Chapter 29: Chapter 29

Miss Anderson steps into the class in a few. " Good evening guys, so today you all just have to draw the pencil portrait of a girl. Try to finish it this hour itself. If you are planning to submit it next week, then let me inform you, your grades will be lower no matter how beautiful your drawing is. ", she says and walks to her chair in the front and sits down. " Now is there someone who hasn't submitted last weeks assignment ?"

Michael stands up from his seat and raises his hands a little.

" You are the new student, right ? What was your name ?", Miss Anderson asks taking her register where she records our assignment marks.

" Michael Clark.", Michael replies.

" Okay, where were you last two weeks ?", she asks.

" I was not well.", Michael replies.

" For two weeks ?"

" N..no. I was not well on b..both Tuesdays."

" What is that ? Tuesday fever ?", Miss Anderson asks and a few people laugh. " Is it because you are not confident about your art skills ? Then why you choose art as your elective subject ?", she asks.

" No..I'm c..confident.", Michael says.

" Even your reply doesn't sound confident.", Miss Anderson points. Probably because Michael stuttered. I look at Michael's face and see his pained looks and it make me feel really bad. It'd be really difficult to deal with stutter all though one's life. I can't even imagine my Eve in such a situation. But Eve's stutter is not as prominent as Michael's. I hope it won't increase.

" Okay, last week's assignment was to draw a scenery. And what was for the previous week ?", Miss Anderson asks us, as she already forgot what work she gave us.

" It was a flower vase.", a few people say.

" Yeah..flower vase. So both drawings should be in water colour. Submit them both next week. Now sit and draw the pencil portrait of a girl.", Miss Anderson instructs.

Michael nods and sit down. I watch as he takes out pencils from his black and white striped pouch.

" Ethan, why haven't you started yet ? Should I tell you specially ?", Miss Anderson ask from the front. I quickly avert my attention from Michael and grab my pencils.

After sitting staring at the canvas for a minute or two, I decide to draw the side profile of a girl. Don't know why I choose to draw the side profile, maybe because, for a few days I was staring at Michael's side profile and I thought now I kind of know how to draw the curve of eyes, nose and lips.

As I finish drawing the rough curve from forehead till chin, it actually looks like a boy's face and it makes me feel frustrated. It kind of looks like Michael's face to me. I tilt my head and look at Michael to see whether the face I drew actually looks like him. Yes ! it kind of !

Michael is now leisurely drawing on the canvas in front of him with his left hand and he looks really relaxed. I avert my gaze from his face to his canvas to evaluate his drawing skills.

I'm awestruck ! My mouth involuntarily hang open along with my eyes going wide. I honestly don't know what to say.

I didn't actually expect Michael to be an artist. He has finished the outline of the whole face and neck and has started working on the girl's eyes. As I sit staring at his canvas in awe, he finishes one of the eyes just in seconds. And it looks just so lively and original. Seriously, I can't believe my eyes.

" Ethan ! ", Miss Anderson shouts. I jump. Michael too flinch at that and looks up.

" Why are you staring at other's drawing instead of drawing your own ?", Miss Anderson asks. I mumble a sorry and look back at my own sheet of paper. I now think I don't have any quality to sit and draw near an artist like Michael. My drawing skills sucks. I should rather change to computer science or something.

I take my eraser and start rubbing the whole thing I drew while side eying Michael's sheet and the way his fingers dance just so effortlessly over the paper. Now he is working on the lips and he is changing pencils ever so often. I still don't know how to use different pencils. I only use the lightest shade and the darkest shade while drawing pencil portraits. I don't see the use of others.

I give up with the idea of side profile and starts drawing a full face. When I finishes the rough outline of my girl's face and hair, Michael has finished his masterpiece. And I'm not exaggerating, his portrait is one of those professional ones which you could see at an art exhibition. The girl looks like one of the actresses or models appearing on the front cover of a magazine. I wouldn't have believed he drew it in less than twenty minutes, if I were not sitting here and watching.

Michael stands up from his seat, unclipping his sheet of paper. Then he walks towards Miss Anderson who looks confused at him. A few students also look in his direction in surprise. Everyone might be wondering, what stupid drawing this boy completed in such a short while. But I'm sure Miss Anderson is going to be so jealous after seeing Michael's portrait.

Michael hands his portrait to Miss Anderson and I practically saw her eyes going wide in surprise. " You drew this now ?", she asks in shock. Michael nods. Being not able to believe, Miss Anderson looks at me. " He drew it now ?"

" Yes.", I nod.

" This is...oh my god...absolutely amazing ! ", Miss Anderson exclaims in surprise looking at Michael. " Woah ! Sorry, I didn't know you are such a great artist."

" Ahmm..Th..thanks..", Michael smiles a little and I too smile seeing those beautiful dimples appearing on his cheeks.

" See guys, what our Michael has drawn.", Miss Anderson then turns the portrait and shows it to everyone excitedly. Since she already gave a lot of intro with her excited reaction, only a few people's mouth drop open. Most of the people looks jealous. Anyway a few cheers and praises Michael and my boy looks so happy.

Wait ! Did I just say 'my boy' by any chance ? Well, if so scratch that. Stupid brain !

" Ma'am..can I go and f..finish last weeks drawing now ?", Michael asks stretching his hands to get back his masterpiece.

" Okay you may. But Michael, can I keep this drawing ?", Miss Anderson asks.

" Yes..Of course. My p..pleasure.", Michael nods smiling.

" Why are you nervous ?", Miss Anderson asks confused.

" I'm not n..nervous. If you're talking about my s..stammer, then I've a speech...deficiency."

" Oh..I see. I'm sorry.", Miss Anderson replies, her previous joyful look fading.

" It's okay.", Michael nods and walks back to his seat beside me. He sits down and clips a new sheet of paper on the easel before grabbing the lightest shade pencil.

" Michael..", I calls as he starts to draw something from the top of the sheet.

" Hmm..?", Michael tilts his head and looks at me.

" Your drawing was amazing. ", I say.

" Thanks.", he says. But I'm disappointment as he doesn't smile.

" Honestly it's the best drawing I've seen in a while. I didn't know you draw this well.", I say wanting him to smile at me. But he just nods and goes back to drawing. Feeling sad, I turn my face to my sheet of paper and proceeds to finish my pathetic looking girl.

After less than ten minutes, Michael has started colouring his drawing. He has drawn tulips in a beautiful round bottom vase and he is colouring the vase blue. He hasn't rolled up his white hoodie's long sleeves, that it's getting stained with drops of blue as he paints the vase.

" Hey Michael, roll up your sleeves. It's getting stained.", I say. He ignores me and continue his painting. I avert my attention back to my portrait, again feeling sad.

I wonder why he is always wearing hoodie nowadays. Maybe he thinks bullies won't quickly identify him in hoodie if he covers his hair. Yeah..he had covered his head when he rushed out of the history class.