Bimli double checked the work ticket, and compared the door ID with the door in front of them; Door A-2583. “This is it” said Bimli to his partner Dweeble.
Dweeble picked up the clipboard hanging next to the door and said, “Let’s see what we got.” Skimming over the information on the clipboard, he told his partner, “Single male in his 20s. Lives alone. Nothing much out of the ordinary.”
Bimli, looking at the clock above the door, said “3:30 am local time. He should be fast asleep. This should be an easy grab, Dweeble”
Bimli and Dweeble were Sock Gnomes. A race of mythological creatures that have for hundreds of years dedicated themselves to the stealing of socks from the big folk. Left socks to be specific, they were not barbaric after all. Neither knew why this was their mission, nor how long the tradition was practiced. It was not for them to decide what they should be doing. They just did what they they’ve done for as long as they could remember. Right now, the mission was to grab a fresh lefty from the room on the other side of door A-2583.
Sock Gnomes are masters of stealth. Being a mere 6 inches in height, certainly helps. But what really makes them successful is their access to a near limitless set of magical doors that allowed them to walk into virtually any room quietly and discretely. Usually, the other end of the magical door opens up at the baseboard near a corner in the room, often behind some furniture, making it very easy to enter a room and survey it without being noticed before attempting the grab.
No gnome alive today knew how these doors were created, or why. In fact, they didn’t even know how they worked. They just knew how to use them. They didn’t even know why they had the compulsion to grab left socks. It was just what they did. Gnomes, not being the most creative creatures on this earth, just couldn’t think of anything else to do.
Bimli and Dweeble had been a sock collecting team for longer than either cared to remember. Both were average height for a Gnome. Dweeble had brown hair, tucked up under the traditional red pointed Gnome hat and sported a distinguished brown, yet greying beard. Bimli had graying hair and a dark black beard that almost reached his chest. He too wore the traditional red Gnome hat.
Strung over their shoulders was a coil of rope with a collapsible hook at the end. They used these to climb up difficult and high up places while searching for and grabbing the socks. In addition to being good climbers Gnomes are very athletic, and much stronger that their size might suggest. They are also good jumpers.
The room was dark when they entered, lit only by the moonlight outside. The room was also a mess, dirty clothes everywhere. While not averse to snatching a dirty sock, if it wasn’t too stiff, they preferred freshly cleaned and dried socks. Right out of the dryer if possible. However, it was a matter of honor to not snatch a sock directly from the dresser. If the sock was folded and placed in a dresser as part of a pair, it was sacrosanct and not to be touched.
In their current situation it looked like they would have to settle for a slightly dirty sock dropped somewhere on the floor. After a short search, Dweeble found a suitable one and called out for help, “Bimli, I think I found a good one. Not too dirty. Come help.”
Bimli walked over to Dweeble and the two of them picked up the sock and started walking back to the corner of the room from where they emerged. A dreary eyed man lying in the bed, opened his eyes and saw the two Gnomes walking with one of his socks. He said, “Hey, what are you doing with my sock?”
Bimli, used to such encounters, just looked back and said, “We are taking it to be cleaned. This is just a dream. Go back to sleep.”
In an amazing feat of deduction, attributed only to sheer luck and confusion, the man responded, “But if I’m dreaming, aren’t I already asleep?”
Bimli responded, “Yes, but in this dream, you are awake, and must go back to sleep if you want to wake up and dream that you are asleep. Understand?”
The man did not, and trying to work it out caused him to fall back to sleep. Dweeble commented, “Well played, Bimli, well played.” The pair continued to carry their prize back to the corner where their door would take them home.
Back in Gnome Central, they threw the sock into a container to be collected later by someone else. Neither Bimli nor Dweeble had any idea where the socks went to from here. Their job was to just collect them from the big person’s world and dump them in the containers.
“Just one more job for the day, Dweeble” said Bimli as they approached the next door. Checking their work ticket and confirming the door number, they examined the clipboard next to the door.
Bimli summarized, “Boy, young, about 8 years old. Neat room, no known hazards or pets. Local time, 10pm.”
Dweeble responded, “He should be asleep. Are you ready Bimli?”
“I am so, Dweeble”
The two entered the room. It was lit with a small night light attached to one of the outlets. After a quick scan of the room Bimli found the hamper, a typical wicker model with cloth liner. An easy climb for both of them. Using their ropes and hooks, they climbed up and dove inside the nearly full hamper. Dweeble was the first to find a suitable sock. After they both verified it was a left sock, a skill that every Sock Gnome is an expert in, they carried it up to the edge of the hamper and threw it on the floor before scaling back down the outside of the hamper. They released their hooks with a pair of expert flicks of the ropes, coiled them and put them back over their shoulders.
Picking up the sock, they started on their way back to the Gnome door. They started humming a traditional Gnome tune and were looking forward to the end of their shift.
“You can have the left sock; I don’t need it” sounded a voice out of nowhere. “Looking back, they saw a boy sit up in his bed. Swinging his legs over the edge of the bed, the Gnomes were shocked to see that this boy had no left foot. Indeed, everything from just above the knee down was missing. Bimli and Dweeble froze. Not sure what to do, the boy tried to put them at ease by saying, “It’s ok. It doesn’t hurt.”
He went on to say, “Just make sure that you only take the left socks.” Patting what was left of his left leg he said, “I don’t use them.” He went on to say, “My mom makes me wear the left ones too. I don’t like to, they feel funny.” Bimli and Dweeble were both impressed that this boy knew there was a difference between the left and right socks, they believed most big people could not tell the difference. The boy then said, “My name is Tommy. What are yours?”
“Bimli, at your service” as he performed the traditional Gnome greeting bow.
“Dweeble, at your service” bowing similarly.
The Gnomes used their ropes to scamper up onto the bed with Tommy. They coiled their ropes quickly and the walked across the bed to where Tommy was and sat next to him. They swung their legs off the side of the bed just like Tommy had.
Tommy asked, “Where are you taking my sock?”
Dweeble answered, “To our home.”
“Why?” asked Tommy.
Bimli replied, “Don’t know why. It is just what we Sock Gnomes do. It is our job.”
Dweeble added, “What is it you do?”
Tommy looking dejected said, “I don’t do anything.” Putting a hand on his leg he continued, “I can’t do anything.”
Bimli asked, “What do you mean ‘can’t’ do anything’?”
“I can’t even walk without those” pointing to a pair of crutches next to his desk. “Everyone else can walk and run, and play soccer or baseball. But I can’t.”
Bimli said, “Of course you can do something.” “You …” looking up into the air thinking a bit, “you can sit up” proudly coming up with something that he can obviously do.
“Oh, anyone can sit up.” Tommy replied sounding obvious.
At that exact moment Dweeble fell on his back. His arms reaching out as if asking for help. Bimli scrambled behind him heroically trying to help Dweeble sit up. “No, no, not at all. Dweeble can’t seem to sit up on his own.” The two of them dramatically fumbling attempts at getting Dweeble to sit up straight.”
Tommy laughed at the sight.
After a minute or so, with Tommy still laughing, Dweeble finally steadied himself upright.
“I am sure there are other things you can do that others can’t.” Bimli said as he got up. He walked around Tommy looking at his desk.
Gnomes are amazingly athletic, especially for their size. Bimli did a running leap from the bed to the desk, where he landed in dramatic superhero fashion. “Dweeble, come quickly.” He shouted.
Dweeble showed the same athleticism and joined Bimli on the desk. Looking up at the cork-board Bimli pointed and asked, “Who made these?”
Tommy answered, “I did. I like to draw and color things.”
“Where did you get the instructions?” asked Dweeble.
“I don’t have any instructions. I just draw what I want.” Tommy said, a little confused at the question.
Bimli and Dweeble just looked at each other in astonishment. Then turned to Tommy and asked very slowly and cautiously, “Do you mean you created these just from your mind?”
“Yeah” Tommy responded, a little confused and curious.
“Oh, show us, will you please.” said Dweeble.
“Yes, show us please, won’t you?” said Bimli.
“What do you mean? Do you want me to draw something for you?” Tommy asked.
“Yes, yes!” both responded in unison.
Tommy, hopped down onto the floor and since the desk was so close to his bed, all he needed to do was steady himself on the footboard to get into his desk chair. He took out a blank piece of paper and his pack of colored pencils. He looked to the Gnomes and asked, “What do you want me to draw?”
Dweeble responded, “Anything you want.”
Bimli then said, “But wait.” Then he said to Dweeble “check to make sure there are no hidden instructions.” The two of them spent a minute examine every corner of the desk and even examined each and every pencil.
Bimli then said, “OK”, and then slowly said, “create something.” Then both Gnomes went silent, their eyes widening as if about to see some miracle occur.
Tommy spent the next few minutes drawing a picture of the Gnomes carrying his sock. He added a colorful and swirly background, for no good reason other than he felt like it. As the drawing developed, the Gnomes got more and more excited. They looked at the drawing and then back at Tommy and back to the drawing. Visibly excited, they chatted to each other, to quiet for Tommy to hear. Tommy ignored them and concentrated on his drawing.
When it was done, he picked up the paper and showed the Gnomes. The gnomes, hands over their wide-open mouths, fell back onto their bottoms in astonishment. They looked at Tommy in awe. Tommy a little confused, waited for the Gnomes to explain.
“You are a creator” said Dweeble with wonder. “You can create things without instructions.”
Bimli jumped in and asked “This comes directly from the head, your own head, does it not?”
Tommy said, “Of course it does. I just think of what I want to draw, and then draw it.”
Bimli and Dweeble jumped up cheering and clapping.
After calming down a bit, Dweeble, with his hand on his chin scrunching his beard, said as if in deep thought. I like the circles.”
Tommy then said, “Everyone can do this. Drawing is easy.”
Dweeble said, “No no, it is not. Well maybe drawing yes, but knowing what to draw and how to let it come out of your mind. That is not. That is creativity.” Pointing to his head, “You are a creator. Very few people are creators. Most big people are copiers. No, no, not you. You can create something from your own mind.”
Bimli a little sad said, “Gnomes are not creators. We follow instructions to do things. We don’t know why we do things, it’s just what we do. You are different, even for a big person. You can create something new, something never seen before. Not in the entire world!”
Dweeble turned to Bimli and said, “And he said he can’t do anything.” Turning to Tommy he said, “You had us going there for a minute you did.” They both let out a stiff laugh.
Tommy was starting to feel a little proud of his drawing. The Gnomes asked Tommy to do it again and again. Tommy created new and unique pictures of lots of different things. The Gnomes got visibly excited over each and every drawing.
After about a half an hour Tommy held up his latest creation and asked, “Would you like to keep it?”
Both of the Gnomes immediately said in unison, “Yes, yes, very much so.”
Tommy rolled up the drawing and put a rubber band around before giving it to Bimli. Bimli accepted the roll of paper with honor. “We will cherish this always” said Bimli.
Dweeble then said, “It is late. We must be going.” Then both Gnomes put down the drawing, and proceeded to bow to Tommy while saying “We thank you very much.”
The Gnomes pushed the picture off the desk, and they themselves jumped off the desk onto the floor where they picked up the drawing and proceeded to walk towards the corner of the room.
Tommy quickly grabbed his crutches and tried to follow the Gnomes, but he was too late. They walked behind the dresser in the corner and were never seen again.
15 years later
“This is one of the best attended new artist expositions we’ve had in a long time.” a well-dressed older man commented. “They love your work, Thomas.” Thomas and the director casually walked around the exposition, observing the reactions of the attendees. He gracefully danced his way through the crowded galley, his limp barely noticeable. It had been at least 10 years since he started wearing a prosthetic leg.
“You must have had very supportive parents encouraging you to become an artist.” The director commented.
“Yes, they were, and still are.” Thomas replied. He mused a moment and followed with, “But it was a pair of … distant uncles … that really got me started.” He continued, “They got me to believe that I was something special.”
Hours after the exposition had closed, and all was dark. Two Gnomes entered the gallery. Gnomish eyesight is quite good, so they had no problems navigating the gallery and finding the light switches. All it took was pressing one master switch to light up the entire gallery.
The Gnomes climbed up on a backless bench in the middle of the room, which commanded a good view of nearly all the artwork. Then the two just sat down and enjoyed the art. Dweeble, pointing to one of the paintings said, “I like the circles.”
Bimli and Dweeble spent the next hour admiring the work, and commenting on what it might represent and what it might mean. Bimli pointed to one pencil sketch and asked, “Dweeble does that one remind you of anything?”
“I think it does Bimli, I think it does” he replied. “That is us, sitting on Tommy’s bed.”
Bimli happened to look down under the artwork towards the floor, saw something, then said, “Dweeble come with me.” He jumped off the bench onto the floor and started walking to wall. When they both arrived at the baseboard, they discovered a sock. A left sock to be specific. Not that any Gnome couldn’t tell the difference. This one also had the word “LEFT” written on it with a black sharpie.
“He remembered. What a creative boy.” Dweeble said.
Leave a Reply