenish lumpy mass had landed right on her chest, and was running down her stomach. She turned to clean it off, but hesitated. Maybe if it dries it won't be noticeable or will disappear--she thought.
The stench though was unbearable. A day later the mass had still not dried, and it stank so bad that no one could come near her without gagging. Eventually, she decided that she was just being silly--and she took a shower. Sure enough--as soon as she cleaned herself off--she began to shriek, a high-piercing sound. She was found by a maid half-out of the shower with a look of profound terror in her eyes.
Kip was now beside himself. He vowed that he would not be caught by the Foo Bird. He locked himself in the cabin for the rest of the journey--not opening the door to anyone. Finally-they arrived at their home port, and Kip disembarked. As he made his way down the gangplank, though, the dreaded Foo! Foo! was heard. He had nowhere to run, and was hit by a black and yellow mass of nastiness right on this head and shoulders. What could he do? He decided to brave it out--and make his way back to the US.
It took him longer than expected--as no one would book him a flight due to the stench he emitted. In the end, he had to teach himself how to fly, buy and airplane and pilot his way back to the US.
When he got home--his family and friends soon deserted him. He was fired from his Bank position and kicked out of his condo association. The police would have picked him up as a nuisance--but noone wanted to get near him due to the stink.
He wound up on skid row, sitting in the gutter, penniless, friendless, and covered with a fetid mass of bird droppings.
Despairing--he let the rain that had begun to fall wash him clean. Within a minute, he was dead in the gutter-his mouth contorted into a mixture of pain and relief.
And what, my friends, is the moral of the story?
If the Foo shits, wear it.:evilgrin:
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