Column Chronicles: The adventures of Doctor Stranger

The adventures of Doctor Stranger

Frank Cotolo
May 23, 2024

He was out of the ordinary, odd and eerie, peculiar, weird and no one ever remembered he was a super hero.

Lilo the tightrope walker was performing a gravity defying stroll thousands of feet from terra firma when a drone circled above his head. The audience below watched and gasped as the drone buzzed through Lilo's legs and the rope swayed.

Suddenly, a hand grabbed the drone and crushed it. The vibrations shook the rope and Lilo was falling. Just before hitting the ground Lilo was caught by a man in tights who brought him safely to the ground.

"Who are you?" said Lilo.

"It's me, Lilo, Doctor Stranger."

"Well, whoever you are, thanks."

"What do you mean whoever I am. You know me. Look," and Doctor Stranger broke into a Mexican Hat Dance while playing a guitar at the same time.

People in the crowd shouted "Are you a superhero" and "Do you have X-Ray eyes" and "Is there a video game about you?"

Doctor Stranger shouted, "Come on, you know me, I saved this city a million times."

The crowd shouted, "You did not" and "That super hero didn't play guitar" and "You're taller" and "None of us know you. You're a stranger."

"Yes, I'm Doctor Stranger because I am out of the ordinary, odd and eerie, peculiar, and not like any other super hero. Except you remember the others."

The crowd dispersed without applauding. Doctor Stranger stood alone in the street. He thought, "I know I'm doing good things. I guess that's my reward." And he flew away into the clouds and to wherever the hell he lived.

Frank Cotolo can be found hosting the talk and interview programme Cotolo Chronicles. You can send him an e-mail at this address: frank@148.ca.