E, S, & I

E braves the rain to find a pack of cards. Instead, she returns with a stack of photos. The pictures feature her friend, S, at pivotal moments during her eighth-grade year. There are photos of S as a witch, S dating a jock, S running down the street in a cow suit. E and I decide to have a drawing contest, to see who can better capture S's glamour. This is the picture we choose to replicate:

(Let's take a moment to appreciate the photo. S is obviously at some sort of school dance (note the rods of curls, the floral pattern dress, the similarly-bare arms in the background). Of course, the where of this portrait isn't nearly intriguing as the what the hell? I have two theories as to what, exactly, is prompting her reaction. Either someone at the dance has just whipped out their penis (judging by S's face, her first phallic glimpse--like most girls'--is a mixture of surprise, awe, and disgust); or, she's trying to pluck a nipple-pinching crab from her brassiere.)

E and I get to work. I do a blue-ink scratch-up, while E sticks to pencil. Here's what she comes up with:

I learned about the power of ambiguity while at the University (10 Gs well spent, right?), and the picture is ripe with it. Is S about to be eaten by these monsters, or sexually abused? Do they normally go shirtless (and if so, are they construction workers on day off)? Is S surprised, scared, or excited?

I asked E, but she won't say. Guess that party's private.