Somewhere, a television is on. It looks like some sort of game show.
"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA--"
Suddenly, that scene disappears, and the logo for the local news, special bulletin edition, is assembled.
"We interrupt Wheel of Tickle for a special bulletin," a male voice says.
The logo fades to an attractive young woman behind a news desk.
"This just in: A massive swarm of tickle bugs has been sighted, and is expected to arrive within 24 hours. These small insects feed on laughter, and to that end, seek out people and tickle them. Scientists studying the species have determined that they have the uncanny ability to tell where a person is ticklish, and only land there. They will not, however, land on the head or any private part.
"A local middle school student, who asked not to be identified, talks about last year's attack."
The scene cuts to a girl whose face is pixellated out. Her voice has been digitally altered.
"Well, I was at the beach with my friends, and all of a sudden, there was this huge swarm of bugs! It caught us completely off guard. They landed on everyone there and just started tickling us. They got me under my arms, on my tummy... even in my cute little bellybutton. I've never laughed so much in my life! Even this one girl, who we all thought wasn't ticklish at all -- we've tried tickling her before, and it didn't work -- was laughing hysterically because of these bugs!"
"What did you do to try to stop them?"
"Me? I didn't do anything; I was having a blast! But this one other girl, the only one wearing a one-piece instead of a bikini, was tickled under her arms. She tried to squash them under there, but they kept tickling. Others tried smashing them against harder surfaces, others tried drowning them, others tried bug spray... nothing worked. Our sunscreen was even bug-repellant, but these things didn't care."
"So what worked? Obviously you're not still being tickled by them."
"We just finally had to give up and let them have their fill. They were going to tickle us until they had it anyway, so we just staggered to our blankets or just collasped on the sand and let them go at it. Some of us were crying from laughter; a couple wet themselves. But after a while, the swarm left. We were all exhausted... but other than that, it wasn't so bad. I had fun, as did some of the other girls, once they stopped trying to stop it."
"Thank you."
Back to the desk.
"And thank you to our on-the-spot reporter.
"People in the area who do not want to be tickled by bugs are advised to seek shelter in a bug-proof facility, or if you must go outside, wear bug-proof protective gear.
"Me, I'm getting my bikini. Tee hee!"
"*sigh* We now return to Tickle of Fortune."
Except all that remains is the credits.
Somewhere in town, a structure sticks up above the ground. It's a dull gray, with letters painted on it: TICKLE BUG SHELTER. A nearby sign proclaims "ALL ARE WELCOME!" To enter, you go through the doorway and down the stairs. The inside is spacious, and nicely furnished. There are stoves and microwave, with a pantry full of canned goods and non-perishables. There are also manual can openers in a drawer with the utensils. There are a few refrigerators within, each marked as to contents: "MEATS: TREIF & HARAM", "MEATS: HALAL BUT TREIF", "MEATS: KOSHER BUT HARAM", "MEATS: KOSHER & HALAL", "DAIRY", and "OTHER (including beverages)". An explanation of each term is provided. (Wikipedia and Google are your friends. wink )
A number of board games, both popular and obscure, may be found in a cabinet. Several video game systems, each with a wide selection of games, are placed around the facility... but away from the beds.
There are two sets of beds, one set marked "FOR SLEEPING ONLY". A smaller sign underneath says "Eh, I know it's arbitrary, but I had to choose one." Each bed in the other set has soft cuffs attached to each corner and two more near the middle of each head and foot. A sign nearby says, "These are probably the beds you're looking for, right?"
Restroom facilities are clearly marked. They are stall-style, and handicapped-accessible. Everything is automated/manual, so they can work either way.
Perhaps the most interesting feature, however, are the outside monitors. They can allow those inside to see -- and hear, through earphones -- everything that's going on outside. Each monitor has several sets of earphones attached.
But back to the stairs. One wall at the bottom of the stairs has a button. It is labeled "PUSH TO CLOSE DOOR". The button above it says "PUSH TO OPEN DOOR".
(Okay, folks, I'm going to be gone until the 12th, at the earliest. You may bring the swarm while I'm gone, but don't make it leave too soon! I want to have my fun with it! biggrin Figure out whether you want to make it to shelter, be "accidentally" caught out in the swarm, or intentionally let the bugs tickle you! Seeya!)
"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA--"
Suddenly, that scene disappears, and the logo for the local news, special bulletin edition, is assembled.
"We interrupt Wheel of Tickle for a special bulletin," a male voice says.
The logo fades to an attractive young woman behind a news desk.
"This just in: A massive swarm of tickle bugs has been sighted, and is expected to arrive within 24 hours. These small insects feed on laughter, and to that end, seek out people and tickle them. Scientists studying the species have determined that they have the uncanny ability to tell where a person is ticklish, and only land there. They will not, however, land on the head or any private part.
"A local middle school student, who asked not to be identified, talks about last year's attack."
The scene cuts to a girl whose face is pixellated out. Her voice has been digitally altered.
"Well, I was at the beach with my friends, and all of a sudden, there was this huge swarm of bugs! It caught us completely off guard. They landed on everyone there and just started tickling us. They got me under my arms, on my tummy... even in my cute little bellybutton. I've never laughed so much in my life! Even this one girl, who we all thought wasn't ticklish at all -- we've tried tickling her before, and it didn't work -- was laughing hysterically because of these bugs!"
"What did you do to try to stop them?"
"Me? I didn't do anything; I was having a blast! But this one other girl, the only one wearing a one-piece instead of a bikini, was tickled under her arms. She tried to squash them under there, but they kept tickling. Others tried smashing them against harder surfaces, others tried drowning them, others tried bug spray... nothing worked. Our sunscreen was even bug-repellant, but these things didn't care."
"So what worked? Obviously you're not still being tickled by them."
"We just finally had to give up and let them have their fill. They were going to tickle us until they had it anyway, so we just staggered to our blankets or just collasped on the sand and let them go at it. Some of us were crying from laughter; a couple wet themselves. But after a while, the swarm left. We were all exhausted... but other than that, it wasn't so bad. I had fun, as did some of the other girls, once they stopped trying to stop it."
"Thank you."
Back to the desk.
"And thank you to our on-the-spot reporter.
"People in the area who do not want to be tickled by bugs are advised to seek shelter in a bug-proof facility, or if you must go outside, wear bug-proof protective gear.
"Me, I'm getting my bikini. Tee hee!"
"*sigh* We now return to Tickle of Fortune."
Except all that remains is the credits.
Somewhere in town, a structure sticks up above the ground. It's a dull gray, with letters painted on it: TICKLE BUG SHELTER. A nearby sign proclaims "ALL ARE WELCOME!" To enter, you go through the doorway and down the stairs. The inside is spacious, and nicely furnished. There are stoves and microwave, with a pantry full of canned goods and non-perishables. There are also manual can openers in a drawer with the utensils. There are a few refrigerators within, each marked as to contents: "MEATS: TREIF & HARAM", "MEATS: HALAL BUT TREIF", "MEATS: KOSHER BUT HARAM", "MEATS: KOSHER & HALAL", "DAIRY", and "OTHER (including beverages)". An explanation of each term is provided. (Wikipedia and Google are your friends. wink )
A number of board games, both popular and obscure, may be found in a cabinet. Several video game systems, each with a wide selection of games, are placed around the facility... but away from the beds.
There are two sets of beds, one set marked "FOR SLEEPING ONLY". A smaller sign underneath says "Eh, I know it's arbitrary, but I had to choose one." Each bed in the other set has soft cuffs attached to each corner and two more near the middle of each head and foot. A sign nearby says, "These are probably the beds you're looking for, right?"
Restroom facilities are clearly marked. They are stall-style, and handicapped-accessible. Everything is automated/manual, so they can work either way.
Perhaps the most interesting feature, however, are the outside monitors. They can allow those inside to see -- and hear, through earphones -- everything that's going on outside. Each monitor has several sets of earphones attached.
But back to the stairs. One wall at the bottom of the stairs has a button. It is labeled "PUSH TO CLOSE DOOR". The button above it says "PUSH TO OPEN DOOR".
(Okay, folks, I'm going to be gone until the 12th, at the earliest. You may bring the swarm while I'm gone, but don't make it leave too soon! I want to have my fun with it! biggrin Figure out whether you want to make it to shelter, be "accidentally" caught out in the swarm, or intentionally let the bugs tickle you! Seeya!)
