Ali Ban

“Ali-Ban, Ali-Ban,

Near the golden stream,

Ali-Ban, Ali-Ban,

You might be my dream.”

Optimus strummed on his big red ukulele as he sang this song beautifully on the porch of their house big enough for even an Autobot in Alice Springs, Australia. He sat in the rocking chair, rocking gently, back and forth, and enjoying the sounds of the outback. Furaha and Orko were relaxing on the porch, reading comics. It was quite a lazy day, with nothing to get in our friends’ way. The friends were just free to relax and take it easy.

Just then, Orko looked up from his comic, and saw a snake slithering across the sand. Furaha and Orko shrieked and ran towards Optimus, sending the comics flying, only for the snake to grab them and eat them whole like it eats his prey.

“Uh oh, snake alert!” cried Orko. “They’re the most venomous animals in Australia!” “Yeah, I’m worried, they might nip us in the ankle and then we’d turn into mutant snakes who can’t walk or crawl or do anything!” whimpered Furaha. “Now calm down, you two. The snake’s gone, you see the trail of comics he left behind?” Furaha and Orko looked, and sure enough they saw a trail of scraps of comics on the sandy ground. “Oh.” said Furaha, finally calming down. “The snake’s gone.” “Our comics…” sobbed Orko. Furaha and Orko began to sob quietly.

Optimus understood all their troubles and woes. He took them in his giant arms and whispered, as the sky went orange and the sun began to slowly go down into the horizon:

“Lest we not forget the comics,

The sources of laughter and hope,

Eaten alive by a fierce snake,

It’s come to the end of its rope.

But you are still with me

Until the end of time,

And that is why I’m telling you

This very important rhyme.”

Furaha and Orko snuggled close against Optimus, and slowly fell fast asleep, still with tears rolling down their cheeks, as Optimus rocked in his rocking chair gently, humming them to sleep. Looking out into the horizon, he remembered his life from when he was a young Autobot: playing outside his house with no worries or cares. He was moved to tears by these memories, and tried to stifle some tears as he wept out his song once more:

“Ali Ban, Ali Ban,

I feel so happy forever,

Because I’ve got some friends with me…

And I’m so glad we’re…”

At once, Optimus broke down into tears, which dripped onto Furaha and Orko as they slept. But inside, he was proud of what he had done, and felt like he had accomplished the greatest task in his life: telling his friends everything will be alright.