When I got home, this card was sitting on the computer table. Michelle, my lover, tells me she found it this afternoon while walking the dog. The image is very creepy. Why is that bird smiling at this obviously deranged child?

The picture is doubly disturbing to me, as I have a three year old niece with bright red hair who has a thing for flames. She was so excited by blowing out the candle on her birthday cake one year that we relit it several times for her amusement. My niece stared into the flame, a terrible look of awe on her innocent face. It was a look much like the little girl's look in this illustration.

If you have any idea where this image comes from, please let me know.

Update: Several people have written me threatening letters demanding I post that this picture is from "La petite fille aux allumettes". Hopefully my mentioning this will now stop them from camping out on my front lawn.