My dearest comrade in time travel,
Have I never told you the tales of the time-traveling Professor Doctor Penelope Tibeaux-Tinker Toothsome and her trusted robot best friend Jaques? It all began long long ago when Penelope and Jacques were exploring the world and time in their balloon airship, the Squeezebox. After an extended time travel adventure, they returned to her parents’ cottage in London to share their experiences and experiments with chocolate. Penelope was elated for her homecoming and as she bounded up the cobblestone path to her childhood abode, she was filled with memories of the first time she tried chocolate and an electronic jazzy tune played in her heart.
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Everything changed when she entered the Toothsome home and found it empty. The needle skipped off of the phonograph, indeed. All that remained in the cottage was her father's old Victrola and a note from her parents on the kitchen floor. The message was simple, stating – “We have set out to join you in your adventures. Surely the world isn’t so big and time isn't so vast that we can’t find you. We shall look for you wherever and whenever chocolate can be found.”
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With that, Penelope knew what she had to do. She would take everything she had learned and create fully-industrialized, state-of-the-art chocolate emporiums. Until she was reunited with Thomas Tinker and Violette, she would share her love and knowledge of chocolate with the world.
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She grabbed the Victrola and rushed back to her airship where her pilot Jaques was ready to whisk them to their next adventure. Jaques quickly lifted them off into the air and they were off to chase their destiny and find the perfect locations for the foremost chocolate emporiums.
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Her mission to share her passion and love was grounded in the hope that one day her parents would find her. Penelope and Jaques knew that there were chocolate discoveries that remained to be uncovered and they were determined to find them all. And that is the story of Professor Doctor Penelope Tibeaux-Tinker Toothsome, or so I've been told.
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I had a theory that my oldest nephew, also named Thomas, was Penelope's father. Given time travel and what not, it was certainly feasible. However, Penelope herself told me that her father was Thomas Tinker and not Thomas Antonio. An adventurer can dream, can't she?
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One of the most wonderful aspects of this story that I have yet to relate to you is that legend has it that Penelope has hidden one of her seven treasures nearby for safe keeping. Her travels are vast in both distance and time. Other than her two emporiums and Jaques, the constants that remain are her seven hidden treasures. Each treasure was hidden an eternity ago and have survived centuries, containing trinkets, baubles, musings, novelties, and rarities that Penelope and Jaques have acquired during their voyages of distance and time. When you find her treasure you may take and add to the bounty as you wish. Best of luck on your adventure. Some have said the most appropriate TOTT when you get to GZ is a handy dandy trusty crowbar. That may be the case but it's certainly not necessary to get your smiley. Perhaps you'll make your find on a day that the Squeezebox makes its return to the hidden treasure with the storied heroes of adventure, confection, and temporality. Many congratulations to giacacher, jtcoffee, and NYWanderer for FTF honors.
Yours in solidarity in the quest,
Professor Sperry Lamplighter
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