Little piece and story featuring my friend  geoholms

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Street Art


“So what did you want me to help out with,” I asked as I approached a familiar raccoon.

“I wanted to see if you were busy for the next week and if you wanted to help me out with an art exhibit for the street fair,” Geo said with a grin with that boundless energy I expected from him when he was secretly up to something. My raccoon friend adjusted his red cap as he pulled out a device that looked like a mix between a sci-fi ray gun and a can of spray paint.

“I have always wanted to exhibit my art at the street fair,” I said, remembering that I always miss out on applications.

“Great, I wanted to test out something and need you for a while,” Geo said as he gestured with his arms wildly. “I had a vision, and you being my most artistic friend would be perfect for this project.”

“What are you up to,” I said with some skepticism.

“Public art! You will be the center of my canvas, an artistic masterpiece,” the raccoon beamed.

Hmmm, well I do like the sound of being the center of something artistic.

“Well if it’s for the arts…”

“Great! Just a quick test, and you will be set,” Geo grinned as he rubbed his little raccoon paw over the strange spray paint device. “Get change into something you don’t mind getting dirty and meet me on the corner of Main Street and Steig Street.”

That should have been a red flag but I just assumed he was talking about paint. I decided I was dressed fine for whatever shenanigans Geo was up to and decided to follow him out the door as he left the apartment.

I kept pace with the raccoon waddling his way down the street as I noticed other vendors starting to set up for the street fair that is starting in a few days. The contraption Geo was holding did not look like any art tool I recognize, though I learned over the years to never question his weird experimental projects, he is always up to something and I felt I should be more on alert but it was a beautiful day and I enjoyed the sun shining down on me.

Finally Geo stopped on a large area of the street around where other artists were doing chalk drawings and paintings on the road.

“Can you strike a pose for me,” Geo said as he held up the device with the nozzle pointed directly at me. Was he going to have me model for a painting?

“What is that,” I asked curiously.

“It’s a new medium I've been developing,” Geo grinned, “a new way to create art which captures the essence of a subject down to the detail.”

“And what do you want me to do?”

“Just hold still,” Geo shook the device which blasted out a cloud of foul smelling chemicals. “The effects should last about a week, right around when the fair ends. It will flatten you a bit but you will be fine.”

“Flatten?” I coughed in confusion as the mist caused my eyes to water.

“It’s temporary, you will be fine.”

When I finally opened my eyes I looked at my hand which looked like a 2D piece of paper, I tried to stumble back but realized my sheets were stuck to the road. Not stuck, they were adhering to the road, like a sticker. I had the sensation of falling, well not falling but like I was being pulled by some other form down. It was a nauseating feeling as I felt my body feel light and empty, like I starved myself all day.

Then I hit the rough asphalt, but I didn’t fall with a thud, more like a plop. As though I was a slice of cheese hitting the road. My entire back felt glued to the gritty street. I was now looking up into the blue sky. I tried to get up but couldn’t. My arms felt numb like I slept on them all night. I tried to command my legs to move but the same result. Then the realization came, I couldn’t move anything. I couldn’t even blink.

What did you do to me?! I tried to scream but nothing came out. Great, I can't speak either.

A familiar masked face peered down at me from above, that typical mischievous look on his face. He appeared gigantic from my ground level perspective.

“Wow you came out perfect!” Geo exclaimed, “captured your hair and even those little freckles perfectly. Your colors look so vibrant, especially your hair and eyes.”

Geo ran his fingers over my flatten cheek, seemingly trying to rub whatever material I was now.

“And you adhere very well to the asphalt. Can’t seem to smear you. Which is a good thing.”

Did he not know this information before? Why would he test this on me first? Should I now be worried about being washed off the street?

Geo took out his phone and snapped a few photos.

“Do you want to see how you look?”

The giant raccoon held his phone up to my face. I looked like a more cartoony full body portrait of myself but flattened and painted on the road. I wish I had time to choose my expression if I knew what would happen because I didn’t like the wide surprised eyes and that goofy grin on my face which was more highlighted in this stylized form.

The sun was nice and warm on my new flatten body, but also very bright. It was hard to see the photo on Geo’s phone screen, I tried to squint to get a better look at myself but of course I couldn’t. I couldn’t blink but I wish I could because at that moment another, a large tiger stepped his paw directly on my face.

“Hey watch where you are going,” Geo exclaimed. “I am still doing the final touch ups.”

The tiger shrugged and continued walking away.

“Well, at least he didn’t smudge your face,” Geo said.

Geo started to walk away before remembering, “oh yeah, the street fair lasts seven days, I will be back when it’s over to administer the reversal and get you back to your 3D self.

Get back here you little trash bandit, I tried to scream but realized it was no use. Did he really say seven days? Does that include today? Will be stuck as a portrait of myself on the street for over a week.

Another sneaker stepped on my face. I tried to reflectively blink but of course I couldn’t. Then a group of teenage troublemakers started to grind their shoes in my face, trying to smear me. I could feel some of myself holding strong but still felt some of whatever material I am now starting to rub away.

Over the next week the traffic became more intense, especially when the fair officially opened and everyone started marching over me. Unlike the chalk drawings nearby which were roped off, I was right in the intersection and since Geo never technically reserved a spot for me, the officials assumed I was some artistic rouge graffiti piece and decided it was best not to block the flow of traffic.

One skateboard wheel skidded across my cheek which actually was able to smear part of my face across the asphalt. Now I am even more worried about what this would mean when turning pack. Another kid spilled soda on me which left a sticky puddle over my left face. Another doofus decided to giraffe some cat ears and tail on me. There were countless pawprints tracking over me and at the end of each day the cleaning staff ran their street sweepers with rough brittles over my face.

After not seeing him for a week I saw a familiar raccoon looking down at me.

“Wow Alex you held up pretty well, but you definitely took a beating, see,” Geo snapped a photo of me on his phone then held the screen up to my right eye. I definitely took a lot of wear. I was worn off from the constant rubbing of shoes and paws over me. My face looked smudged and previously vibrant blue hair looked dull and scuffed. Even the freckles on my face looked smeared. But most notable of all were all the footprints and pawprints that were on me, I guess days of spilling snacks and drinks would leave some residue.

Get me out of here, I mentally screamed.

As if he read my mind Geo responded, “I will come back in three days and get you out of here, I can’t turn you back while there are people still around. I will return at night after everyone has packed up.”

And with that the raccoon adjusted his red cap, gave a little salute, and turned away.

Well, at least I could say I make great art.