The next day was Friday, and she was supposed to have dinner with him, but by 10 a.m., a crisis at work had developed, and he had to cancel. Adriana told him he did not have to apologize, and she would be able to amuse herself. Adriana spent the day wandering through Chinatown, riding cable cars, eating lunch at Fisherman's Wharf, and going to the DeYoung Museum. She bought souvenirs and found a post office where she could send them home to her mom.
About 9:00 a.m. the next day, Saturday, she walked the two blocks to Jonathan's apartment. He was going to take her to the wine country so they could both see the sights, sample some wine, and take photos. They rode an Uber to pick up a rental car, and by 10 a.m., they were driving up Lombard Street towards the Golden Gate Bridge. The morning fog coming into the bay prevented Adriana from seeing anything other than the cars on the span. She was disappointed because she wanted to see the bay.
"We'll see it on the way back," said Jonathan, "when the fog burns off."
The thick fog continued for a mile or two after leaving the bridge and entering Marin County, then turned to cloud-like tatters, and then was gone, leaving a clear blue sky, as they drove past Sausalito, Mill Valley, and San Rafael, before turning off the freeway to head for the wine country.
They were going to Sonoma Valley, sometimes called The Valley of the Moon, which was home to many small vineyards. For an artist, this was much more inspirational than the manicured vineyards of Napa Valley, with their chalet-like wineries, cellars, and tasting rooms.
About 11 a.m., they stopped on a low hill overlooking a patchwork of small homes surrounded by one or two acres of grapes. Jonathan had his camera out with its long lens, snapping photos in every direction. Adriana had a 10x12 black sketchbook and pencil and settled herself on a small tree stump.
Surprised, Jonathan asked, "You're not going to take pictures?"
"No, I thought I'd try drawing."
"Are you an artist?"
"Oh God, no. I saw this sketchbook in Japantown and just felt I should buy it. My old boyfriend in Minnesota had one like this and was always doing the most amazing things. I envied him. So, why not?"
She sat down with her pencil, gazed at the scene in front of her, and started to draw. Jonathan moved to several different locations, snapping image after image. After fifteen minutes, he came back to where Adriana was sitting, and she was no longer drawing. She just sat there, eyes wide, staring at the sketchbook in front of her. Something seemed wrong.
"Is everything OK, Adriana? You look weird."
She raised her eyes to him slowly, then turned back to her page, saying quietly, "Look," gesturing to the drawing in front of her.
Jonathan stood behind her and saw on the page an exquisite rendering of the scene spread out in front of Adriana.
"Wow, that's beautiful."
"I know," said Adriana. "But I don't know how I did this. I've never drawn anything like this. It's spooky. I just drew this like I've been doing it my whole life. I don't understand."
Jonathan just looked at her, not really understanding.
"I mean, I don't know how to draw like this. My old boyfriend, Michael, could do this, but I never even took a drawing lesson or anything."
Adriana did not seem upset, just thoroughly confused.
Jonathan looked at her, puzzled, "I don't know what to say. Brains are mysterious things. I guess it's not impossible to suddenly switch on some talent you never had. I mean, coming to San Francisco from Duluth, just that change, must have some kind of effect. I mean, really, Duluth is depressing, maybe it just depressed the talent right out of you."
YOU ARE READING
Mariel's Magic
FantasyThis is a fantasy in which a woman becomes pregnant with a magical child. She and her husband try to protect the girl child from forces that would turn her towards dark magic. They, and the friends they find along the way, try to teach the baby and...
