She was a tour guide. Her tours took them far and wide in the exciting suburban jungles of Wilhelmina Street. She always brought along a few things, like her Panasonic portable cassette player, she documented her tours for future listening. She usually took the tours on foot but sometimes she hopped on her banana seat Schwinn Bike, painted metallic blue with sparklers on the handles.
Today was an on foot day. She left the house in the late afternoon with her cassette recorder and set off towards the first exciting stop on the way, the alley at the end of her cul-de-sac. She pushed the button to record and started her journey. “Today we are venturing into the deep, dark jungle of the alley.” She went on to describe the creatures they might encounter, from the alligator to the rabid rabbit. They could stop and snack on the edible grasses that tasted sour, but not for long because it was time to continue the journey.
They moved away from the alley to the neighboring street. “Down the street we walk, on the look out for unusual things,” she narrated. “A man watering his lawn in boxer shorts, interesting to observe the natives in their natural habitat. Look, a woman getting into her chariot (or her trusty station wagon). And the birds don’t miss out on the sounds of the wild folks. See them perching on the power lines as they seek out their prey.”
She ended the tour and headed home. When she arrived she listened to her journey again and then added one element, a recording from the radio of ‘I’m all out of Love’ by Air Supply. A long day’s journey completed with a musical wrap up, as she sang along with Air Supply and tried for what was likely the hundredth time to hold the last note with the band. Yes. It was a good day in the suburban jungle.