On a dark and stormy night, two teenagers are walking down the street.
Jodi much prefers wearing clothes that are provocatively revealing. She hooks up with blurry boyfriends and gets bad grades at school. She gives her father every reason to be an overprotective old nag.
Todd is a cool guy who likes to be seen with girls. He's very image-conscious, spending at least fifteen minutes on his hair every day before he deems himself presentable enough to go out. Todd's mum likes to complain about him – he usually does the exact opposite of what his mother wants.
At the end of the street, Jodi and Todd spot a derelict, old house.
They decide to go inside.
They just don't know that someone still lives in the dark, deserted house.
Dr. Shock is a strange scientist who is mad about peculiar experiments. In his cellar, there are cages in which he keeps animals. His favourite animal is a chimpanzee. The ape is called Gertrude.
When Dr. Shock hears there are two strangers walking around the upstairs of his house, he jumps for joy.
He creeps quietly upstairs to see who has invaded his house. From a crack in the cellar door, he sees what is happening in his hallway. Two teenagers are walking down the hallway towards the kitchen. The boy walks ahead, whispering to the girl that she doesn't need to be afraid.
As Todd walks into the kitchen, he suddenly falls through the trapdoor that is located just behind the door.
Jodi is guilty when she sees Todd disappear into the hole.
Then Dr. Shock grabs Jodi by the middle and takes her down into the cellar.
The doctor reassures Jodi, and asks if she'd like something to drink. Hot chocolate, or would she prefer tea?
"I'll just have tea, she says." The professor offers her a chair and she sits down.
Dr. Shock introduces Jodi to the chimpanzee Gertrude. The chimpanzee politely shakes Jodi's hand and walks back to her enclosure.
Jodi is becoming very sleepy from the tea. Her eyes are getting heavy and her arms are drooping. It isn't long before she slumps off her chair.
Then Dr. Shock can start his wild experiment.
He wants Jodi and the ape Gertrude to swap bodies. To do this, he will transplant Jodi's brain into the ape Gertrude's head.
***
Meanwhile, Todd is slowly coming round in the hole he fell into as he walked into the kitchen.
Where is Jodi?
It’s so dark in here!
***
Over the past few days, I've received many emails looking back on 2020 and sending best wishes for the coming year.
It’s striking how many people think 2020 was a ‘strange year’.
Oh, what is strange?
The story above dates from 1986.
1986 was a strange year, too.
The Brain virus appeared in January. It was the first computer virus in history, and spread via floppy disks.
That's odd.
On 17 April 1986, the 335-year war between the Isles of Scilly and the Netherlands came to an end. Not a shot was fired, making it the longest war without a single casualty.
That's odd.
In 1986, the manufacturer Bally produced a pinball machine.
The pinball machine is called Strange Science and is based on the story of Jodi, Todd and Dr. Shock in the story above.
As the game progresses, more and more of Jodi’s brain is transplanted into the monkey. Whilst Todd tries to save Jodi, the player must actually speed up the process by filling the Atom Smasher, with the ultimate goal of achieving a 5-ball multi-ball.
That's odd.
This pinball machine from 1986 has recently been added to our branch in Maastricht.
If you were to car or Hire the van, I would like to invite you to play the game. Feel free to ask the counter for a coin.
If you also want to flip, but don't have a car or bus in the Maastricht area If you need anything, you’re also very welcome at Heerderweg 37. I’ll treat you to a coffee; a game of pinball costs €2 for two games.
I couldn't make it any stranger, but I could make it more fun.
As this strange year draws to a close, I wish you all the best for the coming year.
Here’s to a safe and travel-filled 2021!
