Should've Said No

The painting contest

The next day at school, Rosenda was excited to get started on painting her picture. It was a pretty long day, and Rosenda was so bored that she felt like she could fall asleep—and she was relieved when it was finally time for her art class. Robin saw Rosenda getting ready to paint her picture, and she went over to her.

"Rosenda, you're making a big mistake," Robin teased.

"What do you mean?" Rosenda asked.

"You don't want to paint—it's too tiring for you," Robin said. "You'd better sit this one out."

"I can't, Robin," Rosenda said, seeing through Robin's excuse. "All the students are required to participate."

"But I want you to sit out, Rosenda—you have to," Robin said.

"Forget it, Robin," Rosenda frowned. "The answer is no."

"I don't want to forget it," Robin whined. "You have to sit out, so I can win the trophy."

"Robin Gripling, that's enough," Mrs. Kelly glared. "Now you have a choice: either sit out of the painting contest yourself and risk getting a bad grade or leave Rosenda alone."

"Yes, ma'am," Robin sighed. She left Rosenda alone and went back to her easel.

Soon enough, all the students got started on their paintings. Rosenda was having a good time painting her picture. Robin was rather dismayed that Rosenda was participating, and she shot the girl a hateful glare—but she was sure that her Eiffel Tower painting would be the best. All the students were having fun, painting their pictures. After 30 minutes, the students showed their paintings. Right now, Hero was showing his oil painting of the Sandia Mountains in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

"Wow, Hero, that's a beautiful painting of the Sandia Mountains," Mrs. Kelly smiled.

"Thanks," Hero smiled back. He picked up his picture and went back to his seat.

"Okay, who's next?" Mrs. Kelly asked.

"That would be me," Robin said. She stood before the class and showed her watercolor painting of the Eiffel Tower—and while everyone thought her attitude was rotten, her painting skills were just amazing.

"My, that's quite an Eiffel Tower," Mrs. Kelly smiled.

"Best watercolor painting ever," the Asian girl said.

"Aw, you're just saying that because it's true," Robin smirked. Then she took her painting and went back to her seat.

"Okay, Rosenda, you're the last one," Mrs. Kelly said.

"Okay," Rosenda said. She went before the class and displayed her painting—and Mrs. Kelly and the other students gasped. She had painted her family in front of her father's police car and a bright sky-blue background—and in the painting, she was holding a paintbrush, and it looked like she'd used it to paint the rainbow.

"Wow, Rosenda, your painting tells quite a story," Mrs. Kelly gaped.

"Why is there a police car in the picture?" Robin asked.

"Because my dad is a police officer, and driving a police car is part of his job," Rosenda replied.

"Best painting I've seen," Hero smiled.

Everyone else in the class agreed—everyone, except Robin and her friends.

"Well, we have no question about the winner: Rosenda Juarez!" Mrs. Kelly announced.