52 Days

(Look Out Drew Barrymore and Adam Sandler!)

It was bound to happen. Hollywood, finding the twin sirens of remake and boxoffice superhero star power irresistable, came knocking recently at PE's door. Imagine: the premise of the film "52 Dates" reworked as "52 Days", the story of two retired superheroes finding love, only to lose it every night because of the effects of too many assaults by the memory numbing gamma rays of evil genius and arch enemy Dr Lodgea Dementia. PE was immediately dismissive of the idea. After all, he and his current amour, Birdwoman, were separated(by planetary dimension and intent). But the more he pondered the proposition, the more PE progressed toward positivity by the prospect of being united with Birdwoman. Of course, there was the usual stumblingblock to true love--family rivalries. But since PE lives in Alterno World that was nothing to stop him, and he immediately shuffled into action.

First, he contacted the film agent and negotiated a contract that included TV syndication rights and a lifetime supply of Blue Bell ice cream and toothpicks. Next, he boarded a nonstop bus to Birdwoman's nest. (In the heights of his prowess as a superhero he would have flown. But now in the post 911 Alterno World, he had problems passing airport security checkpoints. Security would not allow his superhero utility belt on board. And he had found even his anti villain pheromone spray that lulled victims into perceiving him as a harmless, cute little old man ineffective.)

At one minute PE was seated on the bus, humming a Glen Miller tune and blowing his nose(yes, superheroes can hum and blow at the same time) when the unimaginable happened.... he found himself waking from a nap in his oversized chair in his comfortably appointed bachelor pad, the end credits to "Elephant Walk" rolling on his TV screen. It had all been a dream....or had it? (to be continued)