the great escape

Sleep is the cousin to Death, and Death is the mother of Invention. Invention has an abusive stepfather that can only be calmed down with a fishing trip and a 12-pack. He stumbles into invention’s room at 3 in the morning, after the bars close, and lets it be known that he is not invention’s genetic father, but by god he’s going to act like it anyway. His name is Procrastination. Invention could either stay, be abused by Procrastination, and become Failure; or run away, and become Success.

The only way invention has enough guts to run away is with his friend, Perseverance, who lives down the street. Invention and Perseverance hang out every day, until one day Perseverance’s mom, Fear, finds their plans to run away. She phones Invention’s mother, Death, and they both agree that Invention and Perseverance shouldn’t play together any longer. Invention and Perseverance both meet a friend, Need. They think of a way to all get together. Need’s mother, Understanding, organizes play dates for both Invention and Perseverance. They plan it so that each get dropped off, and picked up, at different times. Everyone is so grateful for Understanding.

One day Need’s father, Mis, coincidentally meets Fear. He mentions that Invention, Need and Perseverance all play at his house. Fear panics, and disallows Perseverance from playing with Need. Invention’s stepfather, Procrastination, becomes unbelievably abusive towards Invention. Meanwhile, Invention, Perseverance and Need all start sneaking out at night to see one another. Perseverance and Need tell Invention he should not tolerate Procrastination. They make very serious plans to run away the next night. Invention and Need arrive at the agreed upon time. They have been waiting for 20 minutes. Will Perseverance show?