Evelyn

Chapter 12 - I drawed you a picture Evie!

After I had the quickest shower of my life I raced out of the house and drive the fifteen minute journey to the park.

Just because Violet wasn't here, Marks an ass and I was avoiding James, didn't mean I couldn't still help. It's for a good cause.

Hell bent on avoiding Mark, I parked my car as far away from the goings on as possible. Minutes after I strolled into the crowd he spotted me.

"Evelyn! Over here!" Mark waved wildly.

Ugh.

I just looked away and carried on walking, hoping he'd get the hint or just lose sight of me in the crowd.

No such luck.

He called me again, but he was closer this time.

"Hey? Didn't you hear me? I was calling your name.." He whined.

Sticking my chin in the hair I glared at him. "I heard you, I'm trying to avoid you and you're kinda ruining that right now with your talking."

Mark looked at me in shock. Even though he hurt my best friend I still felt guilty for snapping at him.

"I'm just here to help out, that's it." I sighed, "We'll have a chat later." and I sped off.

There was a great turnout. Families were scattered all over the grass watching their children run around. The sound of laughter in the air was contagious.

I strolled up to the makeshift market stalls with a soft smiled etched on my face.

Vegetable stalls, homemade jewellery, clothes and even an angel stall. That one was my favourite. It reminded me of my auntie Emma, she was always interested in spiritual things and frequently read my palm and gave me a tarot reading. I have a drawer full of stones with different meanings in my closet.

Making a note to drop in on my way back I made my way up past the many other stalls until I found what I was looking for.

"Hi, where do I sign up?" I asked the pleasant looking middle aged woman.

"Oh hello dear." She smiled, "Looking to help out are you?" I nodded in response. "Perfect, thank you so much!" She rifled through some papers on the stand.

"How are you with kids and face paint?"

"Great with kids, average with the art." I admitted.

"You don't need to be Picasso dear, as long as they're happy that's all that matters."

"Well in that case, I'm all yours." I chuckled.

After registering and getting directions and instructions, I settled myself at the face paint station. It was thankfully in the shade. A bouncy castle on one side of me and what looked like an art class on the other side.

The second I had organised myself I had my first customer. "Hello there." I said in my softest voice, "Would you like your face painted?"

The little pudgy girl rocked back and forth on her heels in excitement and nodded vigorously.

I pulled out the seat across from me, "hop up!" I said, the smile never leaving my face. She was too cute. Couldn't be any more than three years old. Blonde pigtails on either side of her head that curled up into ringlets. The most adorable freckles I've ever seen and the biggest grin too.

"What do you want me to draw?"

She thought for less than a minute. "A Princess!" she squealed.

"A Princess? But you're already a princess!" I teased.

She shot up out of her chair and wrapped me in a huge hug.

"Thanks, that was a great hug." I beamed.

She settled for a 'kitty face'. Was quite delighted with the outcome and skipped off with her mother.

About twenty five faces later someone came to relieve me of the stand and I gladly got up to get some water and have a stretch.

Looking around I noticed the crowd had at least doubled since I started.

After paying for my water and a sneaky bar of chocolate I made my way back to the stall and thanked the girl for covering for me.

The queue had slowed down and I glanced around to see how the other stalls were doing. Screams of pure joy poured out of the bouncy castle on my left. The art class seemed to be going well too although I couldn't see anyone there teaching. Glancing around I spotted the little girl again and waved.

"Hi princess!"

She grinned in response, grabbed her paper from the easel and ran over to me. "I drawed you a picture Evie!" Crumpling it in excitement.

"You drew it for me?" Slapping my hand on my heart. "It's beautiful!"

"That's the castle and the garden and that's you and James." She said as she poked at the sheet.

"I'm sorry, who? Who's James?"

"That's James." she pointed, "over there."

I looked in the direction she was pointing and saw him, standing in front of his own easel, brush and paint in hand with a look of calm across his face.

"Why did you paint James as my prince?"

"Cause he is drawing you."

Oh.