No.4 – The Recycling Box (8.7 out of 10)
The green recycling box is really great and we’ve scored it an 8.7! Its high score is deserved because it’s a good example of a household object that has one use for Otters and several (unexplained and less important) uses for Otter Keepers. For me the recycling box is quite obviously a pirate ship, but Otter Keeper’s relationship with the recycling box is altogether more… strange.
The other day Otter Keeper said “The recycling box has the power to save the world”. Now you must understand He doesn’t usually say things that are anywhere near this exciting. Our theory is that this outburst can be put down to the fact that (although he won’t admit it) Otter Keeper clearly wants to be a superhero and has ear-marked the green box as his future sidekick. Me and Teddy both think this is a very strange choice. Teddy also wants to know why Otter Keeper obviously has really fun ideas yet refuses to share them with his friends! To be honest, why not just join in with us and be a pirate? – me and Teddy already played super heroes last week and it just seems like he’s being awkward.
The worst thing of all is that when Otter Keeper isn’t indulging in his bizarre superhero fantasies about the box he actually thinks it’s ok to fill it with his rubbish. Why can’t he load us up with useful supplies Rather than empty packets which are useless to an Otter and Teddy on long voyages. Honestly, me and Teddy despair sometimes. This behaviour will do nothing to further his career as a superhero and it certainly does nothing to help those of us at sea. So why do it?
Me and Teddy have to go now we’re going to throw some of the annoying Otter Keeper additions to the boat overboard. This was Teddy’s idea, he’s a very ruthless pirate you see and he gets quite bad tempered when he’s been at sea for too long.
If you want to leave me a comment (and please do because otters love comments – Keeper reads them to me and it makes me happy) about this story please go here: www.iamotter.co.uk/story
It certainly makes a top Pirate Ship! Maybe Otter Keeper is embarrassed about wanting to become a super hero….would special powers do you think he would have? Maybe he could defeat the evil Kate!
I bet you are the cutest pirate ever – but you know what, Otter Keeper does have a point (shhh!! don’t let him hear!).
I must say I never thought of the recycling box as either a pirate ship or a way to save the world. I guess I am just not thinking straight. My grandson was a pirate for Halloween – you should see his pictures on my blog – do you have a swashbuckling sword too?
First time I’ve seen an Otter Pirate,,, I must say,, You are one good looking Otter Pirate!!, have fun in your adventured with Teddy!! 🙂
Excellent pirate ship and what a scary pair of pirates you two make. Shiver me timbers!
Finally we know the true purpose of our recycling bin! This is a huge weight off our shoulders and we are immensely grateful. Of course it means Mum has to go buy us eye patches and hats and perhaps a sword or two – we love accessories.
Our best to you and Teddy, your friends in far off Oregon, Dozer and Cooper Edwards
I really think Otter Keeper is confused! Of course it’s a pirate ship and who would want to be a super hero over being a pirate with you and Teddy?
Wow that pirate ship seems awesome!!! I bet you and Teddy are the best pirates ever!!!! Have fun 🙂
Hi Otter,
That’s a strange thing you have there : you call this a recycling box. It looks very interesting actually and it’s probably typically English : you’re living on a island and you need ships for everything. We haven’t this kind of box indeed although we do recycle too : keeper doesn’t like recycling and she gets sometimes quite angry when she doesn’t know in which bin she should throw something and she then says : “Recycling is rubbish”. He, he ! Keepers sometimes say very wise sentences although they sound a bit odd!
The most we recycle are plastic waterbottles of all sizes we throw into a deep black bucket which is not inspiring till it isn’t filled to the brim. It’s a great playground only when it’s full. It’s position is generally between the desk and the bed because keeper is used to throw her draft papers into the bucket. I must confess its strategically very well placed for keeper as well as for me and TT as we can jump into it straight off from the bed. You must be clever and well trained like me because it may be dangerous : it’s quite slippery to stand on the bottles and to find something to cling at among all the papers. TT is akward and he is just lying between all the things. I must often rescue him that he doesn’t fall to the very bottom of the bucket and suffocate. There are so many things keeper doesn’t see and TT is very often in death peril when we’re exploring the bucket.
Instead of him I love plastic bottles – I think you too : they make great otter toys : just look at Nemo !-. It’s great to stay on them whilst they roll on the floor. I’m a really circus animal and I think I’ll apply soon at a talent show. I’m already imagining how I’ll balance on the bottle juggling coloured bouncing balls and singing. I could be the next Susan Otter Boyle!!!and I could make advertising for bottle recycling : if you’d have an otter at home, your plastic bottles would never be wasted.
So, you see we haven’t a pirate recycling box but I’m contributing actively to recycling at least bottles and you must test it : plastic bottles are also floating very well. It’s amazing when you use them in the bath tub : you can dive under and jump over them and, if you fill them with water, they’ll become submarines or torpedos and I can play naval battles and the best is, when you take the empty bottle and you press it with all the strength of your paws to the bottom of the tub and you release it then, it will take off like a spaceship and fly off with a great splash. Keeper hates this because all the bathroom floor is wet but I’m delighted.
What can we conclude then concerning our marking contest? I can’t vote about recycling box since we haven’t any but alternatively I’d propose either plastic bottles or the bathroom, or, more concisely, the tub instead of it but I’d probably give them rank 2. I’m still hesitating with laptop and espresso machine. Marking is a hard job and I’m sure my keeper knows what I’m speaking about.
Till later
Louloute
What a wonderful story, Otter! I wish ferret and I could play Pirates with you and Teddy! You 2 fit perfectly in your pirate ship–and what a wonderful, creative use for the recycle bin! Please make sure you keep track of all of your Pirate Adventures so you can share them with us, okay?Ferret cant decide on the dish pan or laundry basket for his pirate ship!
I loved your insight into the inner workings of the lap top! Right now as I type Ferret is curled up right near mine! and how kind and generous of you to be concerned about the Postman! What a big-hearted Otter you are! I wish I could stop my laptop from going to sleep! I think your household object rating system is accurate, intelligent, –and HILARIOUS! Thank you so much for all the recent info, updates, and stories! YOU ARE the BEST OTTER EVER! Love from me and ferret to you and Teddy! greeting also to Keeper ( we have to include him even if we dont agree with him)
We here in Wisconsin — that’s across the Pond and a great deal more — have a LARGE blue recycling bin with a lid. My Otters couldn’t play pirates in it; they’d be trapped, so they play in the large Lake we have at the bottom of the block called Lake Winnebago. If Otter Keeper will be so kind as to let you look at a map of Wisconsin you can see it. I have to watch them though as they get rather exuberant and try to take over the fishing pier.
Recycling DOES have the power to save the world, so be a good Otter and put back the packets and such when you are done. The Green Bin’s symbol is very important. Ask Otter Keeper to read you and Teddy a story about recycling. Love to you all.