Count To Ten

Chapter 1

Green grass,

Clear blue skies,

White calming clouds,

Yellow blazing sun,

One last stroke and,

"Finished!" I cheered, jolting to a stand and lifted the colorful canvas up in the air. I grinned down at it and nodded appreciatively.

"How's my talented baby girl doing?"

Startled, I whipped my head around to see my dad perched up on the doorway with his arms crossed, smiling at me.

"Dad!" I whined,"I'm not a baby anymore! Stop calling me that."

He chuckled, walking over to me and took the painting from my hands.

"So...?" I asked expectantly, biting my lip in anxiety as I looked up at him.

He nodded his head slowly, lips tucked up in an okay manner. "Hmm, it's..."

My toes curled on the floor impatiently, bouncing on my heels. "It's...?" I urged for him to go on.

He looked at me from the comer of his eyes, lips tugging up in a smile. "It's okay,"

I frowned,"Okay?"

He then chuckled before scooping me up in his arms,"I was just teasing, kiddo. It's beautiful."

I squealed,"Really?!"

"Of course, like father like daughter. Aye?" He put me down on the floor before asking teasingly,"What's that again?"

"Daddy!" I scowled.

He laughed, putting his arms up in surrender."Alright, alright!"

"But really, do you think I have a possible chance to win the competition?" I asked. Doubt was slowly seeping into me and suddenly, I wasn't so sure about it anymore. "What if I fail? What would people think of me?"

Upon hearing my hesitation, he turned serious, face void of playfulness. "Don't you ever doubt yourself, Ashley. You are a wonderful and gifted girl and I think-no, I know you are going to win this. Uncertainty won't do you any good, remember that. Don't fear of what others will think if you fail, at least you tried. That's all that matters. Thinking will not overcome your fear, but action will so do what you must. I know you're afraid of being judged, but I trust in you, Ash. We will always be here for you." His little speech almost had me in tears. My father always knows the right words to say. "Now, hurry up and get ready. We're leaving in fifteen minutes. And be sure to keep that painting, we wouldn't want you losing that on the day of the competition which is on the day after we get back, just to remind you." He ruffled my hair before closing the door behind him.

I sighed. Dad's right, I could do this. I looked down at painting, once more observing it.

The skies, the sun, the people laughing happily with each other. Yes, it was a simple painting. There was nothing extravagant about the topic I chose but I think it's all about the way on how you painted it and not based on what you painted. It's refreshing to look at, really. It was the typical Sunday: families laughing together, friends hanging out and the scenery and landscape; the usual day. For all I know, things could be entirely different in the future. There are many possibilities on what the world will turn out to be.

Little did I know, it was going to be something I didn't expect; something I didn't even bother to consider; something that would be caused by me.

"Ash! Hurry up, we're leaving!"

I snapped back to reality upon hearing my sister's high pitched screeching voice. I glanced at the clock and gasped, 8:30. How long was I staring at my painting? A whole and exact 15 minutes! I hurriedly placed the canvas back on the easel before scrambling to make the last minute check of my things.