After rebuilding his plushie collection following the tropical hurricane disaster,
@John Price decided to take his newfound "family" to Europe. This time, the destination was Italy. With waterproof luggage stuffed to capacity and a determination to give his plushies a cultural education, he set out to document their journey through the land of art, architecture, and pasta.
The trip started smoothly. His plushies posed for photos at the Colosseum, lounged on the Spanish Steps, and even visited the Vatican (though the security guards gave him odd looks). But the moment John heard about Predappio—the birthplace of Benito Mussolini—he knew he had to go. “What better way to mix history and plushies?” he thought.
Predappio was quieter than he expected, but John didn’t let the somber atmosphere deter him. He arrived at Mussolini’s crypt armed with a camera and his favorite plushies. Setting up Sir Snugglesworth, his prized teddy bear, on the marble floor, he muttered, “This lighting is perfect.”
John wasn’t content with just one plushie in the frame. He dug into his bag and pulled out a plush eagle—a symbol, he thought, that could resonate with the crypt’s historical gravitas. He placed it beside Sir Snugglesworth, struck a pose himself, and prepared to take the shot.
But before he could click the shutter, a chilling wind swept through the crypt. The candles flickered, and the air grew heavy with a strange, oppressive energy. Suddenly, a deep, guttural voice echoed through the chamber:
“Chi osa disturbare il mio riposo eterno?”
John froze, his hands trembling. Slowly, he turned to see a ghostly figure emerging from the shadows—none other than Benito Mussolini, his translucent form towering over the plushies.
“Who dares to bring these...
abominations into my resting place?” the ghost roared, his voice a mixture of fury and disbelief.
John stammered, “I-I just thought... maybe some plushies would brighten things up here? Look, this eagle—kinda majestic, right?” He held up the plush eagle, smiling nervously.
Mussolini’s ghost stared at the toy with disdain. “Majestic? This is no eagle. This is an insult to strength and power!” Before John could respond, the ghost raised a spectral hand, and the plush eagle was ripped from John’s grip.
“Wait, no!” John shouted, but it was too late.
With a dramatic gesture, Mussolini’s ghost crushed the plush eagle in his translucent fist. The toy disintegrated into threads and fluff, scattering across the crypt floor like fallen leaves. “There is no place for weakness here!” the ghost bellowed.
John fell to his knees, horrified. “That... that was limited edition,” he whispered, his voice breaking.
The ghost sneered. “You dare bring such trivialities into this sacred place? Begone, or I will rid this chamber of all your childish relics!”
Clutching Sir Snugglesworth protectively, John scrambled to gather the rest of his plushies. “I’m going! I’m going!” he yelped, stuffing them into his bag and bolting out of the crypt.
Back at his hotel, John tried to make sense of what had happened. Though shaken, he couldn’t resist posting a thread on HFBoards:
“Mussolini’s Ghost DESTROYED My Plushie (True Story).”
The replies were swift and brutal:
- “Worst thread ever.”
- “Plushies in a crypt? What did you think would happen?”
- “Pics or it didn’t happen.”
Despite the mockery, John resolved to learn from the experience. Italy, it seemed, wasn’t ready for his plushies. And as for Mussolini’s ghost, John would forever remember the wrathful figure who destroyed his prized plush eagle—a lesson in the dangers of mixing history with soft, cuddly companions.