"Intermission" - First in the three-part series 'Erased' - Mixed media on plywood. My 158th painting.

 

A large wooden door swings open - a woman and her child cross the threshold. She carries bags of shopping - he clutches a video tape.

 
“Hurry let’s watch it!” the boy shouts.
“It’s nearly your bedtime.”
“But it’s Saturday!” he pleads.

Six year-old Samuel wears a heartbreaking frown. Molly takes in his theatrics.

 
“Okay, but after we put these things away.”
“Yay!” he belts out while racing to the kitchen.

A short while later - the mother and son team hit the couch for the night’s entertainment.

“Mom…”
“Yes?”
“You have to put the movie in.”
“Oh, do I?”
“Yes!”

 
Molly chuckles, moves to the console television set and pushes the video into the VCR. 

Several minutes in - she makes a discovery.

 
“You know what this movie needs?”
“Shhh! No talking!” the boy scolds.
“Snacks!” she whispers.
“I want popcorn and a brownie!” he blurts.
“Do you now?”
“It’s Saturday!”
“Yeah, you said.”

She springs forward, kitchen or bust -

 
“You’re not pausing it?”
“I’ll be quick.” she promises.

 
Molly gathers an array of goodies - Samuel screams. She sprints up the hall.

“What’s the matter?”

The boy jumps from the couch and runs to his mother.

“They’re hurting the man!” he sobs.

 
She turns to the television, the images are gruesome, shocking. She hugs him tight, pulling him into the hallway.

“Listen, you go up to your room and I’ll stop the movie. They just gave us the wrong one, okay? It’ll be fine, you go and I’ll be right behind you.”

The child scurries up the staircase. She returns to the living room, the video playing out unimaginable acts. She quickly hits the power button, then scales the stairs to comfort her son.

After putting Samuel to bed, Molly ventures back downstairs. Those disturbing sights and appalling sounds burned into her mind. She stands in front of the television paralyzed - knowing she must review the tape.

 
Her stomach knots. REWIND, then PLAY. There is a noticeable cut in the original film. Someone had recorded this revolting material - such violent, horrific footage - over a movie made for children. Some vile creature’s sick idea of a joke.

 
A middle-aged man tied to a chair. A masked individual approaches, hammer in hand, striking the hostage over the head. An accomplice joins in with a crowbar. The awful bludgeoning thuds, the groaning of a heavily drugged victim. So much blood, it was everywhere. Molly - frantic, shaking, tears streaming - hits STOP on the player.


It was time to alert the authorities.