Tale of an Untalented Artist

Chapter 2 | The Bully

"Creativity takes courage" - Henri Matisse

As soon as I had figured out my new hobby for the quarantine, my school announced that they would be reopening with the new state guidelines. 

My school, Oros Academy, would be separating each class of twenty into four pods of five. We were to only associate with the other four girls by recess and lunch. We also, of course, had to wear masks. Oros would be sending us masks which matched or school uniform in the mail. That's what it said in the email Mommy read to me.

"Does it say which girls I've been put with?" I asked.

"Hmm...no, it doesn't. You'll probably find it tomorrow when you go. Wouldn't it be a pump if you were put with Malky Schloss?"

No.

"Okay," Mommy continued, totally oblivious that she had picked up on my non verbalized fear. "I want to see you get your school stuff ready. And pack your lunch tonight also."

I slowly trudged back up. I couldn't be less excited for school. It was bad enough that I didn't have any good friends - just the friendly, in-school sort like goofy Tova and bookish Seri.

But, I tried to comfort myself, I could still practice drawing. During class. As long as I didn't distract anybody, and did my classwork alright, I'm sure the teacher wouldn't make a fuss. While stuffing pens and pencils into my old backpack, I slipped in my new sketchbook I had bought with my birthday Amazon gift card. 

Daddy had supervised me that night as I scrolled through all the options. I wanted something grown-up and professional. Not kiddie or cutesy or anything. I meant business. Finally, after Daddy had yawned for a third time and mumbled something about 'bath time', I settled on a slim, black leather-bound sketchbook. Sleek and modern. 

I also had enough to buy a pack of coloring pencils. I didn't know if they were a top brand or not, but I could afford it now. Besides, I didn't want to waste expensive coloring pencils on a beginner artist. I thought Daddy would say something, since we all knew how much Mommy hated anything with mess-making potential. But he didn't say a word. He just yawned. And both were delivered to my house the next day while Mommy was out taking Tzvi for a drive AKA a desperate attempt to distract my brother before he destroyed anything else. 

As long as Malky Schloss and the teacher left me alone, I could be left alone with my own Dina-style art.

* * * 

At school, I could hardly recognize girls with their masks. Except three girls jostled by me, and I heard a familiar voice say "Hi tiny Diny."

I watched three ponytails, one blonde and two brunettes, swing as their forms giggled and hurried away from me. Schloss and the gang. I watched the threesome - Malky Schloss, Penina Farber, and Zavi Platt receive a paper from a young married woman at the door who I assumed to be our Limudei Kodesh teacher. Our teacher had a long, wavy red sheitel and warm eyes. I decided I liked her. 

"Good morning," our teacher greeted me as I shyly approached. "What's your name?"

"Dina Blum."

"Welcome, take this paper. It has your pod group on morning activity written on it. I'm Mrs. Wallerstein. Enjoy!"

Morning activities are hardly enjoyed. But Mrs. Wallerstein looked so enthusiastic that I willed my eyes to smile back as I took the paper from her. 

Once inside the classroom, my eyes scanned my pod.

Oh no. Had no one given this new teacher a heads up about the infamous social dynamics of my grade? Apparently not.

Pod 3 (Green)