Home for the Unwanted

Chapter 11

"Goddammit Peter, it's 7am, what the hell are you doing up?"

"I was woken up by someone who was attempting to sneak away, to look at some really crappy art I assume?"

"Stop with the slyness." I quipped, "Yes, the curiosity was killing me but seriously Peter, these are really beautiful."

Peter gave a sassy scoff and placed his hands on his slim hips, "Yeah, when there not looked at with a naked eye. Honestly Thomas, are you even human? How have you not been turned blind at all by seeing these?"

"Such a Drama Queen."

"Am not!"

I shook my head. Hypocrite.

"Do you have any more?" I asked, eager to view more of his art.

"No I'm afraid I threw them out."

"Have you ever thought of making a living out of this?"

"What with these pieces of crap? Yeah, we can all see from miles away that that's not going to work."

I looked at him, "You're just being pessimistic. You never know what's going to happen. What about if we start small: just today we can go out and sell these pieces, just on the street outside the bar. You don't have to take it seriously, think of it as a laugh or a way to get more cash."

"Money does buy you happiness." He replied.

"I don't think that's the quote-"

"Ok let's do it! Nothing to lose, maybe something to gain. Besides it's better than my normal boring day."

                                ▪▪▪

As I'm sitting here, I know I'm goona sound stupid but I kinda take back what I said about how this day won't be boring. We have been sitting here almost all day and still no one has bought any of Peter's paintings. Or showed any interest of buying them. The people just walk pass you. They just ignore you like they don't want anything to do with you. It feels as if we're homeless. I always felt bad when people refused them. I tried to give them a bit of money but when I was with my parents always told me not to. 

I almost felt angry at the people who walked passed and ignored us. Or those who stared. It made us think that this was ridiculous and what we were doing was stupid. Or that we were insane and that they 'mustn't go near us'. I hate when people think that.

It's not like we were pestering them. We were just sitting there, in our tiny deck chairs, on a massive pavement, making sure we weren't blocking anyone, pwith the paintings in between us, with a little sign saying, FOR SALE.

Peter hadn't said anything. Not in a pissed off way, but in a more, 'I want to do this, someone will buy one soon' way. He was always a stubborn and determined soul.

It was almost peaceful in a way to sit and watch the world pass by you. I'd like to think that was mostly due to Peter's art that I had now thought of the city in a different way. It was one of those things that once you see it you can't unsee it.
 
The sky was growing darker. I glanced at my watch: 6:13pm it read. I sighed. Not even a single painting was sold. Silently, I tapped Peter on the shoulder and showed the time.

"Do you think we should call it a day?" I asked. Peter took a disappointed pause and said gravely, "Yeah, suppose it's for the best. I was starting to get hungry anyway."

We were just about to pack up our things, when we heard a voice holler down the street towards us,

"Sirs! Sirs!"

Peter and I turned around to see a woman who briskly walking towards us, she was almost running. She stopped in front of us and started panting lightly.

"Are you still selling the paintings?"

"Yes." Peter replied, with a hint of hope.

"Oh, thank goodness I caught you in time. It looked like you boys were just about to pack away for the evening." She scrolled though the stack of paintings we had proped up until she took one from the pile and held it up in front of her, "Aha, this was the one. I'd walked by earlier on my way to work and saw it. I must say it is a remarkable painting. The brushwork is excellent. I couldn't stop thinking about it all day and then I thought, aw heck! I'll just get it. How much?"

"...um...ur...20, please." Peter stammered, unable to fully comprehend what was happening right now.

 
A.N
Yep dished out another one. For some reason I actually enjoyed making this chapter more than the other ones. I don't know why tho.
Happy Easter to ya'll!!! 🐣🐣🐣

Nelly Xx