What if there was a big city.
No, something smaller. A community.
No, smaller. A neighborhood.
Yes, that seems about right and good.
This neighborhood would contain your fandom.
Let's pick Ninjago, at random.
Your friend would come over every other day,
To play with your LEGOs, and say:
"Hisss!" "Attack!" "Ninjaaa-go!"
You would talk about all the facts you know.
"Remember when Cole echoed 'kick-butt'?"
"Yeah, I laughed so hard I hurt my gut!"
"What do you think about the next season?"
"When it comes to waiting, I see no reason!"
Then when the afternoon came, you would doodle away,
Searching for colors without dismay.
Think you and your friend are the only ones?
Everyone does things like this, even the quiet ones!
But, we all have people we don't like.
Down the street towards you comes a kid on his bike.
Maybe they don't like your art? And say you play wrong.
They brag about how good they sing the theme song.
Your friend fights for you, for you don't know what to say.
The kid eventually cycles away.
Who runs this neighborhood? It's the ones who are known.
They watch over the others, and watch how things flow.
They see your fight with the kid, and didn't get involved.
For they're only there to watch you evolve.
Dinner comes, and all go home.
They roam their fridges for what they own.
Should your parents make dinner? They're not there.
When it comes to your fandom, they just couldn't bare.
In this neighborhood there are only those,
Who have in common their favorite shows.
So after you've eaten your favorite snacks,
Whatever it be, chips, or a cake double-stacked,
Everyone, no matter who you were,
Gathered in near the Douglas fir.
There was a clearing, with a projector screen,
People had brought blankets to rest on the green.
Your friend was there, and so was the kid,
And the ones who are known, none are being hid.
You, and everyone else in the neighborhood,
Sat down and stared, only one man stood.
While everyone was staring at the screen,
The man activated the projector and finished the scene.
Glorious three words had echoed,
"Previously on Ninjago".
The man was confused, he looked at mesmerized teens.
All their eyes were glued to the projector screen.
This show was created for children!
What kind of teen wants to watch ninja spin?
Then a few crying kids came in,
No one knew what their reason for crying had been.
But when they saw the screen, they had stopped.
They sat down and took their spot.
The man had created this show.
He created an impact he didn't know.
He did it for money, not for good.
He didn't know he created a neighborhood.
The man watched you and your friend.
She was drooling over the ninja men.
The man chuckled and watched the screen too.
He watched how the love for his show grew.
Because no matter how messed up your fandom gets,
Knowing the truth doesn't require wits,
And no matter how much you think you know,
Just remember that it all started
With a show.