I just wanted some cereal.

Of all the things that could possibly be printed on the box of Kellogg's Frosted Flakes in our pantry, these five words are probably the most disturbing:

OPEN CAREFULLY
BOX MAY SCREAM!

Now, keep in mind that I hadn't seen the message on the front of the box indicating that the screaming box was part of some Monsters, Inc. promotion.

I literally stared at the top of the box for a good ten seconds -- trying in vain to grasp the meaning of the warning and how it pertained to my sugar cereal.

I don't think the Vicodin I'm taking for my tooth helped the whole comprehending absurd connections moment.

And, really, of all the possible sounds that a cereal box could make, why in the world would any company choose a scream. Perhaps that's the tie-in with Monsters, Inc -- I'm assuming there is a lot of screaming in the movie.

But still.

I waited a good fifteen minutes before opening the box. Actually, I went so far as bringing the box of cereal upstairs. Although I was hungry and all, I was was in no mood to be scared by the possibly horrifying sound that would -- even with forewarning -- catch me by surprise.

And if you box screamed, what would you get?

A Monsters Inc. themed children's bedroom.

Yeah, that would really be worth it.

I eventually opened the box, and thank goodness for small miracles, the box did not scream.

Comments

[moz]

the real problem, on the other hand, may be the fact that you are eating frosted flakes. let me tell you all about honey nut cheerios. zzz.

[Rajan]

that has to be the cutest story i have heard in a long time. my circle of friends doesn't incorporate the angle that i get from the story on your website. it's the younger tech crowd, but seeing this on a very well designed web-log, it's something short of amazing.

[Billy]

I tend not to think so much when eating cereal.

[Ed]

Cereal stresses me out too much. The free toys are never what they're cracked up to be and looking at the ingredients list gives me the willies, particularly when sugar is the first ingredient. Personally, I stick with bagels and O.J. for breakfast.

[Ginger]

Ah, yes. Plenty of screaming in Monsters, Inc. Kind of a central theme actually. But if I had looked at that cereal box last week, I too would have thought "what the ?".

[Daniel Talsky]

Hey Mena! You should put the same warning on your blog.

You can update your link to me if you like. The tinyblog now lives at http://tinyplace.org/tinyblog/

[Jennie]

That's okay. You know what scares me, even when I'm not strung out on narcotics? Opening Pillsbury biscuit tubes. I just can't do it. That unpredictable vacuum pop drives me wild with fear.

[mark]

I once got a Daryl Braithwaite CD in a cereal box. Didn't even realise it until the box was empty. Surprise, surprise, it was scratched...

"Open carefully - box may stutter"