The Dreamer
Angela McQuiston
The 5 year old looked up from her paper and crayons when she heard the door unlock. Her mom was finally home from cleaning hotel rooms all day. Violet didn't want to work, but after her husband walked out on them, she had to work to make ends meet.
The second her mom walked in, the girl ran to her mom.
"Mama, mama look what I drew."
Her mom picked up the little girl and gave her a big hug. "What did you draw for me today?"
The girl was all smiles as she showed her drawing. "See my picture mommy?"
"I see it. Why don't you tell me about it."
The little girl smiled. "Well, this is me, and that one's you and we're in the park on a sunny day flying a kite."
"That is a great picture, and I think we need to hang it somewhere. Where would you like to hang it?"
The little girl looked at the walls and the ceiling that was covered in her pictures. "I think I want to hang it there." The girl said pointing close to the ceiling.
"Okay, let me get the tape."
After she got the picture ready to hang, she picked up the girl and let her put it where she had pointed to.
"You know something mommy?"
"What?"
"I want to be an artist someday. I want my pictures to make people happy."
"I'm sure you will be a wonderful artist someday sweetheart."
As the girl grew older, her dream of being an artist, never dimmed. She took all the art classes she could, and she discovered that painting was her favorite. She had been so wrapped up in her dream that the thought of friends and boys never crossed her mind, and now here she was in her 40s.
She lived in an old apartment, and trying to find enough work to keep a roof over her head and food on the table. The combination was taking its toll on her. Her mother had passed away several years earlier leaving behind a broken hearted daughter and several unpaid bills. She knew that the rent was months behind and she'd better be looking for somewhere else to live. However for the moment, she wanted to forget about life and just paint her troubles away.
She went to the basement to get her easel when she saw a strange opening. She decided to explore and what she found was better than any easel. The walls were smooth, too dark for her taste, and needed brightened up. She went back to get her paints and brushes when she ran into a small boy. Before she could speak to him, he ran off.
After she grabbed her paints and brushes she made her way back to the tunnels. She was right in middle of painting a sunset when a man and several others approached.
"Why are you here?"
The woman looked at the strangers and then returned to her painting.
"I'm here to paint."
She didn't seem a threat, so the older man looked at her and said, "You are welcome to paint all you want. We won't bother you."
The group turned to go back 'home'. Jacob stopped turned around and said, "You never told us your name."
The older woman smiled and said,
"Elizabeth."