Lost Treasures

by Judith Bakkensen

 

O.K. Where is Paul Bunyan?  We were in Brainerd, Minnesota.  Where is the Paul Bunyan that is in the movie, Fargo?  We had purposefully driven this way to see good old Paul and his ox, Blue.  Finally, we stopped at a convenience store at the end of town.

 

One clerk was a young man with various metal appendages.  The other was a prim women in a polyester suit.  She was my preferred contact, but she was busy.  I asked the young man.  "Where is Paul Bunyan?" 

 

His face colored, his nostrils flared, his muscles bunched.  Oh no,  he's gonna blow.  "Well, I can tell you where he is.  He is seven miles outside of town, that's where he is.  He is not where he belongs on Hwy 212.  I'm never going there.  I can tell you where he is.  Turn right, go two miles. . . "

 

The young woman said to him, " Are you talking about (pause)?"  He nodded.  "That never should have happened.?"

 

I asked,  "How long ago was he moved?"

 

"Two years."  she said.  They were both upset now.

 

I got back in the van.  Michael asked where Paul was.  "Seven miles away.  He was moved for some reason."

 

I turned left to show my support for their anger.  After a mile, we realized we were going the wrong direction.  I sheepishly turned the van around and headed out of town on the correct highway. 

 

"Wouldn't it be strange if we accidentally found Paul?"  I asked Michael.

 

Several miles later we saw the sign,  Paul Bunyan's amusement park.  We pulled into the huge empty lot.  By jumping up three to fourteen feet high and using a mirror, I could see Paul shackled in a woodshed."

 

How did Paul and Blue get sold to an amusement park?