Coming Off The Wall

“How did that happen?” Writer Lady mutters.

“Huh?” Dylan asks.

“Nothing sweetie. I'm just talking to myself. Grown-ups do that sometimes.”

“Who is it?” Dylan asks pressing on.

“I'm not sure.” Writer Lady answers. “Let's go find out. Just a sec.” Writer Lady turns back to the stove and turns it off.

The man in the chair sees them the moment they enter the room.

“Hi.” Writer Lady says smiling.

“Hello.” He says returning his attention back to tug of war.

“Hi.” Dylan says. “Who are you?”

“I am Mural Man.”

“I'm Dylan.”

“Hi Dylan. Is this your dragon?” Mural Man asks as he continues to play with Furnatche. The small silver white dragon snarls as he pulls on the rope with his teeth.

Dylan nods.

“What do you call him?”

“Furnatche.” Dylan answers.

“I don't think that I've ever heard that name before, but then I've never seen a dragon like this lil' guy either. Would you like to take over?” Mural Man asks Dylan. The tow headed boy nods. “There ya go.” Mural Man says handing the other end of the rope to Dylan.

“May I have a word with you?” Writer Lady asks.

“Just one?”

Writer Lady and Mural Man leave the room and return to the kitchen.

“What's going on?” Writer Lady asks.

“Cool, right?” Mural Man asks doing a full turn and grinning. “Mural Man is...Off the wall. Don't worry this is only temporary. I'm going back.”

“When?” Writer Lady asks.

Mural Man pales slightly.

“I'm sorry. I didn't mean to say it in that way. If you're going to be three dimensional for more than a few minutes you are probably going to need some more clothes.”

“TP said I will be like this for 24 hours. But you don't need to worry about getting me clothes. Carp is seeing to that.”

“Wait a minute. Why didn't TP just?” Writer Lady asks waving her hand parallel along the length of her body.

Mural Man gives her a blank stare.

“You know.”

“TP said he would be too busy with other things.”

“So TP is behind this?”

“Yes. Tinkletoes needs me.” Mural Man announces.

“Why does Tinkletoes need you?”

Mural Man thinks for a minute. Realizing he's in a tight spot, he says. “Stuff.” There is an uncomfortable silence as Mural Man searches for a more descriptive phrase. “Guy stuff. He needs my help with guy stuff.”

“You're helping Tinkletoes with Guy Stuff?”

“Yes, but this guy stuff is kind of personal so I can't really share.” Mural Man says.

“Tinkletoes?”

“There you are.” Carp says running into the kitchen carrying...Writer Lady can't count all of the bags because Carp is moving around so fast. “It took some doing but I think I got everything you're looking for.”

“What's all this?” Writer Lady asks.

“Wardrobe.” Carp says.

“He's only going to be like this for twenty-four hours.”

“Mural Man has a variety of looks he's always wanted to explore.” Carp says glaring at Writer Lady.

“Why doesn't he just ask TP to?” Writer Lady asks waving her hand parallel along the length of her body.

Carp looks at her blankly.

“You know...”

“House insists Mural Man stays in a loin cloth.”

“Yes. She loves my sweet tushy.” Mural Man says.

“Off to the bedroom Mural Man. We are having fun today.”

“Can we start with the...long pants?” Mural Man asks.

“Of course. Get going.” Carp answers as Mural Man leaves the kitchen. “We'll be using your bedroom for changes if that's all right.” He says to Writer Lady. Writer Lady nods.

Mural Man runs back into the kitchen. “Can we do the tuxedo thing after that? You know like James Bond? I think I'd look really sharp in a tuxedo.”

“We will go through a lot of different looks during the next twenty-four hours. Trust me to schedule it out. Get into Writer Lady's bedroom and put some clothes on.” Mural Man turns around to leave. Carp reaches for his arm pulling him back. “Lose that loin cloth.” Mural Man turns and leaves the kitchen. “Underwear, put on underwear! If you don't wear underwear nothing is going to look right!” Carp calls after him. “ There are children here.”

Carp begins following Mural Man to the bedroom. Writer Lady reaches out for Carp's arm pulling him back. “You're a little bit different this morning. Are you going to be okay with this?” Writer Lady asks.

“What? Oh...him. Yeah. I'm fine. This is Mural Man not Monitor Man. He's cute, sweet and all but he's just not the real thing is he?”

“I wanted to make sure you knew that.”

“I do. Just make sure that you remember it too. Because when I get done putting this man in clothes, angels will be singing. Speaking of clothes.” Carp says looking Writer Lady up and down.

“This is my robe day. I get to wear my robe because I'm a grown-up. I'm not getting dressed and you can't make me.”

“Really?”

“Really.”

“We'll see about that Writer Lady. We'll see about that.”

“We've got scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, fruit and chocolate chip pancakes. Everybody eat.” Writer Lady says. Aunt Purdy, Paige, Peter, and Dylan are all at the table. Writer Lady heads to the door, opens it, yelling the word “FOOD!” to Tinkletoes who is still removing land mines from the yard with TP's assistance. TP disappears in a puff of smoke. Tinkletoes uses the door.

“That coffee was good.” Tinkletoes says handing her the empty cup. “It's about time food became available, I was getting hungry. You might want to think about setting up a more regular cooking schedule.” He makes his way into the kitchen, sits down and digs in. “Chocolate Chip Pancakes. Cool.”

“Wait.” Writer Lady orders. “Peter did you get your pancakes yet?”

“Yes'um.”

“You got plenty?”

Peter nods.

Looking at Tinkletoes Writer Lady says, “Okay now you can have some.”

Tinkletoes really loads his plate up.

“Carp still needs to eat.”

Tinkletoes puts as little food as possible back.

“Okay, everyone. Here he is!” Carp says entering the kitchen, he stops in the doorway and holding his arms up Monitor Man enters the room.

“What the...” Tinkletoes stands up taking the table with him.