Bryan King’s Blog/Podcast Site

    Every great sculptor is not without a tool man.  Enthro’s assistant, Proggy, is a white dwarf—tiny but massively heavy.  He elevates to no more than Enthro’s waist and is chubby as a piglet but his height doesn’t make him who he is.  His popularity comes from his out-of-the-ordinary pale skin which is all the rage in Laguna.  Families as black as their shoes have bought a range of whitening products in hopes of becoming no less than fair-skinned.  However, the locals do not appreciate Proggy because of their desire to have his skin.

    Their supplier of ivory, CreemWayt Co., had a customer who made a major yet trivial request—to build something grand out of eleven five-foot ivories.  Even their remaining factory sculptors were overwhelmed by such an order but the company could not jeopardize the momentous state of the company.  After a postliminary meeting, they concluded to give the job to Enthro.

    “It is not an easy task to please the Baron of Bais,” muttered Proggy.  “Definitely!” replied Enthro.  “We owe too much to the Baron.  He has a five hundred-hectare fishpond and a three hundred-hectare farmland brimming with greens.  He has ten highly-paid advisors, each with their own expertise.  But of all places and of all people, he asked us to make him eleven elegant masterpieces which I have yet to know what.  Nonetheless, we have to do our best.  The oversweet smell of cabbage is too irresistible yet the stench of the Pale Horse is unappealing.”

    They have been waiting for a glorious mail which has, at long last, arrived the next day.  The spirited Enthro immediately opened the letter and Proggy, after having read through it faster than Enthro, was taken aback.     “What?!” Proggy shouted.  “This is suicide!” “This must be some kind of mistake,” distressed Enthro.  “We can’t make something he likes that we do not know.  What does the Baron like?  Should we go out and ask in his town?” “No, we can’t!  He explicitly mentioned in his letter: not to call upon information from the townsfolk or anyone for the matter as this is to be kept a secret,” the saddened Proggy replied.

“Two weeks have passed since the letter.  The Baron is looking for the two sculptors who have been said to have stolen the Baron’s imperial statue,” Enthro jokingly said while reading the paper.  Proggy did not find it funny at all.  Two weeks have passed and there’s only a week to go before the soon-to-be impressed Baron visits them to see the eleven elegant masterpieces. “Enthro, I give up,” Proggy declared as he slammed his pen to the table.  “I’ve been scribbling down ideas for the past two weeks like you told me to yet you haven’t approved my ideas of ducks or swans.  And even if we do come up with something today or tomorrow, can we finish the sculptures by the end of the week?  Hey, why don’t you help me out here?” For a moment, Enthro stopped sipping his black coffee and said, “I’ve been reading the papers hoping to find anything about the Baron but nothing.” “We might as well give up.  Why don’t we move to Valencia?” resorted Proggy.  “It’s pretty cold up there and it’s such a huge place, the Baron won’t definitely find us.” “I’m sorry, my dear old friend, but I don’t run away from my responsibilities.  Besides, I think the Baron has agents all over Dumaguete.”     “Waaaah!” cried Proggy. “Why don’t we just make him a bowling set for Pete’s sake?  For our sake!”     “That’s it, Proggy!  You’re absolutely brilliant,” roared Enthro. “We will make a bowling set!  Ten pins and a black bowling ball just like the riddle in the letter.”     “There was a riddle in the letter?” Proggy amusingly asked.  “But could we finish all ten pins in time?”     “Completely!  All pins would be identical in shape and design but each of them would have numbers.  The bowling ball is very easy to make and even you could do it yourself, Proggy.”     “Really, Enthro?  I could do the ball on my own?”     “Definitely.  Let’s get started before time catches up to us.”

    The luscious shrimps, the envious veggies, and the color-blind dolphins—all in the province of Bais.  The miniature but highly patronized city attracts not only investors of large businesses in the country, but also the noble men and women of the world.  However, the Baron is to credit for Bais’ growth as his presence brings about such people.  But he is also known to be a hypocrite and a perfectionist—ruthless among his peasants and their flaws.  Ohukubes, his old maid, had seen the brutal deaths of the servants.  One servant, he remembered, had forgotten to put sugar in the master’s tea.  He was then hanged in the Yellow Garden where most of the Baron’s servants pass by.  It served as a reminder of his power.  But Ohukubes is spared such a fate for his undoubted loyalty to the Baron.     “Master, do you think the sculptors have solved your little puzzle?” said the aged Ohukubes.  “I doubt that they could pull off such a feat as I’ve heard from the spies that they have not even started making the sculptures two weeks after they got your letter.”     “In due time, I will find out for myself,” the Baron answered.  “They will make it else I will use their heads as sculptures.”

    The last week has passed and at exactly twelve noon, the Baron, along with five guards and Ohukubes, has arrived in Laguna to visit the famous ivory artist.      “Proggy!” shouted Enthro, who was already standing outside waiting for the arrival of the imperial force.  “Shine the ball and bring it out here.  The Baron is coming!”     “In a minute!  I’m almost done.”     Without a moment to think what to say, Enthro noticed the Baron and his men were in front of the store. “Mr. Enthro, nice to meet you,” the Baron commandingly said.     “It is always a pleasure to serve the Baron,” replied Enthro.     Ohukubes intruded, “What have you made for the master?”     “We have made for the Baron ten bowling pins and a bowling ball,” Proggy answered while continuing to shine the ball beside Enthro.     The Baron was unworried. “Where is it?” Ohukubes inquired.     Enthro pointed to the huge cloth that was covering the pins.  As the pins were being unveiled, the Baron was quite amazed at what he saw.  It was that of real and pure craftsmanship—clean and simple design, and a smooth and shiny finish.  The green paint, which was used in the stripes of the lower part of the pin, was perfectly painted.  Numbers were well carved into the ivory as well.  Each pin was made with care and careful thought.  No one could see any hurriedness in their work.  The Baron also noted the chemistry of the pins and that they were engineered to withstand a bowling ball collision.  He was utterly impressed.     “The Baron is highly impressed of your work,” Ohukubes declared.  “And with that, we offer you P250,000 for your work.  That is a lot of money, son.  Don’t waste it on alcohol.”     “I do not drink, kind sir.  And neither does my worker, Proggy.”     “Wait, there is just one thing,” queried Ohukubes.  “Is the eleventh piece that bowling ball?”     “Yes, it is,” Proggy reluctantly said.     “Then why does it look so old?”     The Baron interrupted, “That’s art, isn’t it, Enthro?  Such beautiful pins and yet an old looking bowling ball.  Such contrast!  You are indeed a true artist.”     “Thank you for those kind words, your Baron.  I couldn’t have done it without my tool man, Proggy.”     “But, of course!” the Baron exclaimed.  “Every master needs a servant.  In the kingdom, my sculptors had made me something common like ducks, swans or worse, silly people in silly still poses.  But you have showed me creativity and usefulness!  Haha!  Bowling pins!  I cannot wait to get back and partake in this sport!” Ohukubes whispered to the Baron and the Baron then offered to the expecting artist, “I’ll make you a proposal you cannot refuse.  How would you like to work for me in Bais as my personal sculptor and Proggy, your white servant, can still be your tool man?”     Overjoyed, Enthro and Proggy mutually said, “Yes!  That would be great, your Baron.”     “Then it’s settled.  Guards!  Bring the sculptures to the boat, and my artists, follow Ohukubes.  When we arrive in my kingdom in Bais, he is to show you around my fine-looking, attractive, and stunning Yellow Garden.”