A Donut for Your Thoughts by Coco Simon

Author:Coco Simon
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Simon Spotlight
Published: 2020-08-25T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Ten The Big Surprise

That week, instead of going to lunch, I stayed in art class a few days to work on a new drawing that had me quite obsessed. I was starting to like spending more time in the most vibrant and inspiring classroom in school.

Our art teacher, Mr. Franklin, had an open-door policy during lunch hour for student artists. Anyone working on independent art projects could go to his room during lunch period, and Mr. Franklin pretty much left you alone to do your thing.

He didn’t helicopter the room like in his regular art class. Instead he just sat with his feet up at his desk, chomping away at his lunch and jamming out on his cushiony headphones.

That Wednesday, I texted Lindsay to let her know I wasn’t coming to lunch… again.

Finishing something up in Franklin’s room today. Lemme guess… pastrami & swiss on pumpernickel?

Yup.

Sheesh.

If Matt was the king of one-word responses, Lindsay was joining him on the throne.

Things weren’t the same with us these days, and it was my fault. We both knew we were long overdue for a heart-to-heart, but I wanted the moment to be just right.

Mr. Franklin was my favorite teacher for a number of reasons, one of which was that he had turned Mrs. Cooper’s old room, now his room, into a constantly changing art exhibit.

Actually, if you really think about it, you can spot examples of art almost everywhere in school, thanks to the art department that Lindsay’s mom directed for years: from the self-portraits that line the long wall on the way to the library to a ceramic octopus sculpture at the main office sign-in desk. And of course there’s the funky mural in the main hallway that’s dedicated to Amy Cooper.

My favorite is the painter’s palette that she always used, which Mr. Franklin suspended from the ceiling of his classroom with fishing wire. At least once a week, usually before class starts, I stand still in front of the hovering palette, spotted with paint colors.

I gaze up at it for a few seconds, I don’t know why exactly, just to send up a prayer. My way of remembering her, I guess.

Something about the palette being in midair makes me imagine her on the other side wearing angel’s wings, floating above us as we make art in what used to be her classroom.

I also feel close to Lindsay’s mom every time I talk to Mr. Franklin.

He can sketch and paint, too, but he’s more into collage work and bookmaking. He’s mostly known for these awesome, one-of-a-kind handmade books with collages on the cover, which he sells online.

What I didn’t know until I started talking to Mr. Franklin was that Amy Cooper had been his mentor for many years. Actually, he says she’s the only reason he is an artist at all.

We definitely have that in common, because I feel the same way about her.

“Hey, Casey, I want to talk to you about something,” said Mr. Franklin.

The door was wide open to welcome any other lunchtime artists, but for now, the room was empty.

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