Contemplative Sensitivity

The Class

Martha and John signed the family up for a painting class. Even Harold and Desmonia tagged along with Cecily and Mike. The first week, the session was quiet and awkward. Levi painted beautiful landscapes, while Cecily and Erwin could hardly paint the sky. Mike, surprisingly, painted pretty, abstract works of art. Desmonia and Harold had friendly competitions and often ended up with more paint on each other than on the canvas. Martha rolled her eyes at her brother's foolish and John was more invested in watching Levi paint than attempting to paint himself.

By the month's end, John, Martha and Cecily quit the class. Martha's excuse was that he couldnt stand to watch her brother behave like a child. Cecily hated that she couldn't paint nicely like Levi. John left because painting wasn't his thing--or so he claimed. So the mister and misses Dwyer and Erwin, Mike, and Levi were left. Erwin gradually got better at his art--he found water color to be easier to use than acrylics. Mike continued painting in his unique way and the Dwyers continued painting on each other. Levi was composed and stoic and Erwin noticed that when Levi was painting, it was as if his mind was somewhere else.

"Oi, Levi," Harold said one day. He was using a Scottish accent. "You should be a professional. You are so young but so gifted! Why don't you start selling your work?"

"Yes," Desmonia hissed with a smile on her painted lips, "Become money savvy."

Levi, who had paused painting to hear the two out, put his brush down and shrugged. There was a bemused expression between his eyebrows. Mike noticed and stopped dabbing paint on his canvas.

"You'd be rich! Think of it, Levi. You'd be so cool with the green stuff," Mike offered. 

"At a boy," Harold rejoiced and got up from stool to rub black paint on Mike's cheek. Mike recoiled in surprise. "Ehh??"

"At a boy," Desmonia restated and watched her husband and son tussle.

"Harold is pretty nice," Erwin said absentmindedly. He was trying to paint an apple.

"He is," Levi mumbled. Erwin tore his eyes from his work and stared Levi down.

"You talked..." Erwin said gayly. He was so happy that Levi spoke to him. "You talked to me!"

Desmonia overheard and silently crept up behind Erwin. Levi made no sign that he noticed her approach.

"You talked to me," Erwin had to say it again to make sure. He was in disbelief. Before he could say anything else, Desmonia clobbered him in a hug. Some of the paint on her face got into Erwin's hair. "ACK!"

"Aha, got you!" She joked.

Erwin struggled against her playfully. "Quit it!"

"I'm gonna tickle you," she warned.

Levi watched the friendly squabble for a little while before he continued painting. Erwin was able to steal a glance.

Levi was smiling.

About three months later, on their first day of school, Martha walked into Levi's room to find him not in his bed. Confused, she walked into Erwin's room and found the two boys entangled together on his bed. Erwins blonde hair was cowlicked and he was tasting a good bit of Levi's thick, black hair. Martha did not like what she was seeing.

At breakfast, she decided to address their bed sharing.

"Levi," she said gently. "I would like it if you slept in your own room."

"No," Levi deadpanned.

Levi kicked Erwin softly underneath the table when Martha frowned. John, who had been reading the newspaper, glanced at the dark haired child and his wife. He looked moderately interested.