You are currently browsing the daily archive for January 27, 2010.
Two years after moving to Hollywood; life was good for Chuck…not spectacular, but he couldn’t complain. His classmates knew him well enough that they were friendly with him while at school, but after school was over he was alone again. He would play kick ball, tetherball, handball, and all the other playground games. He was still picked last for kickball and other team sports. Would you complain if you were picked after an Amazon named Claudia who was know for throwing haymakers at bumblebees and knocking them out of mid-flight for a standing ten count. Chuck liked his life and was not ready to invoke her wrath over a little thing as his bruised ego; he didn’t believe he could do any better than those poor bumblebees. His life was good he still had his drawings that would pocket him an extra chocolate chip cookie or two every week. When he wasn’t working for chocolate he just love to draw for the pleasure of creating art.
On this particular day his good life seemingly came to an abrupt halt. He had just finished a drawing of a famous fat cat and his sloppy tongued dog sidekick in which he received some chocolate milk for. After the transaction, Chuck noticed he was being watched and he knew who was doing the watching. It was Mrs. Irons the school principal… Chuck swallowed as they made eye contact. His heart started to pound in his chest and his mind was racing with thought of dread…
Oh crap! I’m busted, she just saw me except payment for duplicating copyrighted material. Oh man my last year at this school and I’m gonna spend it in detention. I’m gonna be put away with they guy who ran the grade school prostitution ring or with the guy who was rumored to be a cannibal. He was gonna be surrounded by all the biggest, meanest, nastiest, and smelliest bullies in the whole school. Chuck was going in as the only artsy criminal… he was gonna end up as someone’s detention bitch. He would have to end up giving away his beloved chocolate while tearfully whimpering…
“Hello Chuck.” Mrs. Irons said with a smile.
Oh my god. She’s a sadist; look at her enjoying my upcoming misery. Goodbye my good life.
“Hello Mrs. Irons.” Chuck squeaked trying to squeeze out the dreams of horror out of his mind.
“Mind if I look at some of your drawings Chuck? I hear you are very skillful.”
“I don’t mind.” He handed over the evidence of his criminal activities as his heart was raging against his ribcage.
She flipped through the pages of the sketch pad carefully examining each one. She closed up the sketch pad and handed it back to Chuck.
“These drawing are very good Chuck.”
“If you say so ma’am.”
“Chuck I would like to ask you something…”
Uh oh, here it comes she about to close the noose now.
“… Chuck I would like you to represent out school in the Regional Art Competition, would you be willing to do this?”
Chuck’s jaw hit the floor, his eyes glazed over and his heart stopped. He wasn’t in trouble? He wasn’t going to be put into detention until he went to junior high? He wasn’t gonna be someone’s detention bitch? He could still have chocolate! He swallowed hard and forced his heart to start up again.
“Umm yes Mrs. Irons I would be happy to do this for our school.”
“That’s wonderful news Chuck! I’ll let your teacher know that you’ll be working on this so you can have access to supplies you may need.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Irons. I’ll do my best.”
She gave him a smile and left him to work on what he was planning to enter into the competition. The two weeks he had before the competition was filled with thoughts of nothing but art. He wanted to make something awe inspiring, something unique, and something beautiful. There were nights when he couldn’t sleep because his mind was running over the details of what he was planning to submit for the competition. He wanted every detail perfect, he wanted it never to be said he didn’t try his best. When he was done with his submission he let it go with the knowledge that he did just that and with a hope that he might win some recognition for himself and his school.
He didn’t win… life still went on and chocolate still tasted sweet.
