The Untold (but written) Story of Baby Noon, and the High Nooner

One time for all the Baby Noons

It was 10:45 AM, still Baby Noon time as they would say. But, the clock was swiftly approaching High Noon. No shadow time… as they say. Baby Noon knew no shadow time was coming, and it was approaching faster today than seemingly all the previous days. 

“My oh my” said Baby Noon as he watched the clock tick....

It was now 11:59, As Baby Noon sat down to eat his Rice Krispies cereal and contemplate what he might do differently than he had before in the time of no shadows, he heard a door open and shut. He was expecting no visitors so this startled and confused him. “Why so vexed my good Baby Noon, didn’t expect to see me today? Well, the High Nooner is upon us, so I guess it’s Snap, Crackle, Pop and Dognifico joining ye for breakfast time, soon to be lunch time.” Said Dognifico as he pointed to his watch-less wrist.

It must be foretold that Dognifico was Baby Noons sherpa in times of need. With the high stakes of High Noon approaching within the next 60 seconds, and Baby Noon still sitting over his favorite childhood cereal, Dognifico had to take matters into his own paws. For doggonnit - we had 29 seconds until breakfast was to become lunch. With the sun at its apex, all the shadows would disappear and all that Baby Noon would be left with is himself, and a bowl of Rice Soggies which had lost their Krisp. 

“Baby Noon, stand up! Look down… Now look back up, look back down, put your sunglasses on and look back up! Yes, your shadow is gone, it is High Noon, and you’re no longer a Baby” exclaimed Dognifico. 

As Baby Noon stood up and saw his shadow erased from existence he gasped and almost fell over. Despite the many times he had experienced this it was always new, yet nostalgic to him

“That’s right Baby Noon, excuse me, Mr. Noon, you’ve once again been reborn and grown into the person you’d feared every morning ye awoke. From an innocent child filled with wonderment to an adult man filled with stress and worry. But, that doesn’t have to be the end of your story, no sir, not by a long shot, you’ve got time to contemplate your mistakes and to correct your course, to be the Mr. Noon you’d always hoped, nay, longed to be. Forget the morning of the baby and embrace the afternoon of the man. 

And with that Dognifico ran off to the dog park, and a magnificent dog park it was. Ideal for our sweet, sweet Dognifico. 

“The afternoon of the man” contemplated Mr. Noon. No longer were his pajamas and Rice Krispies suitable. He would have to work off of what he had seen from the other Mr. Noon’s out in society. “Yes, yes indeed. That’s what I will do. I’ll do what all the other Mr. Noon’s do.” With society as his guide now that Dognifico had gone, Mr. Noon took off his pajamas, threw down his Rice Soggies. He put on his suit, placed some cold cuts between two slices of bread, grabbed a coffee and went off to work. 

Dognifico came running back. 

“Mr. Noon, wait, your fate is yours to find but I must implore ye not to become part of the rat race, the sheep… the lemmings. This path often leads to more regrets and less enlightenment as it has the intention of crushing your dreams and silencing your hopes. The world is a big place and many folks can do many things as they wish, but, unfortunately many follow the path of those before them and until they are at the precipice of disappointment they fail to see the danger of a butting down, mundane, by the numbers office life. To make money is important of course, it helps us survive and at times bring happiness into our dreary existence, but the more poignant and powerful need is to find ones true path, a path that none have taken before, to explore your past, present and future to find total consciousness and be fulfilled but life instead of feeling used and tossed aside like so much garbage or cattle. I implore ye to explore these other passages before putting your head down and butting it against the wall time and time again.” 

Mr. Noon was starting to feel much like a baby again. Confused, lost, like a sheep amongst the herd. His suit was not tailored, his cold cuts now oddly warm from the intensity of the High Noon sun striking his brown paper lunch sack. What was he to do with his time? Make money - surely that was a good thing and good business is a standard approach to life. 

“No!” barked Dognifico. “Listen to your heart, your calling, your destiny. Go fulfill that.” 

Mr. Noon, with his sunglasses on and baggy suit looked up at the sun one more time. That’s when it struck him. All these years of being a Baby Noon he always had one dream, a dream to make all the mornings of Baby Noons so much better, and more leisurely than he had as a Baby Noon. Off in the distance, the Rice Krispy factory churned. 

“I know what needs to be done, and with this simple recipe I’ll make my adult money as well as fulfill my destiny to bring happiness to Baby Noons all over the world!..

…I know how to fix these Krispies for good,” Mr. Noon whispered to himself. 

“Yes!” Dognifico barked once more. “Off ye go!” 

Mr. Noon set off - with the secret formula in his pocket. How to ensure Rice Krispies never went soggy, and how they would Snap, Crackle, and Pop for eternity. 

As Mr. Noon headed to the factory with purpose and a plan. Dognifico had a broad satisfied smile on his face watching his student become the teacher and said to himself…

“…I knew I would get someone to fix my Krispies.”

Then, Dognifico’s form changed from one to three. Snap, Crackle and Pop nodded their heads in silence and joyful agreement and returned to their resting place on the front of the box.

The End.

Sincerely,

Josh Day & Wu Wei Joker