Some Hard Work and Hope

By Amati Ishimo Migisha

I’m David, but most people call me Dave. I always wanted to be an artist. But I know it will take a lot of hard work. Middle school starts in a week, and I’m looking forward to that. 

“David! Go to sleep!” my mom yelled from outside the door. 

I responded by saying, “Okay!” Then I went to sleep.

One week quickly passed by, and before I knew it, it was the first day of school. 

“Wake up David!” Mom said. 

I got out of bed really slowly, I picked out my clothes, then I went to the bathroom to take a shower. About six minutes later I was completely ready. Then I went downstairs. 

When I got to the bottom step, my mom said, “David, you look so grown up!” 

Then my dad said, “David come on, or you’ll be late.” I rushed over to the car. “You ready?” Dad asked. 

“I think so,” I said. 

“Then let’s go,” my dad said as the car started to back up. Then we were on the road.

My first class was homeroom. When I walked in, a woman with black hair and greenish blue eyes approached me. “And who might you be?” she asked. 

“David Williams ma’am. But most people call me Dave,” I answered. 

“I’m Ms. Brandon. Please find your seat.” 

I went over to an empty seat and sat down. I looked to see who was sitting next to me. It was a black haired boy who was taking a little nap. I sighed and pulled out my sketchbook. My mom had gotten a new job, so we had to move away. We have just been living here for a couple of weeks, so I was the new student. This is how the first few minutes of my day went. 

I was relieved when it was lunch time. But I did not know who to sit with because I didn’t know a lot of people there. I found an empty table to sit at that was in the corner of the cafeteria. Then I heard someone say, “Hey, are you new here?” I looked up and it was the black haired boy from my class.

“Yeah!” I said. 

“I’m Carson,” he said while sitting down. 

“I’m David, but you can call me Dave,” I said. “So how long have you been here?” I continued.

He responded to my question by saying, “I’ve been here since kindergarten.” Then another person came to the table. He had blond hair and blue eyes. “Hi Carson, hi … wait, what’s your name?” he asked. 

“David, but he prefers to be called Dave,” Carson replied. 

“Oh well, nice to meet you, Dave. I’m Leo.” Then he sat down and we all started eating.

“Mom! Dad! I’m home!” I said. 

“How did it go?” asked my dad. 

“Went well,” I said. “I even made some friends. I’ll tell you more about it at dinner. Right now I just want to go to sleep.” 

Two months later …

“Attention class!” I looked up from my sketchbook. “We will be having a lot of things coming up!” said Ms. Brandon. “There will be a science fair, the state carnival, and our field trip.” I was about to go back to drawing in my sketchbook, but what Ms. Brandon said next caught my attention. “Oh! There will also be an art contest. The winner of the contest will get a free trip to the Art Museum in Paris.” 

I’d heard about the Art Museum before, and I always wanted to go. But I knew my parents would never let me. I did not know if I should enter the contest or not, but this was my only chance! My seventh sense told me this time could be different.

When I got home I started to brainstorm what I should draw. I had nothing in mind, so I went upstairs to ask my dad for help. I told him about the contest. 

“Sorry son, I don’t know what you should draw,” Dad said. As I was about to walk out of the door he said, “You’ll think of something.” 

When I got to my room I sat down and started to think some more. It took me three days to dig into my little brain before I could figure out what to draw. I checked other art works from the school library and searched on the internet too. “Now I know what to draw,” I said to myself. I started drafting my artwork. 

My first try was horrible! “Do I quit?” I thought. “No, Dave! You can make it!” I said to myself. I used all my out of school free time to get the best drawing and win the contest. I was not satisfied with my work enough until I felt some kind of an invisible and magical hand pushing my hand as I worked on my final creation.

Three months later …

The day of the contest was today. A week earlier we had to send in our artwork, and now the judges were here. My heart was beating like crazy. I hoped I would win. I bolted straight up when one of the judges grabbed the microphone and said, “And the grand prize winner of the art contest is …” The auditorium went silent. “… David Williams!” I was so happy I felt that I was going to cry. “David, please come up and receive your prize.” That was one of the proudest moments in my life.

A month later … 

I was so nervous. In a couple of minutes I was supposed to go on a plane to the art museum. Carson and Leo were helping me pack my bags. 

“I think you’re ready,” Carson said. 

“Yeah,” said Leo. “Oh, our rides are here,” said Leo while looking out the window. “

Good luck!” Carson said as he walked out of the door. 

“Thanks!” I said. When they left. I went downstairs. 

“You ready?” Dad asked. 

“Yes,” I replied.  

“Then let’s go!” 

“Bye David!” Mom said. 

“Bye Mom!”

When we got to the airport my dad asked me, “Do you want me to go with you to your plane?”

“No,’’ I said. “I’ll go by myself.” 

As I was going to go my dad said to me, “Son, I’m very proud of you. Good luck out there!” Then he said, “You better run or you will miss your flight.” I ran.

“Whoa! This place is so cool!” I said. 

After a two day flight I finally arrived. Then I heard someone behind me say, “You finally arrived!” I turned around and saw a guy with long brown hair. “Oh, sorry I forgot to introduce myself,” he said. “I’m Matt.” 

I said, “I’m David but I go by Dave.” 

Then Matt said, “Come on, follow me. I know everywhere in Paris.”

He led me to the museum. When I stepped inside I stared in awe at the paintings and tapestries. With some of my money, I bought some souvenirs. I bought a miniature tapestry for my mom and a new camera for my dad. (I broke his old one.) 

“Can I see one of your drawings?” Matt asked me. I handed him a few. “Whoa! These are good!” he exclaimed. “Hey, we need a co-artist for our new series. I thought you might be interested.” 

I said, “Ok! But first I need to ask my parents.” 

“Well here’s my number,” Matt said while handing me a small piece of paper. 

“O-oh thanks!” I said.

After another two day flight, I was home. When I opened the door my parents were waiting for me in the doorway. I could tell they wanted to know how the trip went. So I told them how I had a wonderful trip. 

Four years later …

“Mom,” I said. “I’m going to work on the new character’s design!” 

“Ok!” Mom said. I went to my car then drove away to my office. I think I learned something: Nothing is impossible. All it takes is some hard work and hope. 

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