The Creepy Coke Baby

So you're driving down Somerville Ave. through Somerville, MA, just minding your business on a Saturday afternoon, and the painting catches your eye. It's on the side of a big brick building housing the Bar Brasil and the Continental Cafe. You've seen it before, but it never registered. This time, maybe you're stuck in traffic, so you take a closer look ... and ... what is that?

Is it supposed to be a small boy smiling behind a cool frosty bottle of Coca-Cola? If so, exactly what disease afflicts the poor child? Does he look that way because he's dehydrated and needs a Coke? Or is the effects of too much Coke? Is the phosphoric acid eating away at him? Is he pushing it on us?

Now you're really curious. You get a little closer. But the closer you get, the scarier it is. His little concentric-circle eyes hypnotize you. By this time, you're not thinking about Coca-cola at all. Perhaps your mouth has gone dry, but a cold Coke is the last thing you want. Is this really the best they could do? Has this pale little boy been approved by the Coca-Cola marketing department?