Emma's Six- The Final Year

The Art Contest

It is March now, several months after Sky disappeared, and we are all sitting in art class. Clyde and I are drawing; Clyde is drawing K-9, while I am drawing a design for a Tudor-inspired dress. I hope to make it before I go back in time so I have a few options of what I can wear before I must ask the Royal Family for clothes. The image Clyde is drawing is so life-like that I almost believe K-9 is on the page. 'I don't know how you do that,' Luke says. He's sitting next to Clyde and peering over his shoulder at his sketchbook.
'You've either got it, or you haven't, Lukey-boy,' Clyde says, 'you see, art isn't something you can learn.'
'Surely it's a matter of bio-mechanical transference of what the eye sees to paper? In the end, it all comes down to geometry.'
'You know how to ruin all the best stuff,' Anne groans and shuts her book.
'You see?' Clyde asks Luke. 'There's your problem. 'You work up here,' Clyde taps his head, 'you're all science and logic and spocky-stuff, but you can't break down art into maths.'
'Everything comes down to maths.'
'Not art. Art is the soul.' Behind Clyde, I see Mr Chandra come in through the door. 'You don't think it; you feel it.'

'Morning, 11T,' Mr Chandra says, and the class act like everyone was struck by lightning. Everyone climbs off the tables they were sitting on, put their phones away, and dash to their seats.
'Someone's in trouble,' Rani says as I hurry back to the table I share with the queens, 'that's Dad's serious face.'
'Yeah, like he's got any other sort,' Clyde retorts as Rani sits down.
'All right, you lot, settle down. If I may, Mrs Taylor?' Mr Chandra asks, and our art teacher nods. 'I have an important announcement to make.'
'Told you,' Rani whispers to Clyde.
'Concerning you, Clyde Langer.'

'Me?' Clyde repeats, astounded. 'Oh, what have I done now? On, no, wait, don't tell me... I turned up. All I have to do is get some teacher to back me up.'
'You aren't in trouble, Clyde. For once, quite the opposite. I've just had an email from a Mr Harding, curator of the International Gallery.'
'Who?'
'Mr Harding was the judge for the Artists' Of The Future Competition. Tomorrow morning, this entire class will be the first members of the public to see... the Mona Lisa, here in the UK. And all thanks to Clyde. You won first prize!' We all start clapping and cheering.
'You won!' Luke says excitedly.
'Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait. As much as I appreciate the adulation- and missing double maths tomorrow-' the rest of us laugh '-there must be some mistake. I never put my work into any competition.'
'Someone did.' Mr Chandra shares a look with Mrs Taylor.

Luke is looking rather guilty. 'Well, I wonder who?' Clyde asks, looking at Luke.
'They were looking for the country's most promising young artist. And you really are good, Clyde.'
'Brilliant,' Catalina agrees.
'I knew you'd never put yourself forward.'
'Well, it's not good for my image, is it? Some nerdy competition.'
'I've gotta text Mum,' Rani says. As soon as she gets her phone out, everyone dives for their bags. Even Catalina, Anne, and Jane dive for their phones- and they were the last people I thought would get their phones out in class. Of course, Mr Chandra notices everyone get their phones out- or he heard everyone scrape their chairs back to get to their bags.
'How many times?' Mr Chandra asks. 'No phones in the classroom, nor the gallery tomorrow.' Everyone groans. 'Their rules, not mine.'

'You're not annoyed with me, are you?' Luke asks.
'Are you kidding?' Clyde asks. 'It's the Mona Lisa.'

It feels like forever until school ends, and we all dash home to tell everyone what happened. 'MUM, MUMMY!' Luke yells as soon as we get through the door. 'You'll never believe what's happened! Mum? Mummy?'
'I'm in your room!' Mummy yells down the stairs. Luke's body instantly sags, and he drags himself up the stairs to his room. Charles corners him on the landing.
'You better be careful; Sarah Jane's mad.'
'I will,' Luke assures him before he continues up the stairs. Charles walks down, followed by Harry and James.

'I thought you were meant to be at Project History,' Anne says, rather confused.
'We were,' Charles agrees, 'but Major Kilburne says that we won't come back after the summer.'
'What?' Jane asks, 'why?'
'They said Project History is not a priority right now,' James says, 'and they will restart it in 2013.'
'Fat lot of good that is for us,' Harry says, 'or for any officers that come back before then. I feel sorry for them. All that responsibility will be on you lot to teach us, and you'll want to get on with your lives.'
'Plus 2012 will be hard on all of us,' I say, 'it would've helped if UNIT would keep the programme going.'
'They say not enough people have come through to make the project viable.'
'Oh, you won't believe what else happened today,' Anne says. She tells them what happened in Art.

'You're joking!' Charles says.
'Nope, no jokes involved,' I say, 'we're going to see the Mona Lisa.'
'That's awesome,' James says, 'you'll have to tell us everything!'
'Do you know which piece Luke submitted?' Harry asks.
'No, but I guess we'll find out tomorrow,' Jane says. 'I still can't believe this happened!'