Distance

XV

"Dinah so I was thinking we need a new Black girl on this wall. Do you know any black girls that would fit for this project?" Dinah had arrived at the art studio and was now talking to Mike. "I know the perfect girl, what day would you need her here?" "Whenever you can get her here". 

Dinah walked out of the studio and called Normani. "Hey" the melanin girl said. "Hey bear so I have really good news." "What is it?" "So you know how I am working with Mike. Well he needs a model of different color so I am buying you a ticket to come to Cali." 

"Oh my gosh when do I come?" "Well since you are out for winter break for three weeks you can get packed tomorrow. You can stay with me in my dorm with Maggie". "Sounds like a plan. I am excited". Dinah smiled "I will pick you up at the airport." "Thank you so much Dinah". "No problem Mani. I have to go and start painting now but I will talk to when I am done. Go pack" 

Dinah hung up and she looked for tickets from Toronto to Los Angelo's and she found a decent price $475 she quickly bought the ticket and sent the email to Normani which had the ticket. 

"So Dinah what made you fall in love with art" Mike asked as he poured white paint on his plate. "Well my mom, she would always paint around the house she made money by painting vases one thing she kept a secret. Until one day I found a closet full of vases and paints I painted one for her it turned out nice instead of selling it my mom kept it. That's when I knew I wanted to continue art." Mike was stunned that such a young girl stated her painting career but a vase a fragile vase. "I am stunned and I looked through a lot of your work. I see the change in art through the many years." "Wow thank you". "So when will the young girl get here?" 

"She will fly out tomorrow which is only four hours and she'll be here tomorrow afternoon." Mike nodded understanding and continued his painting along with the Polynesian making light conversation. 

"Every accomplishments starts with the decision to try."

"Wow we finished fast" Mike said as stepped back from the painting. "This is amazing both working with one of my idols and painting something realistic." 

"When you leave here go to your campus mailbox and I sent you your check for the day" Mike said as he walked over to his sink to clean his brushes. Dinah nodded and grabbed her bag "thank you I will be here tomorrow afternoon." The blonde dismissed herself and she left the studio smiling she didn't know what she was excited about Normani or painting she just decided it was both. 

I just find myself happy with the simple things. Appreciating the blessings God gave me. 

-DMX 

Dinah drove to the campus and stopped by the mail box. She looked for her dorm number and quickly found it unlocking. She found an envelope with the name Mike on it  she took out it out and walked to her car. Getting in she decided to just open the envelope and in their was a $1,000 dollar check. Dinah was shocked just for painting what they called a masterpiece. Their was a note inside as well. "I already knew" Dinah quirked an eyebrow what did he already know? 

There isn't any great mystery about me. What I do is glamorous and has an awful lot of white-hot attention placed on it. But the actual work requires the same discipline and passion as any job you love doing, be it as a very good pipe fitter or a highly creative artist. 

-Tom Hanks