Peter Pretzel

By Mary Mills

Copyright 1970

This is one imaginative short story!  I can picture the author, tired and worn, asked by a small child for a bedtime story.  I think the strange tale of Peter Pretzel could only come from a mind foggy from lack of sleep and from desperation to entertain a little one.  

Peter Pretzel, along with his good friend and fashion accessory Boliver Bow Tie, escape from the pretzel box into the wild outdoors.  The goal is to reach Pretzel Land, where they will be safe.  Fortunately, they are not on their own.  They are aided by a few friendly creatures and an unseen chorus of advisors who send help in verse.  

  

“Peter Pretzel and Boliver, too,

We will tell you what to do:

Stay away from the falling rain –

Water will shrink you and bring you pain.”

Unfortunately, they also meet some obstacles along the way.  Mean old Chauncey Cat licks Peter nearly bare of his salt freckles, causing Peter much discomfort, for his salt freckles are his source of pep and energy.  How can Peter escape Chauncey’s tongue and reach the freedom of Pretzel Land?  A brilliant idea comes to him.  Reaching up, Peter pulls off two of his own freckles and throws them directly into Chauncey’s eyes.  The cat shrieks in pain, drops Peter, and runs off to rinse his eyes in water.  Melvin Mole then guides the two friends through the final tunnel into Pretzel Land, with Boliver Bow Tie pulling poor, weak Peter behind him. 

Hooray for Peter!  He has reached his destination and can be revived in the wonderful Fountain of Salt. 

There is a lesson to be found in this crazy little tale.  Peter had much help along the way, from kind friends and from the unseen voices he heard, yet he could not rely completely upon them.  At times, he had to take matters into his own salty hands and use his little pretzel brain to find a way around obstacles.  In the end, he is rewarded with a final home in the paradise of Pretzel Land.  

The voice in his soul, the kindness of others, his own hard work – all leading him through danger and obstacles to his final reward.