The Border Between Us by Rudy Ruiz

Author:Rudy Ruiz [Ruiz, Rudy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Blackstone Publishing
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

When it came time to show our artwork at the contest, I hovered nervously by my easel, torn between my instinctive desire to win and the confounding urge to help Julia. Anxiously, I observed the gaggle of judges as they proceeded slowly up and down the aisles, scrutinizing the vast array of subpar artwork with feigned interest. A couple of their name tags bore the logo of an art foundation with a famous rich-person’s last name: Guggenheim. I recognized it from one of the museums Mrs. Martinez often referred to when showing us famous paintings. The judges spent an inordinate amount of time poring over Julia’s canvas, smiling and nodding their heads as they took notes. I watched their lips move from afar as they congratulated her.

As they turned the corner and headed down my row of students, a tight knot grew in my throat. Gazing across the sea of contestants, I stared longingly at Julia, realizing I didn’t just yearn for her; I pined for her selflessly, like a devoted paladin would desire a sublime princess.

Stealthily, I switched my portrait of Juan Diego and Chuck Norris for a still life study of the latter’s nunchucks. It was something I’d done in preparation for the larger piece, and its unfinished nature was evident. Having arrived at my easel with high expectations, the judges scowled at the work and peered at me quizzically. They were so disappointed that they didn’t even place me among the finalists, which was a good thing because then nobody would have to see what I had ended up submitting. After the judges were gone, I put my portrait of Juan Diego and Chuck Norris back on the easel and watched Julia win the grand prize. I watched with pride as Julia strutted across the stage to gather her awards. Her picture of the rancher and wife amid an archetypical Valley landscape was lauded as an homage to our homeland and heritage.

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