A Dangerous Liaison: Or how friends stick together

Indigo and Lance were friends sitting on top of Miss Bella’s desk. There were many writing tools inside the full cup. It did not matter that there were other pens, pencils and markers there, Indigo Pen and Lance Pencil were best friends. They also had a friend named Smokey Charcoal who came by at least once a week. Miss Bella worked from home and she did a lot of her writing from her desk. She wrote a lot of letters, sketched and designed many greeting cards. So, there was always a lot of work for our little fellows to do in a busy day.

There was a higher echelon of markers, paints and charcoals that were kept neatly in a drawer reserved for special projects. Well, because Miss Bella enjoyed her work very much, she would often play happy, upbeat music. So on very busy assignments, with deadlines to be met, you can be sure, Smokey Charcoal would be there! When the markers, paintbrushes and crayons came out to dance, everyone had fun.

It was during one of these very festive, mixed media parties, that Indigo met Felice Fuchsia. She was a very stunning highlighter who was recently employed for this greeting card project. Indigo was sure that with Felice in the project, the artwork would be absolutely beautiful!

“Aha!! Our friend is truly smitten!” joked Smokey Charcoal.

Lance Pencil just looked up from his scribbling. “Yes, I guess you’re right.” He answered quietly. He was worried because any time Indigo did loops around a new girl, he ended up getting his feelings hurt. Indigo truly was a hopeless romantic! This was partly true because he was the pen most used when writing poetry and love stories. The concern Lance had was because of the pattern: some markers were snobs toward the regular desk-top guys.

“Oh come on, now Lance, he’s not going to do anything foolish, he’s just having fun.” Smokey also knew, but tried to lighten up the mood.

Although both friends were a bit worried, they continued with the party especially with those fun loving, flirty crayons!

“Lance, Smokey, I’d like you to meet Felice, she is new to the office.” Indigo Pen beamed as he did the introductions. Upon meeting her, the friends knew their fears were dispelled.

She was unlike the other fabulous felt tip females. There was something about this highlighter that they could see right away, she was open and honest. There was hope for Indigo!

Things went well for a couple of weeks that spring. The project took longer than anyone expected. This was good, because it gave Indigo more time to get to know Felice a little better. She was not at all like the other markers who had snubbed him in the past. Smokey, Lance and Indigo were working overtime in this project and it suited them just fine. It gave them more opportunity to work together.

With the project completed, it was time for Smokey to leave again. Felice was also going away for a short time, at least until the next project. Surprisingly, Indigo was not heartbroken because he knew he would see his beloved Felice again. He was right, they saw a lot of each other with each new project. Indigo Pen’s love life was going smoothly, Lance and Smokey no longer worried about him.

Smokey Charcoal had never had any trouble with the females because he was very secure about himself. Smokey generally did not get blown away by flashy, colorful markers or pens. He liked the soft, muted palettes of charcoals and leads. They were cool, calm and down-to-earth. It was easy to understand why Smokey was very happy with Gail Graphite. He had always gotten along well with her family, so it was a natural union. They saw a lot each other the following winter. There were a lot of etchings and landscape designs to work through together.

Lance Pencil was different, he was more restless in his love life. He really did not like serious relationships. He was a lone wolf in that respect, and he always thought he was happy.

He enjoyed the company of the many diverse females in the crayon and coloring pencils carousel. They enjoyed having him around. They were not pretentious; they were out for fun also.

So it took everyone in the office by surprise the following spring, when Lance fell for a real fem fatal! It turns out, Sylvia was a new member to the office: a brand new shiny, electric pencil sharpener! Smokey and Indigo knew, without a doubt, that this would be a very big mistake. They were well aware that their friend was in real danger! But would he listen to their advice? Lance was stubborn, so he might not listen.

“C’mon Lance! You have to know the danger in this arrangement.” Smokey pleaded.

“Lance, she will just chew you up and spit you out and not even look back!” Indigo was very serious.

“This was fine for them to say, because they were already in loving relationships.” Lance muttered to himself.

Lance was stubborn and deep down, yes, he would admit if only to himself: he was lonely. Some of the regular and colorful pencils tried to talk sense into him. They knew the real danger.

“Yes, it’s alright to have a working relationship with a smaller hand-held sharpener.” Dixon Lead, one of the older pencils, tried to explain.

“Normally, we work well together, but to fall in love? No, it would never work! “

It was especially dangerous with an electric sharpener. There was no telling how her moods would be. They all believed it was a suicide mission their friend Lance was considering. No one could be that lonely!

Throughout that spring everyone worked in harmony. There were not too many pressing projects and the pace was less hectic. Lance was trying to keep his head right. He knew all his friends were trying to spare him of heart-ache. He knew it was in his best interests to keep his distance from Sylvia Sharpener.

Suddenly, there was a commotion throughout the office! Dixon’s brother, Dan Lead was in an accident, involving the shiny new sharpener. Her ability to grind pencils into shavings was just too severe. Something went wrong with the settings on the mechanism. There was nothing to be salvaged of the pencil. There was a solemn silence in the office. Things were a little strange. Rumor spread that Sylvia Sharpener had been stored away in a box in the attic. Was she sent away to the repair shop? Did she end up in the trash bin? No one knew which rumor was true, but no one ever saw her again. They did not miss her at all. In time, Lance Pencil forgot his obsession. He realized just how foolish he had been.

Summer came and with it came the hustle and bustle of holiday greeting card deadlines.The paint brushes, crayons and markers all came out for the holiday mixer. Indigo was very happy to work with Felice again. Smokey and Gail were very busy making beautiful landscapes together. The last few months may have brought a change in Lance. He may have matured enough to realize that life is short and he should get a little more serious about things. It was quite possible, but for now, there was a brand new box of colorful pastel pencils waiting just at the other side of the desk.