PAINTING

The story is told, that shortly after my Grandma and Ogeesan bought their house, they discovered a macabre painting in the crawlspace. My uncle said the eyes at the center of the painting glowed red in the dark. My father only spoke about it once with me, after I asked him as an adult.

The painting frightened my uncle so much, he refused to touch it. My uncle was a strong and brave man, but he wasn’t stupid. My dad took a swing of his Budweiser and went in. The instant my mother saw it she said, “It’s the De-bil!!!!!!!!” and refused to look at it, demanding it be burned. She told me many times throughout my life, that “… the eyes glowed red!”

The painting was in a beautiful, ornate, golden frame. My mother told me, “There was a “ting” being burnt at the stake, with “ebil” naked people dancing around it and having sex! I told them not to look at it! I told them to take it outside and burn it immediately!”

They did, except no matter how they tried to burn the damned thing, it wouldn’t burn. My dad said it “…spooked the hell!” out of him and my uncle! After trying a variety of ways to destroy it, they eventually went at it with their shotguns, and shot it to bits. Afterwards they tossed the remnants in the trash. Thank goodness garbage pick up was first thing in the morning.

The next day, they went out front to retrieve the trash cans. Leaning up against one of them, with nary a rip or tear, was the painting, red eyes glowing in the sun.

My father never told me what they did with the painting after that, however, my mom did advise them to take it to a Church or cemetery…  

Did I tell you I live about five minutes - on a slow day - to Bachelor’s Grove?

Many Blessings,

Mamakeeya