CHAPTER 42
CHAPTER 42: THE ART FAIR
A month later, my old art teacher called.
"I need a favor."
"What kind of favor?"
"I want you to participate in the community art fair."
I nearly dropped the phone.
"No."
"That's not the right answer."
"I haven't shown my work to anyone in years."
"Exactly."
I laughed nervously.
She didn't.
"You've spent enough of your life hiding."
I didn't answer.
That evening, I mentioned it to my mother.
She looked at me carefully.
"You should do it."
I sighed.
"You always say that now."
"Because I was wrong before."
I looked at her.
She smiled.
"Let me be right this time."
A week later, I agreed.
I submitted three drawings.
The kitchen.
The garden.
And one sketch of Ella sleeping with Sunny curled beside her.
At the fair, I nearly changed my mind.
Then I saw my family.
All of them.
Standing together.
Supporting me.
My mother walked up to the drawings and cried.
Again.
"Mom."
"They're beautiful."
"They're pictures of furniture."
She laughed through her tears.
"They're your pictures."
That afternoon, someone bought my sketch of the garden.
I stared at the empty spot on the wall.
"I sold one."
My mother squeezed my hand.
"No."
I looked at her.
May you like
"You shared one."
For some reason, that sounded even better.
