neighbours

neighbours  24" x 30"  oil/paper

*****

eye, the wandering artist, moved into a shack across the road from the community.  every day every one watched his every move.  they said things like, "he stays in his pyjamas all day", or, "he stares into space for 3 hours at a time". one day eye bought a chicken and cooked it outside on the bar-b-cue.  there was so much smoke that the neighbours could barely see him. for a moment in time eye felt better being hidden but then collapsed from smoke inhalation, neighbours rushed him to the hospital. he was okay after being given some fresh oxygen. when eye was back home he called a  meeting with the neighbours, asked them,  "who do you people think you are, watching me all day, talking behind my back".  they replied, "that's the price for saving your life".

*****