Penny’s Paintings

Ughh! Penny thought to herself. It’s still not right! Penny had spent all day trying to make her “perfect painting” but she just couldn’t get it right!

Penny was nine years old, short, and very, very stubborn. She lived with her mom and dad and her four brothers. It got lonely sometimes, both her mom and her dad worked almost all day, and her brothers were gone almost all day, too.

Penny found her love in painting when she was five. Her older brothers were supposed to be watching her one day, but they left the apartment while her parents were at work. Penny found her mom’s paint box and took all the paints out. When her parents came home, they found their smart girl painting on the walls, giggling away. Nobody blamed her, “Who wouldn’t love a box of colorful liquid?” her dad had said.

That’s how she found herself as a nine year old, painting on a canvas, that she was going to submit into a painting contest held at the high school!

Penny heard the door open, and her brother Jason called, “I’m home! Did anyone miss me?”

“No.” Penny muttered. “Sure did!” She lied, loud enough for him to hear her this time. “Did you have fun with Travis and Cole?”

Jason laughed and said, “Oh, Penny. I don’t play with my brothers anymore, I play with my high school friends now!”

Penny sighed. “You know, even though you have friends in high school, Cole and especially Travis still want to hang out with you. They look up to you!” Penny stared at Jason, upset with her big brother. Before Jason could say anything else, Penny continued talking, “Anyways, I have to finish my painting, see you later!” Penny raced back into her painting room.

Inside her painting room, Penny kept all her chalk pastels, markers, colored pencils, crayons, and of course, all of her paints. Penny also slept in her painting room. She had a nice comfy bed in there. On the walls of her painting room, she painted pictures of her family, that is what she does best. She likes painting pictures of people, any people. It was the first thing she painted, a picture of her family. Penny smiled, thinking of the time she showed the painting to her parents. They were so proud of her.

Penny looked at the invitation sitting on her bed. It read: Dear Penny G. You are a truly wonderful artist and we would like you to paint in our competition. You are invited to the Iowa high school’s painting contest. Please come to the high school May 12th at 10 a.m. and bring a painting of anything you want, any size canvas! Sincerely, Principal Martin, high school principal.

“I can’t wait!” Penny screeched. She had waited for this invite since second grade! Then, she thought, Oh no! My painting! I have to finish tonight! The painting contest was held at the high school tomorrow morning, but Penny wasn’t done with her painting, there was just something wrong!

Penny scrambled to her canvas, popped open her “maroon purple” paint, dipped her brush in some water, then dipped it in the paint and got to work.

Half an hour later, Penny heard the door open again.

“I’m home guys!” It was her mom. She must have gotten off work early!

“Mom!” Penny called. “You’re home early! I missed you!”

“Honey! I’m so happy to see you!” Penny’s mom said sweetly. “Yes, I got off early, but now your dad’s going to be very late, ten at night maybe.” She frowned. “But maybe we can have some girl time if I give your brothers some time on the PlayStation.”

Penny got her “mom time” smirk on her face and replied, “I’d love that, Mom. We haven’t gotten mom time in a while!” Then, Penny thought of her whole painting situation. “Oh,” Penny sighed, “Mom, I can’t have mom time tonight. You see, you know how I got that invitation to the high school painting contest, right?”

Penny’s mom looked puzzled at first but then nodded. “What about it?” She had a concerned look on her face. “Did you run out of paint? Did you ruin it, wreck it, mess up on it or anything like that?”

And, the best mom ever now turns into an overly dramatic and concerned mom who doesn’t have any fun. Penny thought to herself. It happens so much now, the best ever mom turns into a no fun mom over something that’s not even important. Well, something that’s not super important… Penny thought sadly.

“Mom, calm down. It’s just that,” Penny paused, not wanting to freak her mom out even more. “I just haven’t finished yet, and I can’t figure out why!” She got teary-eyed and continued, “Mom, what if I don’t finish in time? Will the judges laugh at me-”

“Honey!” Mom yelled, using her “mom voice.” (When Penny’s mom uses her “mom voice”, it’s usually not good.) “Calm down. Everything will be okay! I’m sorry if I freaked you out, but if anyone can finish their painting in less than twenty-four hours, it’s you! Even if you don’t believe in yourself, I do. You are the best girl at painting I have ever met, and I will not ever meet anyone else who is better.”

Penny was surprised at her mom’s speech. “Oh, mom, I know I can do it. I am just so scared! But if you believe in me, I do, too! See you later, I have to finish my painting!” Penny finished her sentence and darted off and slammed the door to her painting room.

A little here and a little there… Penny thought excitedly. I’m really going to finish… And, done! Penny smiled at her work. But the smile didn’t last for long. Oh, no! There’s something wrong with dad! Penny knew she was going to need help fixing something on her dad, she just couldn’t figure out what was wrong with her dad!

“Uhmm, hey mom?” Penny called nervously. She had to just be brave and ask for help. Penny never had to ask for help before then, she could always figure out the problem within an hour or two. But this time, she didn’t have an hour or two. It was seven at night and eight o’clock was her bedtime!

Penny listened and heard footsteps outside her door. Then her door opened, and her mom was standing outside the door. “Yes, honey? Is there anything I can do to help?” her mom asked patiently.

Penny shivered and hesitated. “Yeah, I do need you. I can’t figure out what’s wrong with dad’s face! I just don’t understand!” Penny started whimpering and hugged her mom.

Then, Penny’s mom did the unexpected. She started laughing! Penny sighed and let go of her mom. “I knew you wouldn’t help!”

“Oh, Penny, you wanna know what’s wrong with your painting? Your father doesn’t have a mustache!” And her mom laughed even more.

Penny’s cries turned into laughs and they laughed for a while. “Thanks mom, I knew you would help!”

“That’s not what you just said!” Penny’s mom smiled and said, “Don’t worry, I forgive you, you were just mad.”

“Well, mom, go away now! I have to make a few changes…” Penny muttered and pushed her mom out the door.

Penny’s mom called back to her, “Dad is here, he’s looking for you!”

“Tell him to leave me alone, also, I’m not eating tonight. So, goodnight, see you in the morning and be ready to go by nine thirty!” Penny smirked and got back to work.

In the morning, Penny woke up and looked over at the clock. “Nine o’clock!” She shrieked. “Get up mom!” Penny screamed into her mom’s ear, “It’s nine!”

Penny’s mom jumped out of bed and yelled, “Surprise!” She was dressed and her hair was brushed neatly. “I’m already ready! Get out of your jammies and let’s go!”

Penny ran to her room, picked out her tie-dye t-shirt, and brushed her hair. Then, she wrapped her painting in tissue paper and gently pushed it into her big tie-dye bag.

“I’m all ready!” Penny called from her room to her mom five minutes later.

“Then let’s go! Fast!” her mom said excitedly. “Want to show me your painting?” she asked.

“Nope! You’ll see it at the contest!” Penny called behind her. She was already jumping into the elevator. “Come on, Mom!”

A few minutes later they were driving into the parking lot of the high school. “Come on Mom, hurry!” Penny yelled, in front of her mom again.

When Penny opened the door, there were already paintings propped up on display stands. “We’re late!” she called and ran to find her name on one of the tables.

“Mom! I found my table!” Penny announced to her mom. Penny was so excited, she couldn’t believe she was really here! Penny used to have dreams about this moment! But as the judges came closer to her table, her stomach did flips. She was so focused on getting here in time she hadn’t even realized how nervous she was feeling!

“Penny, you look worried!” her mom exclaimed. “Are you okay?”

Penny got teary-eyed and blinked to keep in a tear. “Mom, I’m so nervous! I know I shouldn’t get this worked up, but I am just-”

“Are you Penny?” a man asked.

Penny nodded and wiped away a tear.

“Hello, Penny! I am principal Martin. Just letting you know that the judges will be coming over to your table in a few minutes! Good luck, Penny.” Principal Martin walked over to talk to another table and waved to a judge coming towards Penny.

Penny’s stomach lurched. That wasn’t a few minutes, that was one! She thought. Penny smiled at the woman with a clipboard, and she smiled back.

“Hello!” the woman said. She had a British-like accent, so it sounded weird to Penny. “My name is Ameilia; I will take some notes on your painting and another judge will be on his way.”

“Hi!” Penny’s mom said happily. “I am Penny’s mom, Rheya.”

“May I look at your painting?” she asked. Her tone sounded teasing and doubtful, but Penny didn’t think her mom noticed.

“Sure,” Penny said quietly. She pulled her painting out of the bag and ripped off the tissue paper. Then, Penny set her painting on the stand.

Ameilia gasped loudly. “I have never seen anything like that!” she exclaimed quietly. She jotted something down on her paper and left without saying a word.

Penny smiled. “Maybe I do have a chance,” she muttered to her mom. “Did you see her face?” Penny laughed.

“Yeah!” her mom giggled. “She was like, ‘Oh my goodness’ in her head!” The two of them laughed but stopped when they saw Ameilia come back towards them with another judge behind her.

“Miss Penny, you have potential! You’re a pretty good painter and so I want you to show your painting to Ryan. He is one of the other judges,” Ameilia told Penny proudly. “You really might have a chance!”

“You really think so?” Penny asked nervously. She’s probably just saying that to make me happy, Penny told herself sadly. She just couldn’t win, could she?

Ameilia hesitated. “You’ll find out later!” she told her, amused.

“Well, thank you for coming to our high school painting show! I am Ryan, as you already know. You can ignore me, I will just be taking some quick notes on your painting, Penny,” Ryan told her. “What are you, seven?” He asked, not trying to be rude.

Penny couldn’t believe it! “I’m nine!” she told Ryan, her tone deep and harsh. “I’m just… a little short,” she admitted. “Ok, take your notes,” she told him rudely.

Ryan looked surprised at her words. “Yes… Yes, I’ll do that,” he told her, embarrassed. Ryan walked past them, and Ameilia walked the other way, towards another table.

While Ryan took his notes, Penny’s mom bent down and whispered in Penny’s ear, “Penny, just because Ryan made a mistake about your age doesn’t mean you can snap at him like that. It’s rude to talk to people like that! You are going to apologize to him when he’s done writing about your painting. I am disappointed, honey. That was very rude, he didn’t mean anything.” Penny’s mom frowned and stayed silent for a while.

“Sorry,” Penny muttered. “I guess I’ll say sorry.”

Penny’s mom didn’t say anything. Yikes! Penny thought. Maybe I was a little dramatic.

“Uh… great job on your… your painting, Miss… Miss Penny,” Ryan said shyly.

“Hey, uh, Ryan. Sorry, I just hate it when people call me an age younger than what my age really is…” Penny said softly. “I’m really, actually sorry,” she finished.

Ryan turned red. “Oh, no problem,” he said. “I’ve got to go, see you in the announcement room!” he called behind him.

A few minutes later, a voice called on the school speakers, “Can I have everyone come to the announcement room please? Room three eighty-five, please and thank you!” the voice boomed.

When Penny and her mom got into the room, most of the contestants were already there. “Well, are you excited, Penny?” her mom asked. “You should be, not a lot of third graders get to experience this type of stuff!”

“I’m excited, but I’m also really, really scared,” Penny admitted nervously. Her voice couldn’t stop shaking.

Principal Martin was up on the stage, along with a few other people Penny didn’t know. “We are very proud to announce these winners! We have, like always, three winners. Each winner will get an award and a medal. So, I am going to let my gym teacher, Mrs. Wilson, announce the winners!” Principal Martin said excitedly.

A new lady walked up to the front of the stage and smiled at the crowd. “Hello, everybody! I am Mrs. Wilson, and I am pleased to announce the winners! The first winner is… Emma Grady! Come up on the stage please!” There was applause around the room. “The second winner is… Hailey Watson! Come up to the stage!” More applause echoed around the room. “The third winner is…”

That night when Penny was getting ready to go to bed, she glanced over at her wall. Hanging on it was a blue ribbon that said, “Iowa Painting Contest Winner!” Penny smiled with pride. She hopped into her bed and fell asleep almost immediately.

In Penny’s sleep she could hear a voice saying something in her head, over and over again. Penny could hear, Penny, you are a winner.