"Dr. Tuby" © Chris Dunmire
Construction paper, glue,
and a second-grade imagination.

Paging Dr. Tuby

By Chris Dunmire

When I was seven and in second grade I loved making things out of construction paper. The holidays were the best time for creative projects and I know my teacher, Ms. Raymond, never forgot about the time I made a paper Easter Bunny mask and slipped it on over my head before hopping down to the principal's office to offer him a decorated paper egg or two. That and the Blizzard of 1979 are two second-grade memories I'll never forget.

Actually, there's a third. When it wasn't holiday time, I had another favorite construction paper craft: a tube-shaped cartoony doctor I made by rolling up and gluing a piece of construction paper together and then attaching a flat circle to the top. To complete my artful sculpture, I'd draw in the face with a dark-colored crayon or marker and dot the doctor's head mirror.

I don't know what motivated me to make this thing, but I remember making a lot of them. In retrospect, I think this is where my Nit Witty cartoony seeds started taking root. The construction paper doctors were usually different colors and sizes, but always had the same look to them. And they always managed to get squashed flat when I carried them home in my book bag. It didn't matter, I could always make more.

I knew I had to write about Dr. Tuby one of these days. He seemed to be an important part of my second grade life, along with my teddy bear Corduroy (yes, from the book) who used to sit in the lid of my metal Disney lunchbox as I ate my peanut butter and jelly sandwiches in the school gymnasium.Come to think of it, I betcha my propped-up lunchbox with the lid opened out on the table foreshadowed my career in front of a computer. And if you must know, I still like the occasional PB&J.

By the way, when I thought about writing this I decided to make Dr. Tuby again to remember that magical second grade feeling. While high on the kid-energy, I made a new and improved Dr. Tuby complete with arms and feet and white teeth — just for the fun of it (pictured at top). You can see the cartoony resemblance there!

One thing is for sure: The smell of Elmer's Glue mixed with construction paper sure takes me back in time. Want to take yourself back? Make your own tuby character or try some other kids at heart projects just for the fun of it. •

© 2004, 2008 Chris Dunmire. All rights reserved.