{"id":9268,"date":"2025-09-22T23:54:00","date_gmt":"2025-09-23T06:54:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tidbitsandwhatnots.com\/?p=9268"},"modified":"2026-06-07T22:55:38","modified_gmt":"2026-06-08T05:55:38","slug":"the-tale-of-penelope-and-her-poppin-ps","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tidbitsandwhatnots.com\/?p=9268","title":{"rendered":"The Tale of Penelope and Her Poppin’ P’s"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Penelope was persnickety about the letter P. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Penelope first discovered the letter P she giggled.\u00a0She loved the popping sound it could make after pressing her lips together.\u00a0She would go around, perpetually pressing her lips and popping out P sounds.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As she learned about words, she would peruse the P section so much the Big Book would fall open to it.\u00a0She would pontificate on the purpose of words starting with P. The words started to permeate her speech.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Penelope would often use her prose in P-words to make, Peter, her brother go away. Who could listen to pedantic prattle about the letter P?\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Often her parents would try to persuade her to stop with pistachio ice cream or threats of peas for dinner. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her classmates tried to not to get her started as the profusion of p-words would create a percussion of popping noise that could be quite hypnotizing. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

They learned this the hard way.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

One day the teacher asked Penelope \u201cWhat is your favorite color and flower?\u201d\u00a0Belinda blurted out \u201cpuce\u201d to which Penelope proclaimed that puce looked like a bruise, and does not pop. \u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Belinda blushed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Penelope proceeded to explain her favorites are purple and poppies, preferably purple poppies. But they are hard to find.\u00a0My mother is going to phone\u00a0 a propagator of poppies in Pennsylvania to inquire about purple poppy seeds. Hopefully I will have purple poppies blooming in perpetuity.\u201d \u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Having performed her perfunctory duty Penelope settled back into her chair, patiently waiting for the next person. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The classroom was quiet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The teacher, peered at the students. The profusion of p words had some faces paralyzed while others were trying to make their mouth form the words \u201cin perpetuity.\u201d\u00a0 They all seemed dazed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The bell rang.\u00a0The spell had been broken.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A conference was convened. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The parents were perplexed by the call.\u00a0Penelope was a precocious child and perpetual learner who did not get in trouble.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The teacher recounted what happened that day. The parents shifted in their seats and their puzzled looks grew deeper.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Principal trying to give perspective, explained how all her popping P\u2019s were having a peculiar effect on the children similar to the Pied Piper.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Parents stared at the Principal.\u00a0Then pensive looks replaced the puzzled ones for a number of minutes.\u00a0The teacher and principal exchanged glances but stayed quiet.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When the parents finally spoke they both said pistachio ice cream.\u00a0Realizing the problem, they profusely apologized and left.\u00a0Leaving the principal and the teacher utterly perplexed.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The parents stopped at the store and then flew home. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Penelope came down for dinner expecting pistachio ice cream, she panicked.\u00a0 In front of her was a bowl of peas and quinoa.Sorry dear we forgot about the Q\u2019s.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There will be no more pistachio ice cream or using the P spell.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In fact, we have taken the big book away until you remember your Ps and Qs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n
\n
\"Magical<\/figure>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Penelope couldn\u2019t get enough of the letter P \u2014 but her peculiar passion left her classmates dazed, her teacher puzzled, and her parents in on a secret.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":111203969,"featured_media":9270,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_coblocks_attr":"","_coblocks_dimensions":"","_coblocks_responsive_height":"","_coblocks_accordion_ie_support":"","advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_seo_schema_type":"","_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"","_kad_post_layout":"","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"_kad_post_classname":"","_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_wpcom_ai_launchpad_first_post":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"This a playful word play story for read aloud or literary fun at all ages. If you know someone who would like it I would love it if you shared it. Thank you to all my supporters. 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