Were-Pen and I Arrive at Rainbow Beach

            I had been sleeping ever so nicely on the magic Metro, dreaming of a wonderful, fantastical Story Land, where the writers were always inspired, where the verbs were always active, the plots always  plausible, the characters always fully-developed, and the endings came full-circle.  Never a cliché or a trite phrase, and the painters I met said their colors never muddied.  Singers always hit the high notes and guitarists never broke a string.  I liked it there.  I never wanted to wake from this fictive dream…

        “Wake up, wake up, we’re here,” said the Were-Pen, poking my arm.

        “We’re where?” I asked, yawning.

        “Next stop on your tour of Lemuria, maybe the most beautiful sight of all:  Rainbow Beach.”

        “Oh, no, Pen – may I call you Penny?”  The Were-Pen cursed, “May all my ink go dry instantly if I let you refer to be by that horrible diminutive moniker!”

        “All right, you don’t have to blot yourself, I won’t call you Penny,” I said.  “But please, Were-Pen, tell me, what’s so special about Rainbow Beach?”

        “See for yourself.”

        I opened my eyes and looked out of the window at the most beautiful beach I had ever seen.  I got off the Magic Metro and walked onto the soft, deep sand, which was gently rippling like a wave of warm pastels.  The light kissed each wave and glistened off the powdery sand.  It looked like I was standing inside a cleaned pearly, abalone shell.  

        The Were-Pen took a little bow and said, “I present to you, Rainbow Beach.  Not only is it beautiful, it is a place to relax, be inspired, and meet friends.  The Ladies of Lemuria like to gather here.”

        “To work?  To pray?”

        “Yes, and also to, ahem, ‘hang-out’:  that is, tell ghost stories, go to the Drive-in, tackle time lords, and imbibe a special green beverage.”

        “Sounds great!  When can I meet them?”

        “Soon.  We’ll walk along until we hear raucous voices, laughter, dancing, and a gypsy tambourine – Enchanteur and her entourage will be at the epicenter.”