We set sails early in the morning, only ten of us on the ship, like the five fingers of two hands. There is so much possibility in two hands. They are the appendages we use for hard work, but also to create. Having two hands changes everything. There is great responsibility in how we use these tools and I had complete trust in my so-called ten-digit and wide-eyed crew. We were hungry for knowledge.

We were sent to explore the Land of Squeezo and dropped anchor at its south-eastern shore, at Wing Nut, just a short distance from Handle. It is said that the people of Wing Nut and Handle have a great willingness to take matters into their own hands and turn things around with ease, because they work together well. We found this to be accurate. Truly a people to emulate. We had strict orders to explore further, however, so we continued on foot and arrived at Housing.

Housing is the stronghold. It was settled first, in a place called Counter Edge, and before too long Handle, Wing Nut and all the surrounding counties took on a character of their own. Yet each has an enduring connection to Housing. This, truly, is an example of synergistic governance and I took note of this in our log book.

As time went by, we grew hungry and it was our good fortune to arrive next at Hopper. This land is fertile and most of its residents grow their own produce and live a life at once rich and frugal. Several times a year, they share their harvest. Residents from neighboring settlements arrive in great numbers bearing squash, apples, pumpkins, grapes and tomatoes. The residents of Plunger made a particular impression upon us, every one of them standing tall and strong and proud, but never arrogant. They radiate a sort of inherent joy, one they attribute to a combination of love of labor and the rich nourishment they so carefully draw from the land.

“From this point forward, in the Land of Squeezo, you will find the products we make from our harvest in every county and every town Inn,” explained the mayor of Hopper. “We’ve already sent our horseback-messenger to notify the Innkeepers to set a place for each of you at their tables. You will love the preserves at Berry Screen Inn. Standard Screen Inn is renowned for their applesauce ring and tomato sauce and Pumpkin Screen Inn has the best squash breads in the entire region.”

The reassurance of a plentiful table was indeed a fortunate notion since the next part of our journey demanded a wee bit more stamina than up until this point, due to the terrain. The king’s cartographer had mapped the course and insisted we take the trail along the edges of the Drain Tray falls and Scroll Rapids, just a short distance from Drive Shaft, a place that is famous for its engineering accomplishments. He said that the waters that flow there were like none other in the world, displaying a rainbow of colors worthy of a great master’s canvas. “And the aroma!” he had exclaimed, “The sweet aroma!”

It is while crossing the Scroll Rapids that we encountered the people of Bushing and Gasket, from Screen County. They are also known as “the moderators.” They ensure an easy flow of commerce between the merchants of Hopper and the rest of the known world. They believe in a tight, yet fluent and flexible system so that all may share in the bounty of the land equally and peacefully. “We are not gate keepers,” they explained, “Rather, we are guides.” Their great wisdom was matched with obvious kindness.

Thus we completed our journey and with great regrets, yet feeling immensely enriched, we traced back our steps, recovered our vessel and returned home to share what we had learned with our own people. The Land of Squeezo is our model now and our children and grand-children know it as we do.

~ Captain Marshall Ferrule Spring of Harveston – Excerpt from chapter 7 of his journal titled, “Taste of Plenty and Other Great Journeys.”