Tales From the Loop

June 18 th -July 2 nd , 1986 : The kids of Boulder City are being sent off to summer camp! Two weeks of archery, canoeing, horseback riding, and swimming on Lake Mead await. The kids excitedly studied the camp layout and activity schedule, already planning their weeks’ worth of fun. Jimmy, 14yo Hick (Bill): He’d never been to camp before; family couldn’t afford it. Mom didn’t explain how their church minister provided the money. “I packed clean underwear for each day. Did you pack your toothbrush? Remember to write." Even dad was there to see him off. Jimmy hugged them both before gathering his bag and climbing on the bus with MOTO (iconic item) and an inflatable float-ring securely stowed. Lisa, 13yo Bookworm (Leslie): She’d been to camp before. Knew to pack bug-spray and chigger-oil. She couldn’t wait to go h orseback riding and canoeing. Mom pleaded once again, “You are so like your dad in all your athletic act...

Thursday, April 30th, 1986 : The adults are acting very strange around town. All of a sudden, dad doesn’t approve of the weekly D&D game. Mom says you can’t rent ‘Day of the Dead’ even though she promised to get it for you last week. The principal at school has banned all rock music. Suddenly, the movie theater is not offering to screen ‘Aliens’ anymore. What gives??? Will the kids be able to watch Day of the Dead? Will their D&D club get shut down? The terror begins. 14yo Jimmy Bunyard/Hick-Tinkerer  (Bill): Helping his mother finalize her crafts for the coming ‘Cultural Festival’. She suggests a break, “How about a movie night. Here’s some money to go pick out a VCR rental; your choice.” Ellen Wood at the video store helps find “Day of the Dead”. Adult wacko, Ms Janet Thompson, condemns the evil messages in the movie. She also disapproves of Ellen running D&D games at the community center. 13yo Alvin Yi/Com...

Intro : March 1986, local Loop designers have created a hot new line of toys, Transmorphers , transforming robots to be manufactured right here in Boulder City! A boost to the job market and local economy. Hyped since Christmas, in commercials, cartoon show, and comic books, the kids have been saving to buy their own. But perhaps there's “more than meets the eye” to these new toys. Now Spring break, the toys are finally hitting the shelves at the local toy store. 13yo Jimmy/Hick (Bill): Detention again because mom shops Goodwill clothing. Eddie’s mom donates there. Thus, him teasing me about scrounging thru his trash. So, I remarked, “I wondered whose stench that was.” He hit me; I kicked him in the crotch. I’d say “balls” but his haven’t dropped yet. Maybe I loosened them up. I’m building my own robot MOTO , with help from the others.      Jimmy had his sights on SEDIMENTA with its treads, but when his mom got involved, she steered him...