Journey Ahead

Thomas

I slowly slide my leather art bag off my chest and set it down on the grass. Grasping the clasp, feeling the cool metal, I carefully turn the metal and pull. I hear a faint popping sound, telling me it is open. Flipping open the top, I pull out my things, one by one placing them on the grass.

I pick up the plastic water holder, twist, and it's open. Placing it on the grass, I grab my leather bound sketchbook, place it on my lap. The leather rubbing against my skin as I flip through all my pages, finally getting to the next clean page. I pick up my paint brush, the grass brushing against my warm hands, and carefully place it on the top of the water container. Pulling out the, watercolor pallet, I set it next to the paintbrush. I pick up the paint brush once again, cool metal on my fingertips, lowering it down into the water, and soak it through.

I start creating a rainbow background with so many different colors. My paint brush dances across the page as I paint. Happiness builds inside me as i get further into my project.

Just as I place my brush, with clean brown paint, on my paper, I look up, and see a face I have known for eleven years.

Thomas.

I set down my brush and look up, our eyes meeting. He is smirking. Apparently my face gave away that I wanted to know why. Because he answers the question in my head.

He laughs. "How did I know I was going to find you here?"

Just as I guessed, Thomas is just being his weird, dorky self. The thought brings a smile to my face. At that moment I realize his hands are tucked behind his back, like he is hiding something. Well, knowing Thomas, he probably is.

"Happy birthday Kare bear." He says, giving me a warm friendly smile.

"Still using the nicknames we gave each other when we became friends, huh?" I say returning the smile.

"I thought if I used them, then you would catch along." He says jokingly.

"I was horrible at making nicknames when I was five."

"Thomas the train isn't that bad. I mean, it's kinda long, but it's not horrible." He responds, with a convincing grin.

"Thomas, you are not helping the situation."
I complain, sounding a little whinny.

"Well, at least I tried." He says, laughing.

I start to continue painting, my brush makes only slight marks on the paper, and the colors are blending together. I am so mad, I can't hold in my frustration.

"Ugh! It won't show up!" I burst out, making Tomas jump.

"I think I might have a little something to help with that." He says, his face lighting up with happiness.

His hand comes out from behind his back, a box in his hand. A small one, with a dark green bow.

He comes down and sits next to me, setting the box on my lap.

"Thomas, you didn't have to get me anything." I say in a soft, fragile tone.

"Yes I did, it is your birthday Karrance, you are turning sixteen, that is a big deal." He responds back, giving me a smile.

"Well, I mean I guess it is fair since i got a present for your birthday tomorrow. I guess we are even."

"Stop talking and just open it already!" He says, sounding very excited.

"Ok. Ok. I will open it!"

"Yay." He says, in his squeaky excited voice.

My fingers grip the bow, untying the ribbon.Then I take the top off of the box. I gasp because the box contains rows and rows of tubes of acrylic paint.

"Thomas! How did you know!?" I exclaim.

"Well, first of all, I know you, and you have been talking about them for four months."

"Nobody likes a smarty pants Thomas."

"I am not being a smarty pants, I am just using my common sense!"

"Thank you Thomas, I love them."

"You're welcome Kare."

We sit there, and I look at the paints, marvled at how many there are. I plsce my hand on one, and feel the cool metal brush against my finger tips.

"Well, aren't you going to paint."

"Oh. Oh yeah." I say, snapping back into the world.

I pull out a tube from the box, and my hand against something, and underneath the tube is a layer of wood.

"Oh yeah. There is also that." He says laughing.

I pull out more tubes, until I am able to grab the wood. I slowly pull it out, revealing a perfectly sized, wooden pallet. It is circular- ovalish shaped, with a slit in the side for your fingers, and a hole for your thumb.

"I knew you would need that, so I decided to be evil and hide it underneath!" He responds, laughing even hader.

"Thomas, you little butt!" I say punching him hard, right in the shoulder.

"Ow! What was that for?" He responds, rubbing his arm.

"For being a jerk!"

"Ok, stop bickering at me and, I want to see you paint."

Thomas is the kind of person who becomes joyful when watching me make art. Mostly because he loves my art, and also he is just that kind of person.

I pick all the brown colored paints, one yellow, one green, and one blue. Squeezing normal amounts of paint of the brown and small amounts of the other colors, all across the border. I scoop a little of the yellow, green, and blue into the middle. Then I mix them together. Picking a few different browns, I mix them with the color in the middle. I keep repeating this process, and get a dark brown, with a hint of yellow, and the blue and green balancing all the colors together. Just what I want.

Then I clean off my paint brush and start painting. I start at the trunk and work my way up. Until the body of the tree is done.

"I like it, but I feel like it is missing something." I say.

"Yeah, I feel the same way."

"Ugh. What could it be?"

"These are spring trees right?"

"Yeah."

"What grows on trees during the summer?"He says, grinning his grin he gets when he is being smart.

"Flowers!" I shout.

I immediately squeeze a few reds and pinks next to the browns on the pallete. Creating different shades and ones in between. I start to create small dots, dabing my paint brush on the paper, creating the illusion of flowers.

"Done."

"I really like it Kare, we should go put it up in your room, well at least, once you sign it."

Ooooh cliff hanger, I know I am so evil, sorry. 1100 words! Wow! Hope you guys are enjoying this, because I enjoy writing it.
Sorry it has been a while since I have posted, it takes a while to write this, and school doesn't help, plus trying to help around the house too, just don't have time.
Bye guys!
-Lillian~Chan
<3