Fraggle Rock Short Stories

Boober and the Worry Jar

Boober is concerned about Mokey's wellbeing. He goes to the Trash Heap for advice on how to reduce his anxieties. She gives him a magical jar that absorbs all worries. Boober starts to use it, but he uses it too much and it becomes too full, affecting the overall mood of Fraggle Rock.

Boober Fraggle, known for his ever-present nervousness, found himself in a new state of worry. Mokey, his mate, was acting strange. She was having mood swings everyday. She'd flinch at sudden noises, politely refuse to play Red's wild games, and pat her stomach with a secretive smile. Finally, Wembley blurted it out — Mokey was going to have a baby!

Overjoyed for his mate, Boober nonetheless found himself in a new state of high-strung anxiety. What if the nursery in their wasn't baby proof enough? What if there was a rockslide? He asked Mokey hundreds of questions and fretted over every detail. Mokey, tried to soothe him, but Boober's worries were a Gorg-sized storm cloud. Desperate for help, Boober ventured down into the depths, past the Sprout's Old Hat, to the Trash Heap's domain. The wise, if somewhat pungent, heap of junk listened patiently. As soon as Boober finished speaking, she said to him, "You need a way to capture those anxieties before they take over!"  From her overflowing collection, the Trash Heap produced a dusty  jar. "This here's a Worry Jar," she explained. "Pop your worries in, and poof! They're gone!" Boober, ever the pragmatist, hesitated. "But what if they come back out?" The Trash Heap cackled. "Not a chance! Just be careful not to overfill it. Too much negativity can weigh heavy." Thanking the Trash Heap profusely, Boober scurried back, the Worry Wumbler clutched in his clammy hand. At first, it was a miracle. Worries about tripping hazards in the nursery? Whoosh! Annoyance at Gobo's constant racket? Poof! Boober felt lighter than a Doozer balloon. He even started using it for minor inconveniences, like finding a pebble in his shoe or forgetting Red's favorite radish recipe. However, as the days passed, a strange strain fell over Fraggle Rock. Laughter seemed a little forced, games a little less energetic. Even the ever-optimistic Gobo had a subdued air. One morning, Boober woke to an unsettling stillness. He looked at the Worry Jar, now bulging and opaque. It had become a beacon of negativity, sucking the joy out of everything. Horrified, Boober raced back to the Trash Heap. She peered at the jar, her rusty gears whirring thoughtfully. "Looks like you caught a case of the Gloomies, Boober! The only way to fix it is to face your worries head-on." With a heavy heart, Boober confessed his overuse of the Wumbler. The Trash Heap rummaged through her collection and emerged with a small hammer. "Time to release some of those bottled-up anxieties," she declared, gently tapping the jar. Hesitantly, Boober helped release the worries, one by one. Once he got back to the Rock, he apologized to Mokey for his smothering concern. He then placed a hand on Mokey's belly and said to her, " Instead of worrying about what could go wrong, I should think about what is truly important."  They worked together to create a safe, yet stimulating, nursery for their baby. They even joined Red's games, albeit with a few strategically placed pillows. Slowly, the vibrant energy returned to Fraggle Rock. Boober learned a valuable lesson: a little worry was okay, but facing them head-on, with the support of friends, was far better than letting them fester in a jar. The Worry Jar remained on a high shelf, a reminder to only use it in dire situations. After all, a little Fraggle Rock chaos was a small price to pay for a world filled with laughter.