Page 248 - The Grotesque Children's Book

at what Santi and I are doing. No one’s watching. We could paint anything up here, and
no one would notice. It’s like getting away with murder. And, even more hilariously, by
the time October 1st comes around and the Uffizi gallery is open for the first time, they
will have taken down the scaffolding, and it will be too late for them to go back
afterwards and paint over anything. Santi and I will have been long gone by then. This
gives me great pleasure. On the other hand, it also saddens me to think that, honestly, no
one’s really going pay much attention to anything we’ve done up here, ever. Who ever is
going to take time to look carefully at anything we do. Are you?

octagon. Trad., The eight possible points on the compass; direction; possibilities. Symbol for
regeneration; consequently the shape used for baptisteries Megl., Secrecy; obfuscation;
secret societies; secrets within secrets; deliberate insularity. See also symmetry.

Omega tree. Trad., The final letter of the Greek alphabet: Ω . signifying endings, finality,
death. Used in conjunction with the Greek letter Alpha to refer to the resurrection of
Christ. Megl., We're saddened at the appropriation of the Omega symbol by Christianity
to refer only to the resurrection, and nothing but the resurrection, so we're attempting to
broaden its symbology in our ceilings to include plants and animals which are just
fulfilling the laws of nature and reproducing themselves. Look for bended branches in
trees; often for us that's merely the harbinger of winter or spring. But, yes, we must also
confess that our use of architectural archways, particularly ones which are standing alone,
symbolizes the end of one life and the beginning of another; though we mean that
economically rather than ecumenically. (cf. Arch). An archway; same thing.

overinflated breasts. Trad., Mother; succor; sustenance. Megl., Carola’s amazing breasts.
They’re just enormous.

oyster. Trad., Hidden wisdom; patient nurturing; hidden treasure. Megl., Bianca Cappello.
Motto Mar Coelocue procreata merito carissimi (cf. Bay 22); deservedly precious, she
came forth from the sky and sea. Also, fawning to curry favors.

phallic columns. Trad., Pillars of society; the male reproductive organ. Megl., The male
reproductive organ is the pillar upon which our society is built.

pinwheels. Trad., Wind; circular motion; celebration. Megl., Endless, pointless motion; you
can turn all you want to and pretend your harnessing the force of nature, but you’re
affixed to a stick, destined to turn and turn and accomplish nothing. Alternatively, life is
a happy wonderful place filled with wonder and celebration!

putto. Trad., An angel; plural is putti. Megl., See birds, and think of us.

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