"Mr. Howard!"
I never forgot what he looked like. Until now, I can still remember the kindness that he showed me. Today's the big day; I waited for almost a year! Finally, I'm going to attend an art workshop.
"Anatole, you're here. I'm so glad to see you." He ruffled my hair. "Are you excited?"
"I'm soooo excited! I can't wait to learn! I giggled.
I'm falling in line right now, and I was able to recognize him from afar.
"How's your grandma? Did you tell her about this?"
"She's doing okay and she's busy with work. And... I didn't tell her, she might get angry hehe," I scratched the back of my head.
"Enjoy the rest of the event, alright? Don't be shy and paint freely."
He excused himself because he was summoned by someone. We went inside the venue, and I covered my mouth because I might scream! This is so cool!
My eyes were fixated on a stage. It has a beautiful banner! Oh my, a painter painted that, right? It's my first time seeing a painting that big! I want to meet the person who did that; I love the design!
I decided to sit at the back because I don't know anyone from here.
"Yo... han..."
I read a man's name on his nametag. I think he's one of the people who helps in this workshop.
"Hi there, Anatole. Don't you want to sit with other kids?" He asked.
I looked away. "I'm... shy. Is it okay if I sit here?" But I looked back at the table when he placed some materials on it.
"Of course, you can sit wherever you feel most comfortable," he said.
"Thank you, Yohan!" I said in my jolly voice. I got even more excited because of the materials in front of me. This is my first time seeing a real canvas and acrylic paints!
Mr. Howard went on stage, and he started teaching us about colors. I was listening carefully to his lecture. I couldn't hide my excitement when the second class started; we're now going to paint!
I grabbed a paint container and stared at it. I didn't know how to open one! This is so dumb of me!
"Need a little help?" Yohan asked, and I gave him the paint.
"Thank you!"
I started painting, following Mr. Howard's instructions. I made sure that I did things in a neat way; I didn't want to make a mistake! I want to make good art since this is my first time using acrylic paints.
"Have you been painting for a while?" I glanced at Yohan.
"Yes, secretly," I said shyly.
"You're doing a great job."
I felt my face heated. He said I'm doing a great job! I'd never heard of that before.
"You're the first person who told me that," I stated.
"If you're ready to tell that secret of yours to everyone, I'm sure they'll love your work too," he said. I blinked twice as I remembered Mr. Howard's words. Yohan sounded like him.
"Grandma would get mad at me. But thank you for praising my work; it means a lot." I said.
He ruffled my hair. "Keep doing what you love, Anatole."
I felt determined to do beautiful artwork today. Everyone is so kind. I just wished people from my home also loved art just like we do.
"Oh no. Not again! Ugh, I messed up." I got frustrated when I continuously made mistakes. My painting looked like a mess.
"Hey, it's fine. You can't make a beautiful painting without messing up a few times. I was surprised when Yohan approached me again. I guess he saw how I did something wrong.
"I'll try again," I said, and I grabbed a paintbrush. I went through the same process and ended up disappointed. "I did it wrongly again; I'm not really good at this."
I wanted to give up for the first time.
"Life's a continuous process of learning, Anatole. You don't have to be great at something to enjoy it, Yohan said.
"Are you a painter too?" I asked, and he responded with a nod. "Then, you must have made beautiful pieces. Mine's a total mess."
"Believe me, I made thousands of mistakes before making it this far."
He sat down beside me and grabbed a brush.
"Really? Then how can I manage to go far too?"
I badly want to know how to be great at painting. I want to learn more and be just like Mr. Howard.
"You should know that mistakes are part of life. You can even create beautiful artwork out of the mess you sometimes make," he explained.
"Then why am I making mistakes like this?" I pointed at my canvas.
"Let me teach you. Wait for the acrylic paint to dry first, then you can paint over it again."
"I think it's dry already," I said, touching the canvas.
"Anatole, it's important to not overload your brush. It's pretty hard to control how you add details when there's too much paint on these bristles... see?"
I watched how Yohan dipped a paintbrush in paint and brushed it on scratch paper.
"Oh, so that's why I've been making such mistakes ever since. I get it now."
I realized why I kept making mistakes. Out of excitement, I never noticed how much paint I would always get.
"It's better, right?" He asked. I smiled and nodded.
"Yes. Don't carry too much... paint... got it."
I was able to create beautiful artwork today. I can't help but giggle whenever I look at my canvas. The art workshop is done, and everyone's eating lunch. I also ate lunch while waiting for my painting to dry.
I wasn't able to say goodbye to Mr. Howard because he was busy. Yohan is also doing stuff for the workshop. I just smiled and sighed in relief. I wanted to thank them; maybe next time. I left the venue with the painting that I created and walked home.
"Hey! What are you holding?"
I felt cold when I heard their voices. I held on to my painting tightly, hoping that they wouldn't see it.
"You painted again! Look, she's holding a painting!"
I started running away from the kids, but they cornered me in an alley. I was shaking, but I never let go of my canvas. I wanted to protect it so bad.
"Leave me alone!" I said firmly.
"Oh no, not on our watch. Give us your painting!"
The boy started pushing me against the wall. I was hiding the painting behind my back.
"Just hurt me! Don't do anything to my painting! Hurt me instead!" I cried.
They pushed me several times until I accidentally let go of my canvas. A boy immediately grabbed my art and stepped on it. I felt my heart... broke. I couldn't stop crying.
"Please! Stop ruining my painting!"
A boy kept kicking me, and the other even punched my arm. The physical pain was bearable. But the pain of seeing my artwork ruined again by the same people who burned it before is killing me.
After experiencing a once-in-a lifetime hope for my love of the arts, I feel helpless. They were making me realize the reality of art at our place. No matter how I hide and run away, they will always find a way to shatter my dreams.
"Let go of that! Stop!"
I cried as they continued stepping on my painting.
I was on the floor, trying to reach my artwork. I was on the verge of giving up.
"Don't step on my painting!"
I imagined Grandma seeing me in this state. If she's here, she wouldn't get angry at the boys. Instead, she'll get angry at me for painting again, just like she would always react before. I was so close to regretting that I loved something everyone hated.
Not until he arrived. It was my first time being saved by someone. He didn't get angry at me; he protected me and my art instead. He also brought a friend with him who is as kind as Mr. Howard.
In the middle of a devastating situation, a light of hope showed up... and he's a painter.