A
very ambitious young gnome, known as Al, looked up to the leader gnomes in
Gnometown as mentors. He wanted to grow up to be a leader too, just as wise and
good. He was given an opportunity to work for Gnome Morris who was on the
cutting edge of inventing a device which would not need the small rodents to
pull it for transportation and field work. It was propelled by something he
called a “motor”.
Young
Gnome Al hung around the shop, learning about every aspect of this invention.
They called it a “Gourd” because it was made from a dried gourd, equipped with
seats, wheels, motor and even doors which opened and closed. They sold Gourds
and fixed Gourds for Gnomes Jerry, Doc Phil, Doc Bill, Rudy, Dick, and all the
others.
While
he was working, Gnome Al listened to them talk about the problems in the
community and was determined to be like them and make a difference in
Gnometown. His hard work at his job and common sense was noticed by the older
and wiser gnomes. They began to seek him out for ideas.
Once, Doc Bill
asked him to be on the committee to help develop a facility to take care of
sick gnomes. He examined several locations to see if they could be made fit,
but he found them unsuitable and advised them to build new. So they did, and
they called it Doc Bill Hospital.
At
about the same time, when a gnome was sick the doctors had to travel to their
underground homes to care for them, and it was becoming difficult for the
doctors and nurses, because there were too many patients and not enough
caregivers. Al suggested to Doc Phil and Dick, that they dry out a long
zucchini, add a motor and wheels, put a mattress in it and call it an
Ambu-Gourd, so they could carry the sick ones to the hospital. He suggested
using lightning bugs on the front and back so they could be seen easily when
they needed to drive fast in an emergency. So they built it and another
business was developed in Gnometown because other communities needed the
Ambu-Gourds too.
He
continues his shop, once owned by Gnome Morris, willingly fixing tires, pumping
gas, changing spark plugs, getting people out of ditches and snow banks, and
washing their windshields. He has a special concern for the women in Gnometown.
He wants nothing bad to happen to them. So, if someone needs new tires, he will
tell them, “I don’t care if you drive with those tires, but I don’t want
anything bad to happen when your wife drives.”
The
passion of Gnome Al to help the folk and other gnomes of this community extends
to organizing the response to the flood of ‘97, doing his part to help in
church, helping Gnome Rudy encourage business in Gnometown and being a willing
volunteer as needed. He brought to Gnometown Council, new ideas which were good
for the community.