Wednesday, April 24, 2019
It’s finally time! I’ve been promising you a short story with illustrations by Rob Goldstein. Lulu, Gramps, and Valentino are joined by a couple of unexpected characters in this one episode story. I call it “One Million Years B-Lulu.” It’s a little riff on “One Million Years BC,” which featured Raquel Welsh. Don’t ask me why that particular scenario popped into my head. I’ve told you that I’m just not wired right. The three random things Rob gave me to drive the story are velociraptor, stone axe, and capacitors.
Rob is featuring the story as a guest post today at Sue Vincent‘s blog, so I hope you’ll click over and visit them. I’m posting it here as well. Without further ado…
All aboard!
One Million Years B-Lulu
Soft clicking noises took on a familiar rhythm. I looked over at the blue-gold angel-bot as he worked at a control station of Valentino’s amazing train. The bot started humming to match the beat of his clicks and whirrs. The sound reminded me of a music box.
Most of the train’s angel-bots were gold. This clockwork creature was the only blue hued one. Of all the bots, he was the savviest to the workings of the mysterious train. I had named him Moon, after the song “Cuban Moon,” because of the subtle Spanish accent of his deep voice. That’s the tune he hummed.
I loved to dance, so I did a few steps of the Brazilian Samba to his humming. One turn caused me to bump into a table. Exotic, futuristic looking instruments wobbled dangerously. Fortunately, nothing fell ― that time. I admit that I’m known for my clumsiness. They didn’t sing “Don’t Bring Lulu” when they talked about me for nothin’.
“Lulu, how many times have I told you ― don’t touch anything,” Valentino complained as he walked into the control room.
I stopped dancing. Moon gave me a sheepish look, as if he felt partly responsible. Valentino raised one eyebrow suspiciously at the angel-bot’s reaction.
“Don’t mind him, Moon. He’s just grumpy because those pointy-toed dog kennels hurt his feet,” I told my clockwork friend. “Go ahead and hum.”
The enigmatic Valentino looked from me to the bot in surprise.
“You’ve taught him to hum? I wasn’t aware that they could,” Valentino commented.
An odd device I hadn’t noticed sat on one of the train’s control tables. It resembled an hourglass, but rather than sand, it contained a gooey glowing substance. Fascinated, I extended one finger toward the slowly moving molten goo.
“Lulu, don’t touch anything,” Gramps spoke by rote as he strode into the room.
“Especially not the time delineator!” Valentino added.
Startled, I jerked my finger back so hard that the feather in my headband wobbled and the fringe of my short skirt swayed. I wasn’t expecting my grandfather.
“Ah! Sir. Good. I have finished the adjustments to your pocket watch,” Moon called to Gramps from across the room.
The angel-bot extended his mechanical arm to twice its usual length to hand me the pocket watch, since I was closest to my grandfather. I was in a playful mood, so I decided to toss it to Gramps, rather than walk around the control tables and across the room to hand the timepiece to him.
I drew back my arm to make the toss. The watch went into the air, rotating as it flew. When my arm came back down, I knocked over the goo-filled hourglass thingy Valentino called the time delineator.
The glass cracked. In midair, a drop of glowing goo splashed against the engraved pocket-watch my grandfather cherished. It had been a gift from my late grandmother.
Abruptly I felt like a heavy weight sat on my head. My feet tingled like they were asleep. My stomach was up where my throat was supposed to be. Plus, I felt like I had sneezed ― but in reverse.
The pocket-watch slowed until time really did stand still. The glow of the goo grew until it became spherical, surrounding the pocket-watch. Abruptly, both disappeared in a sphere of sparks.
When I opened my eyes after the inverse sneeze, everything around me looked like a Slavador Dali painting. Then the world went black.
***
I’m not sure how much time passed, but as consciousness returned to my aching head, I realized that I was face down on the ground. And I do mean ground. It wasn’t the floor of the control room against my face.
Warm breath snuffled against my face, sniffing. My nose wrinkled. The sniffer had bad breath. I cracked open one peeper for a discrete look, and found a human eye locked on mine. He grunted and sniffed some more. When his nose headed where it had no business going, I scrambled backward.
“Hey! Watch it!” I exclaimed. “I’m not some easy biscuit. Mind your manners.”
The train sat all catawampus nearby. Amid the enormous leaves of strange plants, it looked as out of place as a wallflower at a speakeasy.
I sprawled on rocky terrain with scraggly bushes and gnarled trees. Behind me was the mouth of a cave. Leaning curiously over me was the smelly, fur clad man who woke me with his sniffing.
I remembered the goo-filled hourglass falling. I gulped. Hard.
A rapid rhythm of clicks and whirrs emanated from Moon, the angel-bot. Valentino’s head was down. He murmured in low worried tones as the angel-bot clicked.
Gramps stooped to pick up his sunglasses. He blew the dust off them and tucked the spectacles into the breast pocket inside his jacket. Reflexively he reached to the watch pocket of his vest. He patted the empty pocket.
His pocket-watch was gone.
“Bushwa!” he muttered, though he looked heartbroken.
I gasped as fire singed my eyebrows. The caveman waved a flaming stick, jabbing it toward my bobbed hair.
“Yes, her hair is the color of fire,” Valentino spoke in placating tones that one might use with a frightened animal.
The smelly sniffer appeared to take Valentino’s word for it that the fiery hue was normal for my hair, however unusual it must have been to him.
“Lulu!” Gramps hissed in a cautionary way, and I knew he thought the caveman was dangerous.
Laying my hand against my chest, I spoke slowly.
“I’m Lulu. Who are you?” I pointed to him as I asked.
“Loana. Fair one,” his gravelly voice pronounced and reached toward my bubs.
“Hey! Watch yourself. I’m a nice girl,” I cautioned him as I jumped backward.
Valentino snorted and I shot him a glare.
“No,” I continued from three feet away. “Lulu. I’m Lu-lu.”
He nodded and clapped his hand against his chest.
“Tumac. Tumac strong! Tumac be Lulu’s daddy,” he added with a leer.
“Where did you learn that language,” Valentino raised an eyebrow and asked suspiciously.
“Nupondi,” Tumac replied. “Nupondi look like you,” he added with a sweeping motion that indicated Valentino head to toe.
“Someone dressed like me?” Valentino asked, though Tumac clearly didn’t understand the words.
Gramps had a worried expression on his face.
“Nupondi come back when he smells grub.”
Tumac motioned toward a fire-pit where a large carcass of something roasted on a spit. I didn’t know what it was, but the aroma made my stomach growl. The cave man chortled at the sound. He gave me a companionable shove toward the fire and I stumbled. Tumac really was strong, that was no boast.
Soon I held the biggest crispy drumstick I had ever seen. Juice ran down my arm as I hungrily sunk my teeth into it.
“Where does she get her appetite?” Valentino asked my grandfather in a tone that combined revulsion and stunned admiration.
My grand father shrugged. He had been more interested in poking around in the bushes, looking for his pocket-watch than eating. However, when Tumac acted offended that he wouldn’t eat, Gramps finally sat down at the fire.
“It really isn’t bad,” Gramps commented and pointedly made a yummy sound to gratify Tumac. “I wonder what it is.”
“V’locy. Mama v’locy,” Tumac mumbled around a mouthful. “Find eggs too. Big breakfast at sunup.”
Near the entrance of a cave I spotted the clutch of eggs. Each one was about the size of a pigskin football. I couldn’t imagine what kind of chicken could lay eggs so big.
“V’locy?” Valentino repeated and his face blanched. “Velociraptor?” he exclaimed. “Lulu, leave those eggs alone. Even a hatchling could be deadly.”
“Oh, don’t give me that phonus balonus!” I told him and inspected the eggs.
The bushes rustled. Tumac sniffed the air. Gramps quickly grabbed the burning stick the caveman had waved around earlier. He held it defensively.
The caveman didn’t seem concerned. He grunted and muttered “Nupondi.”
Gramps jabbed the flaming stick toward the bushes.
“Horsefeathers! Have a care or you’ll set the whole place on fire!” an unexpectedly familiar voice protested.
“Tom?” I exclaimed as he nonchalantly tucked something into his pocket. “Tom Driberg! You were on the lamb from those hooligans. So, this is where you wound up?”
Tom had betrayed us all, particularly my pal Rose. We weren’t the only ones he quatched. It turned out he had been a spy for both the Americans and the Russians.
That small motion of his hand to his pocket didn’t escape my notice. Gramps squinted. He had seen it too. Tom was being a little too smooth, even for Tom. He gave a guilty glance at Gramps. Tom looked like a man who knew he had been caught.
“Well, Lulu. Aren’t you just the cat’s particulars,” Tom said, stepping toward me.
Suddenly, Tom grabbed me and a surprisingly sharp stone axe was pressed against my throat.
“Give me that pocket-watch, Driberg,” Gramps demanded. “It’s meaningless to you.”
“Quite the contrary old man,” Tom replied with a smirk. “There aren’t any capacitors here. Your beloved watch isn’t special just because it came from your wife, you know. It can be modified to work as a time delineator, and I can finally go home!”
Tom’s sentence ended with an oof! Tumac snuck up behind him and grabbed both of us, lifting us off the ground. I heard Tom make a strangled noise and he dropped the axe. With a hefty toss, Tumac sent Tom and me tumbling.
I saw the pocket-watch fall. In the same instant I heard a shrill cry from above.
“Your sheba has found you,” Tumac chortled at Tom.
Huge wings darkened the sky. Dust and ashes from the fire-pit clouded the air as gusts buffeted us. Gramps put on his sunglasses as if they were goggles.
Blinking, I gaped speechlessly. A pterodactyl settled to the ground.
Sunlight glinted off the pocket-watch. The dinosaur’s eyes darted to the watch.
“Sheba like shiny,” Tumac muttered to Tom. “Maybe she take it, not you.”
“What?” I couldn’t help asking, even it that circumstance.
“The damn dyno. I was there when she hatched. She imprinted on me. Thinks I’m her chick or something,” Tom said as he cowered behind Valentino.
“You realize it’s not a bird, don’t you?” Valentino told him, as if that mattered at such a time.
Abruptly, Gramps darted and grabbed his watch. The pterodactyl screeched. Her sharp beak jutted dangerously toward him.
The sun flashed off his spectacles. The dinosaur tilted her head as Gramps spoke.
“There, there now. You don’t want this. It’s not good to eat,” my grandfather cajoled.
The pterodactyl took another huge step toward him. Surprised, I realized she saw her reflection in his sunglasses. I whispered the fact to Gramps. He slowly removed the shades and held them toward her.
“Careful,” Valentino cautioned. “She could take your entire arm if she grabs the spectacles.”
Then a fierce look glinted in Valentino’s eyes. I had always thought he had a ruthless streak, hidden under all that smoldering brooding.
Valentino reached behind himself, where Tom cowered. He grabbed the spy’s arm and shoved him into the open.
“This is what you really want, isn’t it,” Valentino called to the pterodactyl.
The dinosaur made a pained noise, followed by a series of croaks that sounded like a mother chastising her offspring. Tom ran as fast as he could.
With a blast of air that knocked me to the ground, the pterodactyl flapped her wings and took flight. In a moment she had Tom in her clutches. She flew with him toward a rocky outcropping.
Tumac laughed so hard that he rolled on the ground.
I stood gobsmacked.
“She take Nupondi to nest. She love Nupondi,” Tumac explained between chortles. Nupondi not go hungry. His sheba vomit breakfast for him. Haha! All over his head.”
***
In no time Moon had modified the pocket-watch to work as a time delineator for Valentino’s train. Through a hand-held telescope, I saw Tom gingerly climbing down from the pterodactyl’s nest. He was drenched in something, presumably regurgitated dinner, but seemed unharmed. We bade a fond farewell to Tumac, our host.
When I walked past Tumac, he laughed, because he saw that I was hiding something behind my back. I winked and hoped he knew to keep quiet.
The big Orthophonic Victrola in the train’s control room blared out “Toot, Toot, Tootsie! Good-bye,” and I knew we would be leaving in a moment.
“Are you alright, Lulu?” Gramps asked me. “You look like something isn’t sitting well on your stomach.”
“Maybe some under-cooked dinosaur,” I replied weakly and mustered up a belch.
Delicately I put one hand to my lips, while the other was firmly behind my back.
“If not for that decidedly unladylike burp, I would go back and count all those velociraptor eggs,” Valentino told me with narrowed eyes as he climbed aboard the train.
“Well, I never…” I protested even though he hit the nail on the head.
Then I felt the egg move. I twitched at the surprise, and nearly dropped it. Valentino turned back at my abrupt movement. I put my free hand to my stomach and groaned dramatically. Clara Bow couldn’t have given a better performance.
A shining gold angel-bot leaned from the train. It was Dynamite.
“All aboard!” Dynamite called.
I made sure Gramps and Valentino were both all the way inside the train before I let Dynamite help me aboard. By then, the egg was practically dancing the Charleston.
The train’s Orthophonic Victrola always seemed to know more than it should be able to understand. Not to mention that it had a mean disposition. As the dinosaur egg lurched, the device started playing “Don’t Bring Lulu.”
***
The end.
Update: Rob has just finished a fabulous video of this story. Do check it out and pay him a visit as well. http://robertmgoldstein.com/
You’re the cat’s pajamas!
And don’t forget!
Coming in Spring
Another Roaring Twenties Pantser Tale
Continuing the adventures of Pip and Granny, it’s…
Three Ingredients 2
A Ghost in the Kitchen!
Stay tuned, shieks and shebas!
You’re the cat’s pajamas!
***
Universal link to my Amazon Author Page
USA: The Three Things Serial Story: A Little 1920s Story Kindle
USA: Murder at the Bijou — Three Ingredients I
USA: Atonement in Bloom
USA: The Glowing Pigs, Snort Stories of Atonement, Tennessee
USA: Atonement, Tennessee
(E-book still on sale at 99¢ )
This is a work of fiction. Characters, names, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, locales, or events is entirely coincidental.
Copyright © 2019 by Teagan Ríordáin Geneviene
Images Copyright © 2019 by Rob Goldstein
All rights reserved.
No part of this work may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author’s rights.
All images are either the property of the author or provided by free sources, unless stated otherwise.
Teagan's Books 
Great collaboration! Loved the story and pics!!!
LikeLike
I’m delighted that we could entertain you, Kirt. 😀 You’re the cat’s pajamas!
LikeLiked by 2 people
A great story, Teagan. Rob, your pictures fit it perfectly. 🙂 — Suzanne
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you kindly, Suzanne. Rob will be pleased too. Have a beautiful week. You’re the cat’s pajamas!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Oh Teagan, it is such a fun story, and the video is perfect. Time traveling is still on my bucket list.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It was fun to work with Rob again, Inese. I’m delighted you enjoyed the results. You’re the caterpillar’s kimono!
LikeLiked by 1 person
You have the most fabulous collaboration!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Reblogged this on Art by Rob Goldstein and commented:
From Teagan’s Books
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for sharing from your art studio, Rob. You’re the cat’s pajamas!
LikeLiked by 1 person
What a great start, Teagan. I loved the line “Plus; I felt like I had sneezed ― but in reverse.” I can’t imagine how that would feel. And it’s great to find out where Tom ended. I wonder if my favourite ‘Rose’ will make an appearance?
Great artwork and video from Rob. He’s been working very hard, but he told me he enjoyed every second.
Have a great weekend.
Hugs.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s lovely to see you, Hugh. Thanks so very much.
Yes, Rob worked hard, but we both had a lot of fun with this story. Ah, Rose was your favorite? Maybe she’ll get another adventure one day then. 🙂
LOL, I have some super size sneezes, hence the reverse sneeze idea. Sounded terrifying to me! Haha. Hugs on the wing!
LikeLiked by 1 person
What an enjoyable read, Teagan. So much fun here, even if Lulu isn’t an easy biscuit! LOL, that line cracked me up. Wow, Rob, your work is amazing.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Haha. We both had a ton of fun with this story, Mary. Thanks so much for visiting. You’re the caterpillar’s kimono!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think I’d be tempted to put tape over Lulus mouth and chain her to something immovable. 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
LOL. And make sure she can’t reach anything. You know she has to touch everything. 😀 Thanks for visiting, Fraggle. You’re the cat’s pajamas!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Reblogged this on lampmagician and commented:
All Aboard again 🤗 this is #Art ❤👍🙏❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you kindly for sharing from your place, Magician. I’m glad you could get on the zany train! You’re the cat’s pajamas
LikeLiked by 1 person
A great post again my dear Teagan, with the fascinating Rob Goldstein paintings 👍❤👍 Huge Hug 🙏❤❤
LikeLiked by 2 people
Awesomesauce! I’m thrilled to see some of my favorite characters back again. And, of course, Rob’s artwork is stunning! That’s the only word I can think of. I love the humor in this piece. 🙂 That Lulu is for sure a troublemaker. Love it, Teagan!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Horsefeathers… I thought I replied to you yesterday, Jan… but I don’t see it anywhere today.
LOL, she’s “hullaba” Lulu for sure! I’m so glad you enjoyed this short story. I couldn’t agree more about Rob’s illustrations and video. He did a fantastic job.
It was fun for me to get inside these characters again.
Thanks for visiting. You’re the caterpillar’s kimono!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks for the kind words, Jan. 🙂
LikeLike
Loved the humor you added to this one, Teagan. Poor Tom 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
LOL, I couldn’t resist. I’m happy you enjoyed it, Jacquie. Heartfelt thanks for sharing from your place. You’re the cat’s pajamas!
LikeLiked by 2 people
I love Salvador Dali but oh my, I don’t think I’d like to wake up in one of his paintings! Great job on the video!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Rob will be delighted, Jan. Thanks for visiting. You’re the bee’s knees. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Jan. 🙂
LikeLike
Yeah, the gangs back. I loved this story, Teagan, and I loved the video too. Lulu and the velociraptor, I can’t wait. Fantastic. xxx
LikeLiked by 2 people
It was fun to step back into these characters again, Adele. I’m so happy you enjoyed it. You’re the caterpillar’s kimono. 😀
LikeLiked by 2 people
Oh I love that comment, now I can see a beautiful caterpillar in a kimono. xxx
LikeLiked by 1 person
Tee-hee! I so love 1920s slang, Adele. Silk all the way!
LikeLike
Lulu is trouble! Between touching things she shouldn’t and taking a dinosaur egg home… how can this story end??? Great dialog and action as always, Teagan. And So Fun to see Rob’s illustrations again. 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks Diana! Please tell me your giving us a challenge in May. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes! Tomorrow morning. I’m so glad you asked and I hope you’re inspired!
LikeLiked by 2 people
I can’t wait to see what it is !
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s out, Teagan. I hope it inspires! 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh! That one is fabulous. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Is that an android I see in the window of Saks Fifth Avenue?
LikeLiked by 2 people
Oh, now that’s going to be fun, Rob. Go for it!
LikeLiked by 1 person
(Wicked grin)
LikeLiked by 1 person
Could be! Is there a story brewing? A poem?
LikeLiked by 2 people
I don’t know yet. 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
You have all month. 🙂 No pressure!
LikeLiked by 2 people
🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think it’s fun to leave a reader with something that lets them continue the story in their mind, Diana. Lulu is uniquely good at letting me do that. It was great to work with Rob again. Thanks for taking time to visit. You’re the cat’s pajamas!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Reblogged this on Smorgasbord Blog Magazine and commented:
Teagan Geneviene has crossed the country to her new cottage and after getting sofas assembled and walls painted she is back to business. If you had been missing Valentine and Lulu, and the images created by Robert Goldstein, then you are in for a treat.. There are some unusual characters involved in today’s episode, some older (a lot older) than others.. and the BBQ is also slightly rarified… Find out more and get back into the Jazz swing of things 1 million years B. Lulu…
LikeLiked by 3 people
Huge thanks for sharing from your Smorgasbord, Sally. You’re the oyster’s earrings!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks for the share, Sally!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Pleasure Rob..hugsx
LikeLiked by 1 person
What a fun trip back a million years:) I wonder how dinosaur would settle on ones stomach. I’m curious what happens when that egg hatches when they get back. I loved the beautiful artwork that accompanied the story!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Hi Denise. Rob really got into illustrating the characters for the Hullaba Lulu serial last year. He pulled out all the stops for this one.
I always liked ending the Lulu stories in a way that lets the reader continue it in their imagination. Thanks for visiting. You’re the cat’s pajamas!
LikeLiked by 2 people
He did because it was amazing! I like being the cat’s pajamas:)
LikeLike
Applesauce! Denise, you were stuck in my spam folder. I’m so sorry. Did the guy who was recruiting for the Illuminati bother you?
Of course you’re the cat’s pajamas. ❤ Hugs.
LikeLike
Fabulous story, Teagan. I think Rob did a beautiful job on the illustrations. What is LuLu going to do with the creature once the egg hatches?
I hope someday we find out. Hugs.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Happy Wednesday, John. I love to end the Lulu stories with a tidbit that has the reader creating their own new story. I can imagine Lulu and the angel-bots using cheeseburgers to train the dino, and putting it in a waiters uniform. 😉
Thanks so much for visiting. You’re the cat’s meow!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Ha haha.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Oh Teagan. I can see this. 🙂
LikeLike
Wanted to ask the same question as John! Lol Well done, and i adore the illustrations by Rob too. Soooooo wonderful! Best wishes, Michael
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks John. I wanna know how she’s gonna teach Tumac to Charleston. 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
Ha haha. If it can be done, Teagan can do it.
LikeLiked by 2 people
LOL!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Poor Tom. Wondering what LuLu will do when the egg hatches and the dino imprints on her, lol. Rob’s graphics are stunning, as usual. Hugs, Teagan!
LikeLiked by 2 people
LOL, I thought it would be fun to leave everyone imagining that one, Teri. 😀
I agree that Rob did a fabulous job. Thanks for visiting. You’re the cat’s pajamas!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks Teri. This was big great stretch. I’m glad I did it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Fun from beginning to end. And now I’m dying to know what she does with the hatchling!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Haha… That might be related to the extinction of the dinosaurs, Staci.
I love to end the Lulu stories with a tidbit that has the reader creating their own new story. A velociraptor would wreak havoc on the steampunk train. Yet I can imagine Lulu and the angel-bots training the thing and putting it in a waiters uniform. 😉
Thanks for visiting. You’re the oyster’s earrings!
LikeLiked by 2 people
A trained raptor in a waiter’s uniform? Now THAT’S a story!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Best line: “I’m not some easy biscuit. Mind your manners.” This sounds like a southern saying, but probably isn’t. Very clever story here, but oh my goodness… wherever did you come up with it! 😳
LikeLiked by 3 people
LOL. Ally, for a long time, when people ask me that question I’ve answered, “I’m just not wired right.” 😀
No, that one is not a “southernism,” as I like to call them. Although it reminds me of a favorite, “Well, butter my butt and call me a biscuit!”
I’ve done several serials set in the Roaring Twenties. So I’ve collected slang of the era over the years to use in those stories. Their slang was the most fun of any era I’ve found. Back then, a “biscuit” was a promiscuous woman. (I guess it could be related to that particular southernism.
Thanks for taking time to visit. You’re the cat’s pajamas!
LikeLiked by 2 people
What a great story. I love how you tied this into the Lulu series from before and how Rob’s illustrations help set the tone.
“I’m not some easy biscuit. Mind your manners.” <- That's hilarious! And I absolutely love the word "catawampus" – my metal shop teacher in 8th grade used that (all the time) to describe our best efforts at tin-knocking.
LikeLiked by 2 people
I love “catawampus” too, Dan. I was an adult before I heard it (used by a study partner in college). Apparently it dates back to the 1800s, but where and how it originated… well, I find a lot of assumptions and conflicting suppositions.
I couldn’t resist having Valentino snort at Lulu’s protest, defending her virtue. She does love garlic and giggle water, and those dances that made the grandmas faint with shock. LOL. Thanks for visiting. You’re the cat’s pajamas!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Reblogged this on Chris The Story Reading Ape's Blog.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Adored Ape, thanks for sharing from your tree-house! I know Rob appreciates it too.
Hmmm… maybe now we know what caused the extinction of the dinosaurs — Lulu!
Mega hugs!
LikeLiked by 2 people
😂😂😂 🦍❤️❤️🦍
LikeLiked by 2 people
An excellent title and a wonderful start to my morning – a very dashing Tumac may I say, thanks Rob. And I’m whistling (humming) the title in the melody of “Everyone but Lulu”.
Mid week Hugs all around ❤
LikeLiked by 2 people
It’s great to see you, Christoph. Tee-hee, I have to agree about Rob’s vision of Tumac. That song is a terrific ear worm. Maybe it will finally dislodge Sinnerman from my head. That one’s been worming around for awhile now! LOL.
Thanks for visiting. You’re the caterpillar’s kimono! Mega hugs right back.
LikeLiked by 2 people
I was worried he might be a little too nude — but under it all he’s just another Barbie. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Tumac is much more covered than the average Kardashian.
LikeLiked by 1 person
LOL!
LikeLiked by 1 person
A gorgeous and fun story, Teagan, and great illustrations from Rob. Must visit all sites when I’m back, but couldn’t resist seeing what Lulu was up to! Thanks for the time travelling fun!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Olga, I’m honored that you’d take time out from your holiday to visit here. You are so kind. Enjoy yourself. Safe journey and mega hugs!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Olga!
LikeLike
I received the notification from Rob’s YouTube channel first so watched that first. OMG! It’s wonderful! Both the writing as always, and his art. You two collaborate really well together!
The caveman…might he be a young Valentino? There’s very distinct resemblance!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Hi Deborah. You are so kind to take time to visit here, with your big move in high gear. Thank you. I’m delighted you enjoyed both.
Yes, there is a resemblance, but I would leave Rob to explain that. I think of it as part of his style and self-expression. The “dolls” (as he calls them) intentionally look similar. Stay safe. Hugs on the wing!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I didn’t know I had a whole YouTube channel. I really need to figure out what I’m up to. 🙂 Thank you for watching the video. Your comment really makes my day! You notice the resemblance between the avatars.
All of the males use the same body shape.
LikeLiked by 2 people
LOL! You made me laugh! I think I get a notice every time you add a video or you come up in my YouTube feed.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Wow. I use YouTube but never as social media. I’m just bad at internetting.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Me too still we found each other! 😁
LikeLiked by 2 people
Yes!
LikeLiked by 1 person