Art

Sydney sat alone at the desk in her room. She was making a sculpture of a wave in Montauk with her Gramma. Sydney worked late and lost track of time. By the time she looked at the alarm clock in her room it was 10:18, she got up from her desk thinking, ‘They are late again.’ She walked in the small kitchen, unboxed the frozen pizza, removed the plastic wrapping, and popped it in the oven.

Sydney’s parents were walking talking wallets. They loved to go out and would tend to lose track of time. Three days ago they didn’t come home until 1:00 in the morning. Sydney’s mom’s name was Lisa, who loved a nice and tidy bedspread. Her dad’s name was Richard, although everyone called him Richy, like Richy Rich. He loved yacht riding and staring at the “poor” at the grocery store. Odd habits, am I right?

Sydney ate alone for the tenth night in a row. She ate in the kitchen with one light on reading Calvin and Hobbes, studying the art of the cover.

The next day Sydney walked down the dirty, crowded hallways. The hall had a self-squirting, broken water fountain, pens stuck to the ceiling, and littered cracked tiled hallways. As Sydney walked to her locker she found a paper on it. At first she thought it was from Carter Mirtinmarue, the school bully! Everyday he wrote an unkind message on her locker door, like, “Art Freak” and “Bookworm”  in permanent marker!

But this was different, it was splattered with watercolor splatters and in thick letters that said, “Town Macklin Art Competition 5th-6th Grade held at Community Rec-Center. April 1st at 10:00.” Sydney stood with her mouth hanging open and looked at the bottom. It said, “Meet me in the art room before 8:00 — Mrs. Pattely.” Mrs. Pattely was the school’s art teacher.

Sydney raced down the hall to the extremely large art room that smelled like paint and sharpies. Mrs. Pattely was sitting at her crowded art table with her glasses on that make her eyes look like tennis balls. She had red hair and wore a white button-up shirt and plaid, green skirt.

“Mrs. Pattely, you wanted to see me?” asked Sydney

“Oh, Sydney come sit. I wanted to talk about the paper in your hand,” said the teacher.

“My Biology homework?” asked Sydney.

“No, no the art paper,” said Mrs. Pattely, pointing to the competition paper.

Sydney felt stupid. The two talked for a while and the teacher gave her an entry form. Then Sydney left for Biology class.

“Alright today we’ll learn about seafloor lakes,” said Mr. Browne. The students groaned.

“Seafloor lakes are lakes at the bottom of the ocean that are five times saltier than the water around it,” explained Mr. Browne. While Mr. Browne talked, Sydney thought about the competition. She would be in 61 if she wanted to do a painting or group BK, or 2A if she wanted to do sculpting.

After school, Sydney rushed home and slammed the competition paper on the dining room table. Her dad looked up from the newspaper and her mom looked up from taking a sip of green tea. “Honey, your art teacher called about an art competition,” said Lisa.

“You want us to sign so you can participate?” asked Richard scribbling a Richard Bruce and her mom whipped on a Lisa Bruce. Sydney stood there; mouth open. She grabbed the paper and stuffed it in her backpack.

“Honey, do you want supper? I made dumplings,” said Lisa pointing at a pot on the counter.

“Sure,” said Sydney, grabbing a plate and loading it with dumplings. She walked to her room and turned on the TV to The School for Good and Evil.

One week later, Sydney put on a purple shirt, blue skirt and raven earrings. She brushed her hair and teeth and grabbed her artwork. It was heavy so Sydney put it in a padded box.

“MOMMMMMMMM!” yelled Sydney.

“Yes?”

“I need a ride!”

“It’s not till 10 o’clock!”

“The participants have to arrive early to put their art on the shelves, tables and display cases, mom!” explained Sydney.

“Okay,” said Lisa, grabbing her purse and car keys.

Sydney could hardly wait and twitched in the car seat. Her mom drove her to the giant town gym with ugly yellow bricks and grimy locker rooms. Lisa parked and Sydney hopped out with the box.

“You sure you don’t want help carrying it?” asked Lisa.

Sydney put a thumbs up in a, ‘No I got it,’ way. She entered the building with high ceilings and more ugly yellow walls. Sydney walked down the hall and past the bathroom, it smelled like dead trout. The entry room was bustling with activity, even though the contest hadn’t started. Kids were putting up their artwork. Paintings were held on holders and easels; sculptures were being put in place along with other art.

Sydney put her art on table 2A table one, marked with a paper marked ‘Sidney Bruce.’ They spelled my name wrong again. What she meant by again was she had entered a writing contest and when the lady at the main desk gave her a sheet that said circle your name. She looked down and saw two Sydneys, Sydney Backematwoolmack and Sydney Bruce.

The Judges walked to Sydney. The Judges were the Mayor, Mia Metosly and Brody Tockly.

“Hello Sydney, what was your inspiration for this piece?” asked Brody. He wore a black suit and slick black pants.

“Well, I remember seeing this wave with my Gramma in Montauk,” explained Sydney.

They scribbled something on their clipboards. A while later the Judges said, “Thank you for your time,” and left.

“We have decided a winner,” said Mia, holding a blue ribbon the size of a small pan. “They had us smiling. Put your hands together for Sydney Bruce!”

The crowd clapped and the other participants stomped their feet. “Here you go!” said Mia. In the back crowd Mrs. Pattley cheered!