In a curious little nook of the world, where the sunbeams danced and the shadows played, a question flitted through the air like a butterfly: “Is that a paper plane? Is that a pencil? Is it an eraser, perhaps?” But lo! A voice rang out, clear and bright, “Nay, my friends. That’s Elementary Man!”
In the nearby village, the wind blew flower petals and flagrance all around. It was a bright sunny day. It was the birthday of Pimmy, a friend of Elementary Man. She should have been celebrating. But she sat in his room, biting her nails.
Then suddenly, there was a knock at the door. It was Elementary Man. He wore a smile that could light up the room.
“Happy Birthday, Pimmy!” he cheered. “Let’s solve the mystery of what makes you great!”
Pimmy frowned. “But I don’t want to solve anything. I feel funny.”
The Worrying Storm
Elementary Man scratched his head. “Funny? Like a clown or a joke?”
Pimmy sighed. “More like a storm in my tummy. What if I’m sick?”
Elementary Man grinned. “Then let’s check! I have a magnifying glass and a rubber chicken. We can find the truth!”
Pimmy giggled. “A rubber chicken? Really?”
“Of course! It’s very scientific!” Elementary Man winked.
The Great Investigation
Firstly, they went to the kitchen. Elementary Man pulled out the rubber chicken. “Cluck, cluck! What do you say, chicken? Is Pimmy sick?”
The chicken made a silly noise. Pimmy laughed. “I think it says I’m fine!”
Elementary Man nodded. “See? Laughter is the best medicine! But we need to be sure there is no illness-causing mess at home.”
Then they searched the house with the magnifying glass and arrested any mess they found, putting it into a big bag. They looked under the couch, behind the curtains, and even in the cookie jar!
The Decision Dilemma
Finally, they sat on the porch. The atmosphere of worry had disappeared. But only for a short time.
Then Pimmy looked worried again. “What if I really am sick? What if I need help?”
Elementary Man smiled kindly. “Sometimes, we think too much. It’s called paralysis by analysis when we can’t take even the smallest simplest action without expending a ton of thought! But you can take a baby step instead of continuing to think a lot. It’s better and braver!”
Pimmy thought for a moment. “You’re right! I’ll go to the hospital with you!”
Elementary Man clapped his hands. “That’s the spirit! Let’s go!”
As they reached the hospital, Pimmy said, “That was very thoughtful, man!”
Elementary Man chuckled. “Nay, my friend. That’s Elementary Man!”
Moral: When we overthink, we can’t act. In such a case, it’s better to make a choice than to stay stuck in worry. Whether you are a worrier or a friend of a worrier, please reach out to your caring ones who will be with you as you take action.
If you enjoyed this post, then you might like a short story from our collection!
That’s Elementary Man! Episode 13 – The Flummoxed Failed Fencer
