The Victor and the Vanquished by Mark Wildyr

Author:Mark Wildyr [Wildyr, Mark]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2021-07-21T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 19

Junie started turning into a little Indian girl in buckskin and beaded moccasins the next morning as I made sketches to guide me in my work. Sketches was too strong a word for it since I can’t draw worth a damn. I just put enough lines on a piece of paper to guide me in what I was trying to do when the real subject can’t sit still longer than two seconds at a stretch. I was tempted to try her in alabaster, but I wasn’t confident enough in that medium yet, so I stayed with soapstone and wood and a little gold wire, coral, and bits of things to create a few highlights. Nola made a tiny turquoise necklace and some earrings to match for the piece. She was really getting good. Mr. Gresham took everything she sent him now.

I left the studio early to take a good long shower and scrape off the few bristles I had on my chin and upper lip. Dressed in my best clothes, I knew I would look pretty good to Walter. I hoped he was a good teacher. Even though I was ten minutes early, he was already waiting in the parking lot where we’d agreed to meet. The relieved look he gave me said he’d been afraid I wouldn’t show. If he only knew how reliable old William was, he would have been spared an anxious day.

“You didn’t think I’d show up, did you?”

He ducked his head. “I wasn’t sure. Sometimes…”

“Not me. My word’s good.”

He let loose a smile, and I realized that showing up wasn’t the only thing worrying him. He’d been afraid I’d cheat on my promise even if I did keep the appointment.

Walter gave me a bunch of booklets he’d picked up at Motor Vehicle on traffic laws and the procedure for obtaining a license. Although I was anxious to get started with the driving part, he insisted we review everything thoroughly. When he was satisfied, I understood things, he drove to a big flat area south of town where we could drive without getting in anybody’s way. He had me watch everything he did carefully before he put me behind the wheel. The actual driving wasn’t very hard. His car had an automatic shift, so it just seemed like stop and go…stop and go…stop and go. Well, except for parking the way he wanted.

The hour seemed to whiz by in no time, but as soon as it did, Walter turned from a hard taskmaster into a shy guy wanting in my britches. He was dying to take off home and collect his payment, but he tried not to act too anxious. After a while, I took pity on him.

“That was a pretty good lesson, Walter. You’re a good teacher. I learned a lot.” I hesitated, teasing him a bit, I guess. “How about a hamburger before we go to your place?”

He agreed, even insisting on paying for the hamburgers although I tried to buy my own.

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