Monday, February 7, 2011

Daydreams...

Now for something completely different...

I painted this when we lived near Kansas City, where it seemed the humidity was as thick as chiggers in August. I titled it August Afternoon, and here's a little story I wrote for it, though I must give Glenn, at Differences with the Same Likeness, credit for the last line.


Daydreams

She sure doesn’t look the way she did last summer, when everyone was at the water hole and all she did was sit there with her knees to her chest. Yeah, I used to tease her, but everyone did. She made it so easy, being that odd sort of quiet. Always to herself at the edge of the group, or her face in a book or drawing something. I didn’t mean to make her cry, with that bucket of frogs, and I sure didn’t think it would take a whole ‘nother year before she’d even talk to me again.

When Mickey Pritchard called her the boobless wonder, I should have punched his lights out. And I should have whispered her the right answer when Miss Whimbley called on her in front of everyone in math. Maybe I should’ve left a note with the valentine candy I put in her desk, or signed the picture I drew of her, with her pretty, long hair—the one she folded and stuck in her book.

I think she smiled at me during lunch, today, even though she wouldn’t show me what she was reading when I asked. Maybe if I happen to be hanging around the old hickory tree she always walks past on her way home, she won’t mind if I ride my bike beside her…

“Boy! Stop day dreaming, and get out and open the gate.”

14 comments:

  1. I love this story! Surely there is a home for it somewhere? I'd see about publishing it in an on line mag or somewhere... it's very good :)

    Beautiful panting too.

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  2. Tabitha, That's very kind of you to say.

    This story and the next few are more of a way to distract myself through the month of February. I hadn't thought of publishing (which always tends to send my creative side running and hiding, lol).

    Thanks for stopping in!

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  3. I love both the painting and the story. Heartfelt and fun. I'm smiling here.

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  4. Both your painting and writing is beautiful. :D

    You right literary, right?

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  5. I love that you've put a story to the painting. You are truly a multi-dimensional artist!

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  6. Tricia, it was fun to write! Don’t know why, but I find a boy’s POV fascinating and fun to explore. I’m glad you like it—I don’t take February smiles for granted, even if you are someplace nice and warm :)


    Stina, Thank you :)
    Yes, Literary—so I’ve been told...but on the light-handed end...


    Lydia, I thought putting stories to my paintings would be easier than I’m finding it. My first impulse is to write the true story behind them, but I’m really trying to stretch my imagination at least a little with these.
    As always, thanks for coming by :)

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  7. he certainly has a look of "daydreaming". Such detail both in painting and words.

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  8. Thank you Glenn :)
    Actually, your stories that feature the 'Boy' really spark my 11-year-old-boy imagination. Thanks for so much fodder,,,:)

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  9. I love the picture and the story! Again, you pull off "boy" very nicely!

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  10. Thanks Susan! I think I'm stuck in a 'boy' rut. I should probably branch out a bit, lol :)

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  11. Great story!! It really does go with the painting, which is beautiful!! I loved being in the boy's head.

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  12. I'm glad you like it, Paul! I can't help it, I love writing from a boy's POV--not sure just what that says about me...

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  13. I was spending a few seconds scrolling down just looking at some of your painting in this blog. This one grabbed me....and the story sharpened the edges. Just wanted to tell you that.

    The marriage of a wonderful story and a magnificent painting is perfect.

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  14. Oh, Jerry, thank you so much for sharing your kind thoughts.

    I have such fond memories of the subject (both the boy, the truck, and that August afternoon), and writing the little story to go with it was a lot of fun...I like imagining the mind of a boy...

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