Total pages in book: 63
Estimated words: 59767 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 299(@200wpm)___ 239(@250wpm)___ 199(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 59767 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 299(@200wpm)___ 239(@250wpm)___ 199(@300wpm)
I watch, transfixed as she says something to the boy who was with her. Then, they turned and went inside the building. It disappointed me that she was running away from me—and that’s exactly what it felt like. Silly woman is mine. She should be running to me. In time, she will.
I won’t give her a choice.
For now, I’ll back off. Tomorrow, however, is another day …
2 GEORGIA
I laugh as Tony and Lara fight amongst themselves. They’re the oldest kids that come to the community center and their help is immeasurable. Today they’re helping me get a start on the new mural. I’m painting on the side of the diner in town. The kids at the community center voted on a depiction of the mad tea party from Alice’s Adventures In Wonderland. Tony and Lara are going to help me on the project. I always do the main characters, but the two of them do the sketching of the background and do the clear varnish over the final product to protect it from harmful UV rays and vandalism. Their skills are growing and soon I’m going to give them a space to do their own mural. In fact, I’ve already got it arranged on a small building at the end of town. A local optometrist has his practice there and he’s commissioned the project. I’m going to surprise them after we finish this one.
They’re currently sketching for me. Lara is working on the table and Tony is doing the swirls of color that make up the background along the edges of the mural. Me? I’m drawing the white rabbit complete with his giant top hat and pocket watch. I’m excited for this project. I’ve always loved the story of Alice and to bring it to life makes me happy. I haven’t had the easiest road in life. Art has always been my safe place—an escape.
“What do you think?” I ask, while looking at the rabbit I just sketched.
Tony and Lara take a step back to view my handiwork. I see Lara tilt her head, taking it in. Tony, however, just keeps staring at it and frowns. “Miss Cutter, don’t get mad but …”
“What is it, Tony?” I ask, worried I messed up something. It looks okay to me, but I have to admit that sometimes I concentrate so deeply on the character I’m drawing that I miss the position and scale of the grand scheme of things which sometimes gets me in trouble with the other elements in the project.
“Well, the way that mushroom is poised in front of him …”
“Yes?” I ask, sensing he doesn’t want to finish his thoughts, but I can’t see what he’s hung up on. It looks pretty good to me.
“Is the rabbit naked? I mean I know you have his topcoat and hat on, but is he not wearing pants?”
I frown. You couldn’t see his pants because of the mushroom. So, I’m not sure what he’s getting at. “Well, yes, he has pants on, but you won’t be able to truly see them because he’ll be hidden by the mushroom and the table.”
“True, but …”
He stops talking again and I can tell Lara is getting as frustrated as I am. “Just spit it out, Tony. You know by now that you can’t really hurt my feelings.”
“Ms. Cutter you drew his, well his …” he stutters, and I swear his face grows bright red.
What on earth?
“Just tell me, Tony, because I’m not seeing anything.”
He points to the giant caterpillar that is lying on top of the mushroom. “You drew his di—his thing. I mean, geez, kids will see this and that’s kind of not okay. Plus, it’s almost as big as he is. I’ve never seen a rabbit’s private parts. Then again, I’ve never seen a rabbit who wore a suit and could tell time. It’s just I’m pretty sure his thing wouldn’t be that big and huge!”
Lara starts laughing, unable to stop herself. I’m trying to hold my laughter in, though. I don’t want Tony to think I’m mocking him. It’s a struggle though. “Tony,” I finally say when I get a little bit of control over my response.
“Yeah?” he asks, and now even his ears are bright red. If he blushed any harder, I’m pretty sure he’d be glowing in the dark.
“That’s not his um … thingy. That’s the caterpillar from the book.”
“A caterpillar?” Tony asks and then, I realize that Tony has never read the story. From his reaction, I feel pretty safe in saying he’s never seen the movie either.
Lara continues laughing as she slaps Tony on the shoulder. “You doofus. You really thought Miss Cutter would put a dick on a mural for the town’s diner? Geez, you big dummy it’s not like we live in Greece or France.”
“Lara don’t call Tony names,” I chastise quietly.