View of Toledo

Chapter Four

“I have told Edward here,” the little girl said, gesturing to the toothless man, who nodded in David’s direction, “that you speak only English and that he needs to communicate with you.”
  Edward looked quite upset with the fact that he would have to speak English, but willing at the same time.
  “Even though it may seem like I’m holding information back from you, you are also holding information back from me,” the girl continued. David was about to retort, but she held up her hand to quiet him. “I do not know why you’re here or how you were able to travel with me, and Edward here may have answers for us.” The toothless man gave a toothless smile.
  “Hi,” he said gruffly. David was reminded once again of the horrible smell he encountered when he walked into the room: eggs and morning breath.
  “Hello,” David said uncomfortably. The butterflies had not left his stomach and he was unsuccessful in calming himself down.
  “Let’s sit.” Edward grabbed David’s shirt and pulled him down onto the couch. The dust particles exploded from the love seat, as lava would erupt out of a volcano: quick and painfully. David began to have a coughing fit. “Oh, sorry,” Edward said, hitting David sharply on his back. “A little dusty.”
  “A little,” David said, his voice sandpapery. He let out one last cough and tried to sit on the couch without actually touching it.
  “What do you think of my home?” Edward asked, showing his pink gums in a smile.
  “It’s, um--” David let his sentence drop and began coughing again.
  “I get emotional when I talk about it, too,” Edward said, mistaking David’s coughing for passion. “I built everything in here with my two hands!” He held up his hands in emphasis.
  “Oh,” David said, nodding slightly, looking up at the little girl standing just feet away from them, surveying the scene with interest.   “Why don’t you just cut to the chase, Edward,” the girl said angrily.
  “Don’t order me around in my own house, Lillian!” Edward said sharply, his tone of voice completely changing. “I’m just trying to make simple conversation!”
  David was taken aback; obviously this Edward man had several anger issues.
  “Anyway,” Edward said, turning back to David with a smile. “She is right. We should get down to business, as they say in your world. I only have a couple questions for you and then you can go free. Well, as free as that little bitch’ll let you go.”
  Once again, David was taken aback. David had never been one to swear and had gotten accustom to not hearing them.
  “So, why are you here?” Edward asked simply.
  David gave him a blank stare. He had no response to that; that was the question he was dying to ask everyone else. “I don’t know?”   “Well, there’s gotta be a reason!” he said happily. “She’s here because she saw you dive into the painting. Sheesh, I know those little kiddies can be a pain, but no need to switch dimensions in order to get away from ‘em!” He let out a hearty laugh, which died as quickly as it came.
  “I didn’t dive,” David said, confusion consuming his body. “What do you mean, ‘painting’?”
  “Well, you’re in View of Toledo, of course!” Edward said, giving David another slap on the back. “The best place in the world!”
  “Ha,” the girl said, “You say that about all the paintings you’re in.”
  “I do,” Edward said fondly. “But that’s because they’re all so amazing and different. I do wish that more people would go painting-surfing like they used to. I loved moving three to four times a week. Now, I’m lucky if I get to move once a year!”
  David felt several cogs link in his brain. He knew that View of Toledo was a painting by a man named El Greco, but what was the nonsense about ‘painting-surfing’ and all the gibberish about diving? David felt a migraine begin to pound.
  “Well, no one surfs any longer because of your atrocious behavior!” the girl said in a tone that implied her conclusion was obvious. “The way you greeted me at the door was just atrocious. I was quick offended.”
  “I was quick shocked!” Edward said, glaring at her. “You always look so professional and older. I’m never expecting a little baby to knock on my door!”
  “Everyone’s a critic,” she said, shaking her head. “I’m sick of everyone laughing at my appearance. I’m done with being a fifth grader.”
  If David had blinked, he would have missed the transformation. The little girl in front of him turned into a fully-grown woman wearing a pleasant outfit consisting of white dress-pants and a lilac button-up silk shirt. Her hair grew and how settled around her shoulder blades, while at the same time changing from a strawberry blond to a sophisticated mocha color. David felt ready to faint.
  “Now, that’s better,” Edward replied, snapping his fingers.
  “What about you?” the woman said loudly. “You look like a complete bum!”
  “This is not the time to discuss my physical well-being! We have a case on our hands,” Edward exclaimed, turning back to David. “I think we all agree that there are more pressing problems at hand!”
  The woman nodded and leaned against the wall, further away from them then she was when the conversation began. Edward’s facial features transformed back into a kind and friendly smile.
  “You never answered my question,” Edward said simply. “Why are you here?”
  “No, no, no,” David said, holding up his hand. “I have many more questions than you and I refuse to answer anything before I know exactly what is happening to me!”
  Edward looked at David with concern in his eyes. “Well, I can only answer so much. Each painting is so different. It’s like moving to a different planet every time you change one! It seems that this painting has many mysteries, however, and it may surprise you to know that I’m just as confused as you!”
  David was trying to wrap his brain around the concept that he may be in a painting. Living, breathing. Surviving and being alive while in a painting. How is that even possible? Where has the Earth gone? How would he ever get back? If these questions cannot be answered and his problems cannot be solved, what would become of him?