chapter 4

Susan and her mother arrived in the center of town. they went to the market, Laura had found the gentlemen who are supposed to interview her daughter. His name was Jazz Thomas, as luck would have it, the girls arrived just in time. He had gotten tea for the three of them to drink as they talked about Susan’s future. Mr. Jazz looked smug and presentable, wearing a business suit and tie, said: “Hi Susan, I would like it very much if you could draw me a picture for me.” Susan shyly replied “Y... yes sir”

She knew she was supposed to be to the point and direct when speaking with adults. Susan took out her sketch paper and her pencils, she had an idea, she would draw a pretty woman in a dress. She started to sketch the outline and next thing she knew she started to see the colors that were meant to be there. Susan saw the picture in her head she saw the woman clearly. In her head she didn’t know why but that’s what she saw, she was drawing rather quickly. Meanwhile, her mother and Mr. Jazz were talking about price.

The mood of the conversation changed, this was not what she was expecting at all. “Well, I was hoping to get a scholarship actually. “after a brief pause the conversation continued, “Well we only give out so many, we will see what level of talent your daughter has." He smiled gently “Then we assess whether or not she can get a scholarship. I thought I made myself quite clear when we spoke before, I cannot afford the tuition, its 20 thousand dollars a year alone. If there is no scholarship, then our business is concluded” After a moment “Very well then let's have a look at that drawing, are you finished, Susan?" Looking toward the young girl. Susan didn’t hear him at first as she was still sketching away, her mother coughed, clearing her throat. “Susan, Mr. Jazz asked you a question “She snapped out of her daydreaming when she heard her mom's voice, “Oh I am sorry sir, I... I mean yes sir I am finished” She handed over her drawing, she had even managed to color it in. “Well this is certainly interesting but not the level of art that I was hoping for, not compared to what you were talking about, I'd say this is average at best.  I am sorry, I can’t give a scholarship for this level of talent, but we would be willing to teach her further and expand her talent for the fee I talked about earlier, if you change your mind you know where to reach me”

Her mother looked at the drawing she saw that it was a stick figure but colored in with something that looked almost like a dress. She knew what talent level a young child should be at being a nanny and a teacher, she knew that the man was right about average, but this picture would not be genius-level art. “Perhaps you saw her art threw as we say, rose-colored classes."

"This is quite good actually," he said.

"But as I said I can’t give you a scholarship based on this…"

"In order to receive a scholarship, I would want to see a full-looking figure, with a rounder body, not this stick like picture she drew. More like this” He showed her a drawing of a woman that another kid had done, more circles were involved and there was a good amount of detail. If it was at this level we would have at least considered a partial scholarship, but as you can see she has a lot of room to grow and to

learn” Her mother tried to hold back her frustration. Susan smiled, “Did you hear that mommy he said my drawing was good “Her stepmother somehow thought that Susan was happy with her drawing, she was careful with what she said next. “Honey I think we should give up on the idea of the school and maybe try something else” Susan’s smile turned to a frown instantly “But... he said it was good” her mother replied “But just not good enough. Not like that one you drew when I first met you “.  Susan was very sad, “But I don’t know how I drew that, I was daydreaming, and I don’t remember.” trying to be reassuring “Its ok sweetheart, maybe that was a special day? During the conversation, the man had excused himself from the table and was getting ready to leave.

“Let me try again sir, please one more time it won’t take long." She ran after him. "One more time it will be good this time I promise” Trying not to be condescending.  “Young Susan I am not saying you're not good, it's just you're not good enough that’s all. I don’t have the time to wait on another drawing of this level” She knew she wasn’t supposed to speak back to an adult but something in her told her to push forward. “But I can do better. I just need more time then you gave me." She pleaded desperately. "I see so I didn’t give you enough time, did I?” he tried not to be rude. “No sir. I need a little more time “. he thought for a moment, “Well ok I still need to get some lunch I want your drawing done by the time I am done eating if you have a drawing of my liking by then I will reconsider.” Susan was overjoyed “You will!” she exclaimed, the man answered back “yes I will."

“thank you, sir “. She continued to hug him tight. "oh, sorry sir."

she bowed her head, "I forgot myself".

“it's okay, no harm is done. Have that drawing ready in half an hour ok?” looking at his watch, he went over to the market to find something to eat, “Ok I will “

Her mom just had caught up to her “What are you doing, you're not bothering that man are you?”

She explained to her mom what just happened, her mother being proud, “Yes, sometimes, you need to push back against people like him, don ‘t take no for an answer. You might be my daughter after all." Sitting down again, she looked at a new blank piece of paper. “Mama, what should I draw? How about I try drawing that lady again, she did look pretty, I will just draw her more.”

As Susan started to sketch her new picture, a light breeze picked up her skirt and caused her to drop her drawing book, she was holding down her skirt, her sketchbook floating away, she quickly ran after the flying book. “I need that, come back here.” She ran faster and faster but seemed that she wasn’t going to catch up. As she turned the corner, she saw a mysterious looking gentleman wearing a top hat, monocle, and was well dressed in a tuxedo that was black and white. He had managed to catch her drawing book. Stopping in her place, the gentleman asked with a smile.

“Is this your young lady?” Trying not to stutter as she always did, “yes sir, thank you, sir."

"why don’t you use this pencil? I think you will find it draws much nicer than the one that you’re using “the man offered.” Ok are you an artist, “He smiled “No but I saw you drawing, and you should always use a proper pencil “, remembering her manners, she was taught to introduce herself. "Hello, my name is Susan, what is your name?” He gave her the pencil and smiled tipping his hat and as he started to walk away “Me? I am nobody. Take care now” Before she knew it he was gone, she had no idea where he went or where he came from, her mother caught up to her. “You can’t keep running off like that" trying to be cheerful, “I found my book,” she said joyfully. “Yes, next time if that happens I’ll just get you a new one!” Susan thought “But you paid good money for this one “.

“Yes, I know but I had plenty of paper with me, let's get back so you can do your drawing”.  “Ok.” Susan went over and started drawing

the woman in her head, about 30 minutes later, Mr. Jazz walked over to them. “Well I am finished my lunch and all my business here is concluded if there is nothing further I must be on my way “She smiled, she was already done but just trying to fill in some of the white space. “Oh yes, here please take this”, he took the drawing put on his glasses and saw of a beautiful woman with long curly hair dancing like a ballerina with the sun catching her body from the back. She used a hint of blue and pink but no other colors, there were lots of details in the dress. It was amazing, too good for a child to have drawn.

Trying to be calm but stern “This, is a joke right. Don’t try to con me, no child could have drawn this." He looked at her mother "You drew this didn’t you ma’am, come out with it, I know you're lying, not when she drew this earlier, he still had her other drawing with him to put on file, just in case the mother had changed her mind a lot of parents do.

Susan argued “But I did, I did draw the picture. Honest my mom told me I am never supposed to lie,” “ Silence, don’t speak unless I am speaking to you, you may only be a child, I realize you may not know your lying but you are, and your mother is a con, a thief” Her mother replied calmly “sir with all due respect, I couldn’t draw that good if I wanted to. This was all hers”. He started to become impatient, the man thought, “Fine I’ll play your little game, draw me one more picture at this level and you will get your scholarship “. Susan was feeling nervous, “um, what should I draw?"

"Draw me another picture like the one you just drew" Susan agreed and started to sketch.

    

Suzan took out one more piece of paper, and she had her special pencil and she started to draw one more time. She tried to imagine another girl, several minutes went by without her drawing a line then, without any word or any hesitation, she started to sketch. The line then curves, then the outline of the figure she drew the exact scene that she

saw in her head, this time she added color. It looks like it could have been a photograph or a painting but all she used was color pencils. It took her about 30 minutes again, but the man was sitting down and watching her draw this time. He saw her draw every line and color, every shadow it was miraculous she handed the drawing to the man. "Is this good?" “This is... Amazing. I apologize, miss, I didn’t mean to mistrust you “. He said, trying to undo his misjudgment. The mother said, “I know this is what I was trying to tell you, but you see her talent it comes, and it goes, I've been trying to get her to draw like that all year, but this is the first time I've seen her draw that good. Well, let's just say I wasn’t sure, I want her to learn how to harness that skill of hers all the time." Laura explained.

He began to calm down, he was extremely impressed. “Well, I think we can teach her. This is better than some of our top students. I dare say it's even better than some of our teachers. This is outstanding. She will get a full scholarship on my honor, here is the letter to your acceptance. I’ll sign it, nowhere your turn. Sign here, here and here, then we can start her classes in the fall “The mother filled out all the papers, all the business was handled, the man from the school with all business done was ready to go so they all said goodbyes.

Trying to contain her joy, Susan has skipped along, as her mother walked behind her, looking at her mom, she smiled, “I remembered how to draw” she stopped, and looked at her mom, “ although I don’t know how I did that before when I drew the other picture, I was trying my best, and when I drew this picture, showing the drawing that had gotten her into the school, I was also trying my best, I don’t think I felt different."

Her mom came to the same conclusions earlier, that when she drew the first picture, she truly was trying her best, otherwise, she probably would have been cross with her. "Dear that’s why you're going to the school, so we can both find out together how to get that talent out of you” for the first time her mother’s

a smile was genuine, she was no longer thinking of herself. She thought she really had a bright kid and she had this kid who had potential. Susan could do something with herself, she felt like she may finally love her. more than any other kid. For a moment she even thought she would put all her concerns only on Susan and retire, but she still needed a job.

For the first time she was becoming a mother, a real mother, even though Susan has been adopted for a year, she still never felt close with her, but after that moment she was slightly less strict on Susan and the two of them started to get along better than ever before. Trying not to get lost in the moment, Laura

was quick to remember herself and her duties, “Now Susan doesn’t let this go to your head, just because you’re a beautiful drawer doesn’t mean this will be easy, I expect hard work from you, that means your studies will be done on time and complete, all of your studies not just your drawing, you hear me, young lady?” Susan smiled, and she hugged her mom. "of course, I'll try my best." Normally her mother was not the hugging type, but she allowed it. Susan soon remembered and took a step back. "Oh, I’m sorry I forgot again". She stood with her head down, she was confused, all Susan ever wanted to do was love her mother and for some reason, it was hard and frustrating to get her mom to love her back.

Probably for the first time in her life, her mother smiled, gave her a hug right back and pat her on the back and she picked her up. "young Susan, today will be a special day. Kind of like your birthday, you can hug me if you wish, but let's not stay here too long. We do have many things to do if you're going to go to that school. There is plenty of time for resting, playing and hugging later deal?"

she said after she took out her pinky. This gesture made Susan very happy, she did the same and crossed pinkies making it an official promise, there were many strict rules governed by MS Laura but there was one rule that was higher

then most, and that was if someone makes a promise, they have better keep it. One could say she was a harsh mother, but she was good and kind, she learned to rear children almost like a military sergeant and she had a hard time showing her love but, in her heart, she really did care.

Neither Susan nor her mom could explain the amazing difference between her first sketch and the second two, it seemed as though the third one was even better than the second one as if she not only unlocked her talent but has somehow learned to keep on unlocking it as if she was going to get better with every picture she drew, her mom was interested in seeing how far Susan could go. She suddenly was not thinking of herself at all. She just wanted Susan to be happy, she even found herself looking at her and smiling. Seeing Susan happy made her happy. This was a strange feeling for her. Soon, she would find herself maybe even loving Susan and being her mom and not just some person who adopted her for fame and standing in the community. She looked over the paperwork one more time, just in case. It was her experience that nothing in life was easy. She read the paperwork to be simple and for a change, it seemed like there was nothing hidden or dishonest about the easy nature of the deal they just made. Laura put that thought in the back of her mind, she was going to have a great day with her daughter today and try as hard as she could to keep negative thought out of her head.