O.K., thought Blurtso, I’d better get serious and do some living. Tell my friends and tell my family, be engaged and be engaging, be connected and accepted, broadcasting every thing I’m thinking, what I am and what I’m not, what I shall and I shall not, not forgotten when I’m talking, when I’m sitting, when I’m walking, just as long as I keep talking, are you listening are you listening?!
Ditto is very talented, said Blurtso. I know, said Pablo, Bonny is always teaching him something useful and profound.
I wonder if I will like being famous? thought Blurtso. When the world is filled with Blurtso t-shirts and coffee mugs, Blurtso paintings and sculptures and smiling Blurtsos cast in bronze, Blurtso billboards and displays, neon and virtual and Christmas and Easter Blurtsos, and spin-off Blurtsos ad nauseum… I wonder if I will remember these days with nostalgia, when a simple donkey could have a simple meal, and take a nap in the comfort of perfect anonymity.
Today we’ll focus on color, said Bonny, and explore its variety, its juxtaposition, and its infinite potential for expression…
Excellent! said Bonny.
Mmmmm, the cooling air makes the grass smell sweet, and the sounds seem more distinct… a raven, an owl, the echo of an axe… and the quickening pulse of the crickets.
Maybe we should make plans for the future, said Pablo. The future? said Bonny. Yes, said Pablo, what are we going to do? We’ll be together, said Bonny. Yes, said Pablo, but what we will we do? We’ll walk around, said Bonny. And then? said Pablo. Then we’ll eat and drink, said Bonny. And then? said Pablo. Then we’ll sleep, said Bonny. And then? said Pablo. Then we’ll walk around, said Bonny. And then? said Pablo. Then we’ll eat and drink, said Bonny. And then? said Pablo. Then we’ll sleep, said Bonny. And the next day? said Pablo. Yes, said Bonny, and the next day. Wow, said Pablo, that sounds wonderful! Yes, said Bonny, it truly does.
When painting a “nature” canvas, said Bonny, the artist must become one with the subject and reveal its innermost secrets…
Excellent! said Bonny.
Isn’t that an odd shape, thought Blurtso, staring at his reflection in the water. That nose, so round and ponderous, like a boxing glove, and that smug little smile, and those attentive, pin-point eyes. What a strange thing it is, that shape, my shape, staring at my shape, that shape. Boxing-glove nose, big and white, grey body, dark-grey hoofs, perked-up ears above attentive eyes. Tuft of hair atop his head. Atop my head. My head housing pin-point eyes looking at his head. Housing looking housing looking. Blurtso one and Blurtso two. Blurtso one and Blurtso too. Double Blurtso smiling smugly, me to me. What does he see when he looks into me? What does he think when he thinks of me? Does he think who on earth could he be? And what’s the heart of this mystery?
See, said Bonny, how the grass bends in the wind?
Yes, said Bonny, there are many flies today… Now, the first step in painting a beautiful canvas is to choose an inspirational subject—a subject that expresses the humility and grandeur of nature…
Excellent! said Bonny.