Here it is, for your and everyone's -- outside of this house -- reading pleasure.

The complete story, from my little mystery to deltron_zero's thriller, from wild_karrde's science fiction to JediSenoj451's horror piece, from jediguy's surrealism to Silmarillion's action adventure, from Missninfan's detective to Dark_Lord_Erik's fantasy, from Bithysith's comedy sketch to Jjanda_Solo crime flick, from Jedi_Speewwy's cliffhanger to BISMARCK's notorious absence: the whole freaking thing.

Unedited. Unabridged. Unaltered. (Except for my spectacular technicolor visuals, of course, but what the hell).

The Action Adventures Of Awesome April [Deluxe Edition]

Dedicated to BISMARCK

1. Debo

When he first attracted my attention, I can't remember. But I do know that he fascinated me for about two-and-a-half years after that day. Every time I passed him by, I felt it: something was the matter with this man. For every other person he was just a bum, a shadow in an alley. He had two suitcases; one was always open, day and night.

[image=http://images.google.com/images?q=tbn:IWvFRNN3oQIC:www.wan-wan.net/breed/mydogsp/img/dfls04.jpg]

"Books" The Dog

In the case I could spot some books. These books... They became an obsession to me. What was in them? They were special books; they couldn't be just ordinary books. I saw it, I felt it. The other suitcase was always closed and sealed. How I grew to hate that suitcase!

[image=http://www.fine-art.demon.co.uk/Picnic/LeatherCase/Pictures/LeatherCase02al.jpg]

The actual sealed suitcase [2 pm]

And at night time, he got his violin out to play. I always stood to listen, sometimes for hours, until he suddenly stopped and packed the instrument in again.

[image=http://www.alumni.uchicago.edu/magazine/0108/images/artfr_violin.jpg]

Oh when the Saints... Oh when the Saints...

No one seemed to notice him. No matter how long I waited, I never saw anyone approach him or even look at him. People passed him by as if he was a ghost; his hat, which was turned upside down in front of him, never had any coins in it. But at night he would take out his violin again and play.

[image=http://images.google.com/images?q=tbn:FTvB9wPdS_kC:www.smithsonianlegacies.si.edu/photos/125.jpg]

Busker's hat (and leather jacket)

2. deltron-zero

My fascination with him grew, and yet I never tried to speak to him. It wasn't that I thought he wouldn't respond, or even that I was afraid of how he would respond. Rather, words just didn't seem to fit our meetings. It was as if his corner of the world existed outside of time, outside of language.

[image=http://images.google.com/images?q=tbn:vCEHu3FzJNAC:www.enviropeel.com/orMULTI%2520CORNER%2520WORLD.gif]

The only corner of the world that exists out of time (not counting the village I live in)

Still, I wondered about those books, and the mysterious contents of the closed suitcase began to wear on my mind. I found myself thinking of him at odd moments... in the shower, at work, even at dinner with friends, until finally he was all I could think about. I would lay awake at night, the melody of his violin playing over and over in my thoughts, and the stress of not sleeping was beginning to take it's toll on my body and mind.

[image=http://www.fleet-feet.com/wandering_star/pics/showerman.jpg]

Thinking of him in the shower...

Sometimes I would stop and stare at him, even though it was broad daylight and his violin was safely tucked away, I would just stare. And, as if I had somehow slipped into his reality, no one seemed to notice me. Certainly not him, and not the countless busy souls that passed me on the street.

[image=http://images.google.com/images?q=tbn:9-t9aG9a7aAC:www.metalfrogs.com/violin.jpg]

The violin player in his own reality

Until one day. One day as I stood there staring, ever so slowly, he looked up at me. It seemed like he had been waiting for this moment all along. All the days and nights, the

 

Okay, we rule, and our story rules. And Debo, for putting it all together and adding the wonderful and hilarious pictures, you are the best. It's awesome! I love it. And the dedication to BISMARK is great too. Good job Debo.

EDIT: And I vote "pulitzer."

 

Cheers, Jjanda!

 

excellent work Debo!

so when do we sell the rights and become rich and famous?

 

I just sold them. It was a superior negotiation from yours truly: I made them pay two bucks instead of one.

 

I suppose from the point of view that you doubled their offer, that's good. On the other hand, if you can't drive a harder bargain than that... let me bargain next time.

 

nice! that's two bucks per word right?

 

Oh, per word? Yes, that's beautiful. Sorry I ever doubted you.

 

EDIT: Never mind, that wasn't funny.

But I autographed some copies to make them worth a dime more.

 

This is great! I love the epilogue... I tell you, I haven't continuously giggled like this for quite a while.

 

Thanks.

I just Googled my way through it, actually.