CHYIOME LA MAGE

Chapter 1( part 3-)

"Mom, can I use your studio?" I ask, peering into the kitchen.

Izuma looks up at me and asks, "Why?"

"I just need to fix the hems on something," I say, avoiding the fact that I need to redo my entire hat, which took me three months to complete.

"Is it the hat?" Izuma asks, walking over to me.

I nodded sulkingly as I muttered, "Some boy decided to mess with me."

I looked around the room, trying to avoid Izumi's concerned gaze.

"You can't just let people walk all over you," Izuma says, placing both of her hands on my shoulder and shaking me gently.

I place my hands over hers. I look into her eyes as I say, "I know that, Mom. But, fighting them won't help either."

"Then prove them wrong," Izuma says, placing her forehead against mine lovingly.

I quickly moved back due to Izuma's breath. Which reeked of alcohol.

"I am going to work on my new hat," I said before rounding the corner.

"Okay, don't stay up too late," Izuma called after me as I rushed up the steps.

I got to the top of the stairs and took a left. I walked to the last door of the hallway. I open the door and walk inside. I look around the gray and purple room, smiling at all the unfinished paintings my mom created, even though none of it is done. You can still see what it is supposed to be. I walk over to the desk, where many, many design sketches are lying messily. I grab each paper, stacking one on top of the other and setting it aside. I clear all the fabric chalk, pencils, needles, pins, and markers away from the center of the table. I rip a sheet of paper out of the sketchbook on the floor. I put it in the clear area. I sketch out an entire outfit this time, not just a hat. I continue to sketch until I am thoroughly happy with the design. I get up quickly and rush over to the double-doored closet, I open it to see large cylinders of fabric, some on the end of their journeys, others just barely dented, but with jagged edges from a constant cutting from that section. I cut a long strip of gray fabric as I thought to myself, 'I should keep the constant color scheme from my first hat. A new beginning!' I cut about six pieces.

'I should make a slim dress, like a slip dress, one that is breathable, moveable.' I thought to myself, placing the fabric over my bent arm, I walked over to the table. Placing the fabric on the floor next to me. I stood up again and pulled the second empty dress stand towards me. I opened the drawer to the left that had the body measurement stencils. I grabbed them and the chalk and traced over the important parts before, wrapping the fabric around my waist and using the chalk to make where certain things go.

I looked at my arm watch to see that I'd been up here working on my new pieces of art for six hours. I glanced at the dress stand that had fabric thrown around it just to see how everything would look on a body. I yawned and stretched before getting up, my knees popping under me. I looked around at the mess I made, sighing as I turned the light out, and I walked out and closed the door behind me. Sighing restlessly, I walked into my room, which I shared with my two younger sisters. I climbed onto the top bunk slowly. Dramatically falling once I reached the top bunk, I reached out to my left and grabbed my book about modern society.

"Chyio, are you awake?" Makio's soft voice echoes in the hallway as she walks into the room.

I sat up quickly, "Makio?" I whispered.

"Chiyo, it's Makio. I wanted to ask if you wanted to listen to Izuma read a story," She says, walking into the room and switching on the light.

I fluttered my eyes as the light came on. I sat up and started on down the latter. "I mean, why not?" I huffed as I jumped from the last two steps, "What book is it?" I asked. walking to the door.