Hello? Hello, I must beg your pardon, but I was wondering…do you see? Do you see the picture before you?
It is quiet splendid, I must say, although I'm not the artist.
But what's this? You do not react. You look confused!
Ah yes! Unfortunately, depending on your age and the contents of your heart and mind, this picture may be blurred, maybe even…blank?
You see, this picture is made specifically for children who are gay and innocent and heartless.
A frown? Is it your age? It's okay, you couldn't help it, for you see, all children, except one, grow up. Unfortunately for you, you were not that one.
However, let me paint this picture for you in a way that you may see and understand. As I said before, it is a quite splendid picture.
Perhaps what catches the eye is the water, for this is a picture illustrating the sea. It is not any that you know, and I regret to say that I have not and will not ever receive the honor of swimming in its depths.
The water is clear and shines with the most glorious of blues and greens.
And there are fish, oh yes, there are fish of quite an exquisite nature. They are the fish of all types, found in the dreams and nightmares of the children who dream of such things. Hmm, there in the corner, there is a flash of a fin, but even after closer examination, I do not know to what creature it belongs to. It could be anything from a crocodile's claw to, perhaps, even the tail of a passing mermaid.
Now watch and you may be surprised to find the changing of the tides hidden in the oils of the paint, for the artist knew what was soon to arise. Watch as the waves become harsh and the sun is hidden behind gloomy clouds that suddenly overtake the canvas.
Watch as the waves grow with rage and the rain begins to poor. Thunder booms and lightening flashes and you are thinking no one would ever dare attempt to sail such waters.
Yet look! Up in the far right side of the canvas a ship appears.
What a majestic ship it is too. See the wooden maiden carved with care at the prow, her eyes closed and arms opened.
The ship rocks back and forth and in the flash of a lightening strike we see the skeleton flag and the name, oh the name I'm rather surprised to see.
In the waters of this unknown sea, the Jolly Rogers has appeared, though no one ever thought it would.
Another flash of lightening and watch as a little boat is lowered into the churning waters of the upset sea.
And I can see you. The painting has captured you already, and you see with your mind because you're eyes will never be able to do the job properly.
And you think "oh surely no one would ever take that out. It would be suicidal!"
Nevertheless, the boat is lowered and five cloaked figures take their seats, rowing against everything.
Now don't fear for them, they know what they do and are doing it willingly. A wave, blue-gray and black, swallows the small boat and sinks back into the sea, only to be replaced again and again by larger and stronger waves, pounding the small boat and its passengers.
They row, and it is unfortunate when one falls over board. There are shouts but no panic. There is movement, but nothing can be done and the five turns into four.
You may wonder why they continue and I must be honest. They expected it…
Now, in the distance an island appears. At first it doesn't seem to be likely and you catch yourself taking a second look. Then, the paint on the canvas dries a little more and you see a great rock arch, a beach, a waterfall, their destination.
The figures, now driven by the sight of their goal, row faster, struggle less and then, suddenly, feeling so close one of the figures reaches out as though he is returning home.
There is a gleam of something precious and deadly that peeks out through the figure's cloaks and catches your eye, but it is gone before you can get a good look.
The boat, you are surprised to see, reaches the rock arch and passes under it and suddenly the waters calm.
They find themselves in a lagoon, protected from the sea by reefs, walls, and rocks.
The rain still pours, no doubt in that, but the men finally can breath. They aren't ones to pray so instead they curse Poseidon and hope for the worse.
One man, the man who reached out, curses the island, for he knows why the waters so wished to reject and repel them.
He knows the land and has seen its soul. He knows it fights him to keep what is it, and knows it can't do much now. He knows it is a place not for those like him, not for those like us, who grow blind to such paintings as these because we are grown and you whisper: Neverland.
So you know it? I though you might.
Your eyes shine with a nostalgic gleam and you say only from your dreams.
You're excited now, I can see as you watch the boat approach the beach.
The four figures jump into the water and pull the boat to shore. The sand is wet and easy to overcome.
It's not unexpected when the figures leave their vessel and walk to the waterfall, disappearing behind the fluid curtain.
There is no knowing what happens behind the falls for this is not a cave scene and it is possible that what lies behind the falls is not for us to know right now.
AH! Please, do not touch the painting, it is very fragile. You will see the rest when it is done, but for now we must wait…
Just to let you know, if you saw your face right now, you might not recognize it. You look a little bit younger and your eyes a little bit brighter. I see this all the time, and I must say you are remembering.
Remembering what is up to you, but I think you know already.
You remember a crow and a shining ball of light, and a story and…oh look there!
The figures emerge!
A shudder runs down your spine. You can almost hear the wicked laughter of the man who knows the land.
It's a mad laughter, harsh and scary and really, is nonexistent.
You first see the chest, and then you see the hook, and then you know and then you remember.
The Hook you saw in your nightmares is in this very picture, and you no longer wish to remember. And this happens all the time.
Childhood is meant to be forgotten and you think, "How silly of me to play this childish game with you!"
Yet you hear, despite your desperate attempts at denial, you hear the very clear and precise words of the certain Jas. Hook you no longer wish to remember.
As you walk away, like they all do, you hear four little words that you will have forgotten by morning.
Four little words.
"Just one more piece."
And then, you are gone…
I catch you looking back once more before you turn the corner and you see me and blush like a child before you disappear. Just to let you know, it's not your fault. Adults rarely understand, and like I said, this picture was made specifically for children who are gay and innocent and heartless.