Our Friends Twizzle & Torchy

Back in 1954, Lady Penelope, Parker, Scarlet, Magenta, Oink and Titan were just kids playing happy little games together in Lady Penelope’s garden near her mansion. Before they got their own shows, two such shows were the first puppet shows to be made by Gerry Anderson: Torchy and Twizzle. This such story focuses on these kids one time, when they first met Torchy and Twizzle.

On that day, the sun was shining, the birds were singing, and Penelope was playing croquet in the garden. Once she hit the ball with the croquet bat, it went through the arch-like thingy and she said, “Mmmmmm-hmmmm, this is exactly why I win all the time.” “I must say, milady, you’re ever so clever when it comes to croquet.” Penelope gave a well earned nod, but Titan was shaking his head in the background. “Not fair!” he shouted out of jealousy, “I want to play kings and queens!” “But we always play that game,” said Penelope, “And you always get to be king.” “And everytime you get to be king, you just make a muddy mess and then put the blame on Penelope,” said Scarlet. “Pah!” said Titan, “Who cares if these fools play such a boring game, kings and queens is much better.”

Then, out of the blue… “Tooorch-eeeeeeeeeeeeee!!” Everyone looked around in astonishment. “What the hell was that noise?” asked Magenta. “Ah how should I know it’s just an alien spacecraft,” said Titan. Oink looked scared and went to hide behind Penelope’s legs just as the noise started up again: “Tooooorch-eeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!” A huge spotlight shone down from out of the sky, and then, in fizzed two peculiar looking characters: Twizzle and Torchy.

Hello, Twizzle.

“Hello!”

Hello, Torchy.

“Ah, hello there!”

Everyone was in shock at the new visitors, who silently watched with their jaws gaped open as they introduced themselves. “I’m Twizzle, and this is Torchy. Nice to meet all of you.” Penelope shyly had the nerve to introduce herself. “Okay, I’m Penelope, and these are Parker, Scarlet, Magenta, Titan and Oink. Won’t you care to join us for a game of croquet?” “Anyone can play!” said Twizzle, “Watch us!”

Penelope had to explain the rules of the game first, so that Twizzle won’t forget. Then, with an almighty swing, Twizzle knocked the ball. The ball bounced and ricocheted off different trees. “This isn’t golf!” shouted Penelope, ducking as the ball shot past her, but then - BONG! The ball hit Titan on the head, causing him to fall to the ground. He was seeing stars.

“Well done, Twizzle, you finally took a stand to the ‘Game Hogger’ here.” said Scarlet, shaking hands with Twizzle. “Help…me…” coughed Titan, now with a big bump on his head.

“My go!” said Torchy, and he took the hammer to aim. Once he hit the ball, it too bounced around the place, but this time it was so extreme that it didn’t hit Titan this time. It shot past Scarlet and Parker, and then…

BOINK!

Back inside the mansion, one of Penelope’s servants had to tend to Oink and Titan so that they felt better. “Mother, we didn’t injure them this time, it was Twizzle and Torchy.” “Those two mischief makers,” said Penelope’s annoyed mother, “Listen, Penny, I’ll call their parents to come and collect them. You and your friends stay put.”

When their parents did come, Twizzle and Torchy were scolded and spanked ten times by their parents. With sore red bottoms they trudged all the way back home again. Penelope and her friends laughed and laughed until they couldn’t stand up.

“You know,” said Penelope, “I think good friends are the ones I love most. But as for Twizzle and Torchy? Well, we won’t be seeing any more of them again!”