It Boggles the Mind...

Madcap, ambidextrous, silly, naked, versatile, and of course... curious! Who could resist the whimsical charms of that naughty little monkey, Curious George? Oh what fun we had as children following his harrowing adventures to their loving conclusion featuring the unconditional love and forgiveness of the Man with the Yellow Hat. Funny how George was never told his name. Certainly he didn't call the Man with the Yellow Hat (who we'll call "Mellohat") by his full fake-name! He must have employed some kind of handle when he spoke to him. Like after marriage, when your spouse's actual name becomes less and less used... replaced intead by handles, nicknames, and shortcuts... such as: "Honey," "Hon," "Hey you," and a low gutteral sound I don't know how to spell. So I'm thinking: Perhaps George developed a handle for Mellohat? Of course if you notice, George never speaks (only shrieks) in the books, so maybe a name wasn't necessary. Well I've got this doorstop called, The Complete Adventures of Curious George, and my daughter's been wanting a story from it every night. Boy, does it bring back memories! Say, why do we arbritarily say "Boy, Man, Girl-FRIEND..." as an expression? Why not "Monkey, Celery Stick, or Paint Can" for that matter? But I digress. Ah yes, memories... Reading Curious George brings back memories. What a delightful series! But one thing troubled me tonight as I read, Curious George Flies a Kite. It was this: George is blustering about high in the air, the victim of his own darn curiousity and a runaway kite. The stakes are high, and there is no way out. When suddenly, in swoops Mellohat piloting a helicopter - all by himself! After much derry-doo, George is hoisted aboard via a line from the chopper, and all is well as George adopts a bunny in the final scenes. But I ask this: George is flying fast through the skies, so the boy who was with him bikes back across town to tell Mellohat, who, on THE VERY NEXT PAGE is rescuing George in the copter! HOW, I ask? Forget that there has been absolutely no foreshadowing whatsoever that Mellohat even had such skills, but it is impossible for him to have the time to get to his local airstrip, gas up his helicopter, be cleared for takeoff, get up safely in that headwind, AND find George before he leaves the time zone! I am sorry H.A. Rey, but THAT I cannot believe!