Ask The Snoot

by Georges & Salome (feat. the Snoot)

(A little boy walks into a cosy room painted in a warm and soft shade of orange. An old elegant woman sits humming in her rocking chair. )

Georges : Hey Granny, old professor Elias gave us an odd assignment today.

Salome : And what is this odd assignment Georges?

Georges : Well, he gave us a few words and told us that we could expand upon it in any imaginative direction we chose.

Salome : Oh! That seems a pretty interesting game my little one. And what were these few words? Do you remember them?

Georges : Granny..? You have this odd look again… your eyes are all sparkling.

Salome : Hahaha, and you are doing this wondering look of yours my dear. I’m just recalling a few mischiefs I was doing with your professor when we were young. So, tell me what are these few words?

Georges : Hum, something about communication and change… wait! Yes, he told us this: “communication is the foundation of change”. Does that mean that if I communicate with you, you will change?

Salome : (chuckles) and to what would I change?

Georges : Well, I don’t know, you tell me.

Salome : Very well. Let’s do a little exercise. Close your eyes a moment and tell me what is happening.

Georges : Well, it’s dark. Not totally but it’s dark. What’s supposed to happen?

Salome : Just notice for now, don’t think about what is supposed to happen, that’s the surprise.

Georges : I see colors, and a dwarf. He really has a weird hairy face, hahaha. And his nose, it’s big. He’s smirking at me.

Salome (grinning) : And what do you think it means?

Georges : Well I don’t know… He’s small… like me? no I’m bigger, he’s a dwarf.

Salome : Hahahahaha. The dwarf is merely an aspect of you, he’s not smaller and you’re not bigger. You brought him to your attention as a reminder of being playful and of the unfamiliar. He’s odd enough to catch your attention.

Georges : Ahhh!

Salome : Is he still here? Let’s take a closer look.

Georges : Oh! You’re here with us now, there is this feeling of you in me. It is cool! And you’re smiling. Granny I love you?!

Salome : I love you too my Georges. He’s doing something now. Can you tell me what?

Georges : Mmm, I can only see his back. I can’t see what he’s doing.

Salome : Just feel/fill your body in your imagination as you do with your physical body.

Georges : Ouch! You pinched me!

Salome : Hahaha just to help you feel it better and focus your attention, this is like a dream, and it is real as you could feel.

Georges : I can see my shoes also! Did mom bring me these? Ouch! Why are you pinching me again… Oh the dwarf just looked at us, he’s giggling. His eyes are big and dark, they are like doors, and I can see what he was doing in his eyes, it is replaying like a movie… Did he really speak to the blue butterfly? I feel like I’m attracted, hold my hand granny I don’t want to leave you there alone.

Salome : Are we jumping together then?

Georges : Hahaha. You can jump?

Salome : Of course, and I bet you I can jump farther than you. And don’t look so doubtful! Just do it and see for yourself.

Georges : hahaha… OK, let’s go then, but be careful not to crush this flower with nine petals. It’s too beautiful.

Salome (with sparkles in her eyes) : Oh! You see it then, good. But trust me, the flower would be safe with you in its center. At the count of three?

Georges : Three?!!! Hahahahahaha

(He jumps, followed by his granny)

Georges : Where are we Granny? It feels really soft and warm here. And what are all those funny trees with the red fruit? They seem juicy and slightly acid… There is an animal there, Granny look! It’s eating the fruit.

Salome : I’m impressed that you brought us here. Let’s say hello to the Master of the place dear, he may offer you a few treasures.

Georges : Treasures!? As in pirates’ treasures? What’s his name?

Salome : You’ll know it soon enough (smile) Let’s come closer.

Georges : He’s funny with his snout… It’s vibrating quickly when he eats the fruit as if they were too acid… Oh! I feel it in my body, it’s fresh and electric, that’s one of his names. He’s the Snoot! Hahaha. Do you think he can see us, he doesn’t seem to be bothered by our presence. And he doesn’t seem blind. Granny, what is he doing with the fruit? It’s like he’s considering them before taking one and eating them…

Salome : Why don’t you look for yourself?

Georges : I can? He won’t mind?

Salome : Hahaha, would you mind?

Georges : Well there are plenty of them… and there are many of these mossy trees… I wouldn’t mind.

Salome : Eggzactly, haha.

Georges : I’ll pick this one, it looks like an owl with these two globulous limps. OOh…

Salome : What happened? Did it hurt?

Georges : No. It’s crispy under my fingers, but it’s damp also… it’s like a million grains of sand vibrating and changing place… brrr… hahaha it’s tickling when I grasp it fully. It’s like it wants to jump out of my hand. Are you a grumpy fruit? Oh! Look at it… it’s like it’s frowning at me. Do you think it understands me?

Salome : At least it’s responding to you. What else is it doing?

Georges : I feel a bit drowsy with the vibration, it’s like a lullaby. Maybe it wants to tell me a secret!?
And what is this crack in its back?
Oh sh… ooops… sorry!…
well it’s all open now, and it stopped vibrating… did I hurt you?

Salome : Is that something inside the fruit? There…

Georges : Oh! Are they fortune cookies? There is a piece of paper in it, and the juice is forming words!

“Dear Snoot,

I hope you can help me.

My boyfriend has proposed to me and I said yes, 
but now I am having some niggly doubts.

I love him very much and and as long as he gets 
a job soon I would like to spend the rest of my life 
with him. The only problem is I don’t know if I really 
trust him. I suspect he is cheating on me and to be
honest I am not even sure if the baby I am carrying 
is his.

Yes I know that sounds awful. I confronted him and 
he got quite angry. He vehemently denied he had been 
cheating on me, and swore he would never do it again.

Well the other thing is I think he may have a drinking 
problem. Funny thing is that I did not know he drank 
until one night recently he came home sober. That was 
few weeks ago now, but I am worried it might happen 
again.

What do you think Snoot? Do you think I am just 
being silly?

Sincerely

Pregnant and Confused”

Georges : Oh! Granny, the Snoot took my fruit and he’s eating it.

Salome : Are you taking on the mood of that grumpy fruit? (she winks to him)

Georges : grmpf… hahaha, yes. At least we know he knows we’re here. (to the Snoot) Hi. I’m Georges.

The Snoot (Staring at Georges)

Georges : He says hello, Granny. He offers you his warm welcome and… (to the Snoot) what did you say? He’s happy to meet you again. You know him?

Salome : I know you my dear. And you seem to be quite in touch with this aspect of yours. Did you notice how you know what he “says”?

Georges : What do you mean?

Salome : Well, did you actually hear him? Did he move his mouth? Did he speak?

Georges : But… you’re right. I just… know… he says it’s because we are connected. I see him moving his snout too. And it’s like I feel him coming in myself and when I speak… I’m going into him. Well not exactly, but… AHHH! Help me, I’m the Snoot!!

Salome : Focus on this feeling of you, this feeling of you being you, and you’ll find yourself again.

Georges : Wow, that’s awesome! It was like I was him and he was me and I knew what he has done and… Look Granny! Oh no don’t look, what is he doing!?

Salome : He’s answering this “poor girl”, she must be quite distressed with all that she created in her life.

Georges : But he’s just dropping a big pooh!

Salome : It’s the most beautiful creation. (she giggles)

Georges : Huh? Well, I think we’ll let him answer his fruit-mails. He told me about a cave there after the stream and the ruins… well I saw it in his memories… or maybe it was his imagination…
I can’t tell the difference… well I want to go there.

Salome : So let’s go to the cave then, maybe you’ll find another treasure.

Georges : Yes, it was all shiny and blazing all over… like crystal lamps blinking in and out…

Salome : Why did you stop?

Georges : Look Granny, there’s a boy over there, near the stream. Hey! What are you doing here? Are you lost?

The Boy : I don’t know. I’m trying to see the giant squid. I saw its shadow several times already, and I tried to catch it, but it’s swift and good at camouflaging itself.

(The boy keep on speaking about the squid and doesn’t pay attention to our friends)

Georges : He was weird. As if he wasn’t really here with us. I had that strange feeling in my belly, I didn’t like it. It was not really fun.

Salome : Just take a look at those two butterflies there. See how they are playing together, sometimes they are going in different directions and then their paths are crossing again.

Georges : I think I prefer the rabbit. I’ll try to catch it.

Salome : Don’t run too fast sweetie, I can’t follow with my petticoat.

(Still following the stream and the rabbit, after a few encounters in the forest with a smoking dragon named Naasir who told them the weird dreams he’d been having, an even weirder animal called the vautruche which can blink quickly like the giant squid and a man called Joseph who could speak with wolves, they arrive at a clearing.)

Georges : Do you think we’ll arrive at this bridge soon?

Salome : I’m sure of it. Joseph told us it was not so far from the clearing, and we’re at the clearing now. We can have some rest if you’d like, I’m going to pick up some of these beautiful flowers for the archeologist.

Georges : But we’re going to lose the rabbit!

Salome : Hahahahaha. Don’t worry about the rabbit. He’ll always find you when you call him. You help me gather a bouquet? Pick as many colors you can, we’ll make a beautifully bright colored one.

Georges : Mmmm, the archeologist, wouldn’t he prefer stones?

Salome : And why do you think it’s a he?

Georges : I don’t know, isn’t he a he?

Salome (grinning) : That, you’ll have to decide for yourself!

(Soon after the bridge, at the cave entrance, they meet the archeologist (who is still a woman) and is busy sorting some of her finds of the week. Georges asks her about all these stones and their origin —some are like gems but he’s more interested in a bird-shaped one. The archaeologist explains that each stone contains knowledge and that, if he pays attention, he can get answers from them because he’s very connected to their structure… Huh!? oh sure!
His attention is then diverted by a phurtive little spider who just sprang from a hole and who seems happy to be here gloating all around. He tries to catch her but she’s quick and soon disappears in the grass outside. Eventually, the archaeologist asks the boy to pick a stone; he chooses the owl, and he and his grand-mother leave the archeologist to her tasks.)

Georges : Well I feel bored with all that. It seems to take longer than I thought and I don’t get much for my assignment —?except this weird stone.

Salome (intently): And haven’t you yet figured it out? All about this little adventure?

Georges (something starts to dawn on the young face) : Oh… I see… These are all symbols! The butterflies, the Snoot’s poohs, and the archeologist’s stones…

Salome (smiling): Yes, continue

Georges : They express the same thing: change!

Salome (still smiling): Yes! And…

Georges : and… err… I still don’t see why there is communication… OK, the butterflies they communicate, but why the stone… and why the pooh?!

Salome : My Georgie, the pooh is to remind you that the answer is not what you value. What you value is the treasure-hunt! The seeking, the adventurous journey!
Though contained in it, change is not this or that final product that you’re looking at.
The change is within you, it grows and expands when you interact with the symbol and it communicates its changes to you and reveals own your desire for change.
It communicates the change, from itself back to yourself.
Do you see?

Georges : Oh, I see…

(a few seconds pass in silence)

Can I have some of these chocolate cookies now?