As Cesar thought about his family, Bob’s smile wavered just slightly. Bob pointed to a gilded picture frame on the wall in front of a large desk depicting Cesar’s shared bedroom. Cesar was surprised at the scene-- it was an overhead view of his mother’s bedroom. He could see himself lying in the crook of his mother’s arms, almost as pale as the patched sheets covering the bed. He walked closer to the image and noticed that it was moving. It was if someone had knocked a hole in the wall and he could peer right through into his former home. He was astonished at the way he looked as his eyes were slightly open but were unfocused. He had seen himself in mirrors before but this time it was drastically different. He guessed that the same way a mounted, stuffed animal looks dissimilar from one that’s alive—physically alike but endlessly different. The eyes that displayed emotion throughout his life were now dim gray and revealed nothing but emptiness. His Grandmother sat shaking at the end of the bed crying and softly beating her fists into her lap. He had never heard her cry before.
   “They are not able to hear you.” Said Bob, in order to pre-empt a reaction from Cesar. Bob approached Cesar and stood next to him, preparing himself to answer any difficult question that may result in Cesar seeing his weeping family.
   “I died from encephalitis—from a mosquito bite?” Asked Cesar, wondering why he didn’t feel the sadness of the separation of his family or how he knew the name of his fatal illness. It seemed to Cesar that the information was just there—popping into his head when it was required.
   Bob tweaked his trim moustache, “Sure did, boy. Just be glad that your life albeit short, was with those two lovely ladies.” Bob stood and in silence, contemplated the scene as if he was observing an art collection.
   Cesar turned to Bob and asked, “Why am I here? I…I mean what am I to do here?”
   Bob stole a quick glance back at Theo—his smile had shortened a bit. “All that and more will be explained shortly. But now we must say our goodbyes to Theo. Just follow me boy-- I’ll show you where we need to begin.” Bob had the look of a showman, the way he stood so straight but yet relaxed.
   Theo gave him a slight nudge forward. “Have fun Cesar, we’ll catch up later once you’ve seen the sights!” She winked at him again, turned her back to him, lifted her heels from the floor and rose quickly through the air, disappearing unhindered through the ornate ceiling.