“Sterling, I have a question for you.”

“What is it, Felix?”

“Why do you think the artist paints like that? Splashes of color. Wild brushstrokes.”

“Hmmmmm.”

“She keeps covering the paint with different colors. Layers and layers of color. She even goes in and scratches in it and wipes it off again.”

“You watch her that much?”

“Yeah, It makes me dizzy. I get tired just watching all that craziness.”

“I think she is catching movement. Motion. And emotion. Hey, I like that. Motion and emotion. Emotion and motion. I am brilliant.”

“Yeah, right.”

“Sterling, I have a question for you.”

“What is it, Felix?”

“What is a proboscis?”

“Whoa, that is a pretty big word for you. Where did you get that mouthful?

“Herald”

“Herald?”

“Yes, he told me I have a big proboscis. And he laughed. I think I’m insulted but not sure yet.”

“Well, you do have a big proboscis. Herald was right. It’s your nose, doofus. But wait, don’t pout. Here’s what you can go do. Go back and tell Herald…”

“Sterling, I have a question for you.”

“What is it, Felix?”

“You told me there is fur on that stick.”

“What are you talking about?”

“The artist. You said that stick she holds is a brush. You said there is fur on the end of it.”

“Yes. I did say that. It’s good to know you’re listening. You might learn something.”

“Who’s fur?”

“Different animals. Artists use hair from lots of different animals for their brushes. Sable. Hog. Squirrel…”

“No Raven feathers?”

“Not that I’ve heard. Ox, Badger, Pony. Camel. Goat. Even an animal they call Synthetic. I’ve never seen a Synthetic but they are around somewhere.”

“I’m going to find me a Synthetic. I wonder what they taste like.”