There once was a small sleepy town called Lakeview. A mysterious young man in this town mostly spent his days by himself. That man was named Gary; he needed to remember how he got to the city or why he was there. All he knew was that there was work to be done.
Gary was mainly content with his humble life. He would deliver the newspaper daily and do his household chores for the rest of the day. However, he would walk to the guitar shop every so often. He would find himself staring at a vintage guitar displayed out front. Gary didn't know how to play, yet it was as if the instrument was calling for him.
On a dark and stormy night, Gary was buying a soda when he saw the guitar shop had a break-in! Leaping into action, he called the police. The Criminals were still inside, so that's where he went. They would take a while to get to his location in time; Gary just had to do something now.
"Hey you," Gary began to say, only he found the words dried up in his mouth as he looked at the crooks. The two bandits were bright red and had cube-shaped heads!
One crook with an "R" on his head chuckled, "Well, what do we have here? If it isn't the Green Shape Wonder?"
"Green Shaped Wonder," Gary murmured to himself, somewhat confused.
The other crook with a "T" on his head remarked, "You mean you don't remember us, Gumby?"
"I've never seen guys in my life," Gary said, "And my name is not Gumby; it's Gary."
The two Crooks gasped, then chuckled.
The "R" Bandit said, "Well, we're your friends, Gary! We need your help to get all these guitars."
Gary glanced at the vintage guitar; it seemed to glimmer in the night; somehow, he knew they were lying.
The "T" Bandit urged Gary, "Come on, you need us to help you remember who you are."
Gary refused, "No, your lying. I'll find my real friends someday. But I know you are not them."
The two block-headed bandits were shocked. Gary then left the store feeling unsure of himself. He came home and began looking for a clue about his past. He just knew those weird guys were right about something. That name they had mistaken him for, Gumby, sounded familiar.
He then found a small, smooth wooden box he couldn't recall where he got. He opened it, and there was a lumpy green ball.
Gary gently poked the ball; it was semi-hard clay. Then before he could take his hand out, a limb made of clay grabbed his wrist like a hand. He was surprised, yet he instinctually grabbed the arm and pulled. The clay grew and swelled as Gary lifted. It transformed into a green humanoid as Gary took it out of the box. A face of different colored clay formed when its leg-like limbs touched the ground. The clay creature met Gary's eyes and gave a warm, polite smile.
They wobbled, clearly unbalanced. Gary grasped the being's other hand to hold them steady.
Gary said happily, "You must be Gumby!"
The being smiled and hugged Gary.
"You were always so silly," A child-like voice chirped with a bit of a laugh from within the being, "You're Gumby!"
Then the clay enveloped Gary's body, arms, legs, and feet. It was halfway up his neck and stopped, and it couldn't reach his hands either.
"Something's wrong," the young voice said, "I don't have enough clay to restore you completely."
Gary thought about all this and sighed, "Maybe I wasn't meant to be restored."
The clay recoiled down from his neck.
"No, don't say that," The clay being pleaded, "Please, you have to hold on to hope."
Gary then hugged himself, taking a moment to feel the clay on his body.
Gary said, "I deserve to be restored."
The clay grew a bit around his neck.
It covered his palms and stopped.
Gary said, "I am Gumby."
Gumby very gently wandered to a wooden chair and slowly sat down. He was careful not to harm his clay. The clay softened in agreement.