Heroes of the Future #Wattys2015

Chapter 6

The moment I looked inside the room, I instantly wanted to paint a picture. I don't know why, maybe it's the inspirational wallpapers, or the thousand paint brushes, or even the huge canvas that lays against the colorful walls. There was a huge paint plate used for a table. (Haha, that's cool) Art supplies littered all over the ground. I could have gone on and on, describing this place, but unfortunately, my thoughts were interrupted.

"So, I guess I better start explaining, but first, any questions?" Mr. Russo asked.

"Um... How will we use art to kill an evil queen with ice powers?" I mean, I have some ideas, but still.

"Kiddo, you've read The Unwanteds, right? They're my favorite series, such a clever author, that one." He stared off into space and mumbled something about why he couldn't have thought of making making a book like that first.

"Well, yeah, I have read them." It's practically people who use art as weapons, and it's actually clever. Like, using paperclips, to pin down people, or a highlighter to blind someone. I answered half sarcastically, half serious. "Oh, I guess that's true, I guess you could kill someone with a crayon."

"Pssh, crayons?" He reached in his pockets and flipped out out a green and pink crayon. "How about laser ones?" He tipped the crayons, so they're facing the wall to my right, which is Kirsten's room. He mumbled a word and a green and pink beam shot out and through the wall. Two tiny holes appeared. I ran towards it and peeked through.

"Cool!" I was amazed, I mean, it's a laser crayon! Who doesn't like that? Through the tiny holes, I could see Kirsten's surprised face, and Ms. Lavenders annoyed face.

"RUSSO!" Ms. Lavender bellowed.

"Sorry, sweetheart." He gave a mischievous smile. And that's when I noticed that he was one of those guys. Charming, gentlemen-like, trouble, funny. And then I realized that I would fall for a guy like that, I mean, he's everything I expect in a guy. Also, he loves to draw too, and is creative. Not a bad start. My teacher is awesome. I grin.

Ms. Lavender turns away and goes back to talking to Kirsten. I caught her waving, and I waved back.

"Hey, can I try one of those?" I asked.

"Sure, just don't point them in that direction." He jabbed his finger over the direction of the two holes. "I'll teach you how to use them." He handed me a pink one. "You point them at an object."

I poised mine at an old canvas that Mr. Russo said I could destroy. 

"You have to say laser shoot, because if you don't, it's just an ordinary crayon. Each crayon color has it's own ability too. If you don't say the right one for the right color, nothing will happen. You will have to remember the crayon color and what they do. So, for the pink and green crayon, it's a laser beam. Now lets try it."

I said,"Laser shoot." It felt kind of funny, and I didn't expect anything to happen. I felt the crayon warm up. A bright, pink beam shot a hole through the canvas. 

"Pretty cool, huh? Let's use the the other crayons, and I'll show you what they do."

We messed around with the crayons, boring holes all over the room. Pink and green are laser crayons, and to work, you have to say laser shoot. Orange and red are for blasting stuff, smithereens, is the word for that one. Purple and blue are for carving, and the word for that one is carve. That one isn't really useful for anything besides to have fun with it. When lesson time was over, the room looked like a million tiny craters has exploded.

We stood, staring at the mess.

Mr. Russo laughs. "Well, we certainly had fun. I better start cleaning this mess up before Ludwig sees. You can head on out, your friends are waiting. See you whenever I see you." He waves and opens a cupboard, probably looking for something to repair the tiny holes.

"Bye." I wave and walk out the door.

"Oh wait!" He moved his head out of the cupboard and tossed me a purple crayon. "You're welcome!" I caught it in my hands. He puts his head back inside the cupboard, along with his hands, searching for who-knows-what. 

I walked out of the door examining  the purple crayon. I slipped it in my pocket. My friends greeted me with bright faces, waiting to tell each other what they did, or what they learned.

I joined in with the babbled voices and hand gestures. Of all the different powers, I think I'm the luckiest to get Mr. Russo, but who knows, maybe they all felt the same way with their teachers.