Quest of the Tickle Trunk
(May 26, 2003)

Ham kindly reminded me that it had been awhile since I had filed a report.  I thought about possible story ideas for about a week but came up blank.  It wasn't until my friend Daisy told me about the rumour of the Tickle Trunk at the CBC building in Toronto that I had my story - to see the Tickle Trunk in person.

The Tickle Trunk was Mr. Dressup's most cherished material object on the show.   Inside the Tickle Trunk was a array of costumes more outrageous and more reprehensive of Canadian Pop Culture than - well than anything.

My quest began at the entrance of the CBC.  I walked in, with microphone in hand, and acted like I knew exactly where I was going.  In reality, I had no idea.   Before I could get into the foyer, I was stopped by a security guard.

"Can I help you with something Miss?"  I turned on my charm and acted innocent.
"Yes, a friend told me that Mr. Dressup's Tickle Trunk was in the CBC building.   Is it here, Mr. Officer, or was my friend playing on my gullibility?"
"It' s in the museum portion of the building.  Go into the foyer and turn left."

I thanked the man and followed his directions to the CBC museum.  A security guard stood at the doorway.  I gave him one of my innocent smiles.  Inside the museum (in all reality it was one big room - maybe the size of a classroom) was a collection of Canadian Children's TV memorabilia.  The Friendly Giant's castle, one of the Fraggles, Fred Penner's tree stump and my holy grail for the day - Mr. Dressup's Tickle Trunk.   The Tickle Trunk was located at the back of the museum behind a Plexiglas wall about 4 feet by 6 feet.  I stood in awe of it.  The Tickle Trunk was open and costumes were arranged in the Plexiglas box as if it couldn't hold anymore magic and had exploded.

I decided seeing the Tickle Trunk was not enough - I wanted, no needed, to touch it in order to go on with life.  It was this warped sense of logic that let me justify my next set of actions.

I walked to the security guard standing in front of the museum.

"Excuse me, Mr. Officer?"
"Yes."
I looked down at my toes and twisted one of my feet back and forth.
"I was wondering if you could open up the Tickle Trunk display so that I could touch the Trunk."
I could sense the man was giving me a weird look (I was still looking at the ground).
"Please, Mr. Officer?"  I looked up at him with my best sob eyes.
"Sorry Miss, the objects in the museum are for display only.  That's why they are behind glass."

I wanted to correct the man and say the word "Plexiglas" but I thought better.  I pouted back into the museum to look at the Tickle Trunk one last time.   As I was basking in its glow, I noticed the Plexiglas wall guarding my holy grail was loose.  With sufficient force, the Plexiglas would cave in, letting me fulfil my quest.

I took ten steps back and walked towards the Tickle Trunk, gaining speed with every step.  Halfway there, I made myself stumble in order to "accidentally" run into the Plexiglas.  As the Plexiglas approached and my speed increased, I made certain to lower my shoulder into the Plexiglas in order to drive it loose.  I hit the Plexiglas as planned but something "bad" happened.

The Plexiglas was not as loose as I had thought.  In fact, it didn't budge at all.  My shoulder absorbed the entire force of my fake stumble/fall.  I bounced off the Plexiglas and hit the ground - hard.  The security guard heard the bang, came in, saw me on my back, shook his head in disappointment and called on his radio "Hank, it's Johnny, we've got yet, another 2-14 at the Tickle Trunk.  Send first aid up."

You must be prepared to take bruises in order to fulfill a quest.  My bruises consisted of a separated shoulder and slight concussion.

On a positive note, Casey and Finnegan's' tree house was situated between the washrooms and the first aid station.  One of the security guards was nice enough to take my picture for me.