Ring in Mine
Kim Terry
Thank your for the emails. I appreciate even a short, "I'm reading your story," goes a long way.
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My thanks go out to Zachary Kordus for proofreading this chapter.
Kim ----------
Ring in Mine: John Chapter 5
John wasn't sure if he would make it through school on Monday and Tuesday. He almost skipped his after school watercolor class, but watercolor was new to him and he didn't want to fall behind.
John grabbed a sandwich and was barely ready when Brother Terrion pulled in front of the house. John nearly ran to the car.
"I don't know what supplies to bring." He gasped.
"Professor Terrion realized she didn't give you a list. She has what you will need for tonight." He answered. "Get in the car."
The Terrions lived on the other side of the church, only six blocks from the Litchfields. They weren't close to the local congregation. They usually attended church with the college students.
Professor Terrion's studio had been created from a covered and glassed in patio. It had lots of natural light from high windows. John noticed that the curtains had been pulled, closing out the early winter darkness.
There were about a dozen students ranging from young college students to middle aged artists. John was definitely the youngest by years.
Each artist was setting up an easel in a semi circle around a stack of boxes draped in gray fabric. The set was lit by one light brighter than the room lighting casting defined shadows. Brother Terrion led John to a workstation easel. Next to the easel was a beautiful wooden box filled with pencils, charcoals and just about anything else he would need for drawing. John figured out in just a few moments what they would be drawing.
He wasn't far wrong. A female college student in a robe stepped up to the boxes. She handed the robe to one of the artists. Professor Terrion posed the model on the boxes.
"Class this is John." The professor introduced the newest student.
"Hi John." Everyone answered.
"John today just draw what you see. That will tell us what you need to work on." The professor instructed. "We have fifteen minutes on this pose. Quick sketches please."
This was John's first chance to see a naked woman. He just stood and stared.
"Start working. You will get used to it." The older gentleman at the next easel suggested.
John started on a basic outline and then started working on general detail slowly working toward the shadowing. It wasn't long before he was looking more at the shadows they cast than the breasts themselves. The professor was stopping at each station and with a word of praise and suggestions. She stopped and watched John for a few moments and moved on.
As the model stretched John like many of the artists continued to fill in details from memory. He reluctantly changed his paper ready for the next pose. This time he didn't spend time staring at the woman's bits and pieces but shapes, lines and shadows to be caught on paper. This time the professor had suggestions as she stopped by.
During the next break John took the time to look at the work of the other artists. He looked at his efforts in comparison. It was hard to accept how awkward and rough his drawings were. He found a chair in the corner with his head in his hands. This was all a waste of time. He would never be any good.
"How many times did you draw Andrew before it started to look good?" The familiar voice asked. "The reason all these artists are here is practice. You have talent. This is just like your gymnastics. You do the same routine over and over until you can do it right again and again."
The professor's hand took his. "Ready to try again?"
John stood at his easel. Finally he decided it wasn't a finished piece; this was just practice. He relaxed and started drawing. He decided he wasn't going to worry about the whole figure. He could do faces. He concentrated on the shapes and shadows of her torso getting the breasts and genitalia believable. The woman's musculature was similar to Andrew's but fuller and rounder. When the time was up he looked at his work. It looked nothing like a finished piece. The professor asked about this last piece. John explained about his focus. She nodded. When they compared his first with his last, he could see progress. John was excited to come back next week.
"John, I don't think we need to tell your dad that this is a life drawing class. I have a portfolio you can keep your work here away from prying eyes." The professor offered. "Tell your parents that Gerald is pleased that you are attending my class. That should eliminate any repercussions."
"What shall I do with the supplies I borrowed?" John asked.
"Close the box." Professor Terrion directed her student. There on the top of the box was his name. "You can keep it here with your work."
"Thank you!" John wrapped his arms around his new teacher.
The first day the class had a male model John realized that he must not be gay. It was the first time he had seen an adult penis. John had just discovered his first hairs at Christmas, he hoped he would be as big as the model someday. He was more interested in getting the image on paper than his bits and pieces.
With one night no longer available for homework, Andrew and John had to do some creative scheduling to keep up on assignments. John seemed to be handling all the balls in the air without dropping any so far.
He was really pushing the weights with Andrew and gymnastics practice. Spring competition was only a month away. The spring meet was statewide and being held at the college. John and Ruth were keeping Mark in the dark. Ruth had given Mark a pair of tickets for a Jazz basketball game in Salt Lake for the day of the competition. In true form Mark had invited Brother Terrion. He quickly became part of the plan to keep Mark busy. All John and Ruth had told the Terrions was that Mark didn't approve of John's gymnastics. No mention of the confrontation at the fall meet was ever mentioned.
The day went off without a hitch. John hoped no one would mention his three medals at church. There wasn't a first place but two seconds and a third wasn't bad. John knew he would really have to practice for the next year. After today's performance he would be competing at a higher level. He would be an official part of the local gymnastics club with a real coach. He just wasn't sure how he was going to pay for the increased cost. Professor Terrion had a possible solution.
They stopped at the Terrion's on the way home. There in the studio beautifully mounted and hung were his baseball pictures. When John neared the display he realized these weren't the originals. They were printed on canvas.
"There is a gallery in town that wants to display the originals. He had these printed. He is sure there is a market for a limited edition printing of the set, each numbered and signed by you. The advance and sales would more than pay for your gymnastics." Professor Terrion explained.
John looked at his mother with expectant eyes.
"What does he have to do?" Ruth asked.
"John can't sign the contract on his own, but you can sign with him." Professor Terrion explained. "The money will go into a trust account. Expenses will be paid from that. He won't get all the money until he reaches 21." Ruth looked puzzled. Professor Terrion continued. "A lawyer friend of mine, Brent Middleton, set the contract up this way to protect his earnings."
John and Ruth signed the papers.
"What name are you going to use?" Professor Terrion asked.
"Jonathan Littleton, then I can still sign them John L."
"Would you sign my copies? I would like to keep them hanging there." Professor Terrion asked. Using the pen Professor Terrion provided, he signed the back of each piece right below the inscription `1 of 200'.
John gave the two women in his life a hug as tears of joy left trails on his face.
Ruth had a surprise for John and Mark the Sunday after the competition.
"I told your mom we would come to Sunday dinner today." Ruth announced. John realized they wouldn't be at church for anyone to congratulate his dad. His mom was a smart cookie and he loved his Grandma Litchfield.
Mark disliked Sunday at his mom's. She had gotten rid of her television right after her husband had died. Without a TV to vegetate in front of he had to be sociable all day. Grandma Litchfield had cooked all of Mark's favorites for dinner. A very satisfied Mark pushed himself away from the table.
"That was great mom. I'm stuffed." Mark announced.
"That's too bad. I made my special triple fudge seven layer chocolate cake."
Mark slid his chair back up to the table. John stood to help clear the table as he did at home.
"John, today I want you to sit here with your father. Your mom and I will clean up." The spry old woman announced.
With the table clear Ruth sat at the table.
"I've just been kicked out of the kitchen. Your mom is being very mysterious." Ruth said puzzled delivering fresh glasses and a gallon of milk.
"My neighbor Marge invited me to watch her grandson compete yesterday." She placed a dessert plate in front of each person. "Her little Frank did really well." She passed out the forks. Grandma Litchfield disappeared into the kitchen and returned carrying a cake.
"I was surprised. I knew one of the other young men that won three medals." She sat the cake on the table. The chocolate frosting was decorated with three round circles, two with red ribbons and one white. John's heart sank. Dad was going to go ballistic. His blood vessels in his neck were visibly throbbing.
"My grandson won two more medals than Marge's. It was fantastic. What's wrong Mark."
"John did this behind my back." He looked at Ruth also. "You both went behind my back. I said John would not be a gymnast."
Grandma Litchfield hit her son up the back of his head.
"What is your problem? Your best friend in high school and college was a gymnast."
"He was gay and what did it get him?" Mark paused for effect. The older Litchfield took her son's ear firmly in her grasp.
"We need to talk." She pulled the grown man into the kitchen just as she had as a boy. She sat him down at the kitchen table and closed the door into the dining room. John and Ruth could only hear bits and pieces of the mostly one sided conversation.
"I don't give a damn if he is gay, straight or into sheep, he is my grandson. Your friend Marcus was always welcome in this house ... Look me square in the eye and tell me you are ashamed of his accomplishments in gymnastics ... Remember the day you found out how strong Marcus really was ... It was you on the floor crying uncle ... "
"What college would want a coach that has a gay kid?" The slap was probably heard next door.
"That's it! The gloves are off! If that is your motivation, I will play your game. You will support your son. You will go to his meets. ... Or I will tell the whole story ... Dad and I knew. We always knew."
When Mark returned to the table Grandma's handprint was visible on Mark's face. She sliced Mark a generous piece of cake sporting an icing medal.
"Just so everyone knows, if I wanted a guy I could have Andrew anytime. What I really enjoy looking at is how Susan fills out her leotard when she is on the balance beam." John announced.
"Is she the girl from your club that took first place on the beam?" Grandma asked. John nodded. "John my boy you have good tastes. Mark I don't think you need to worry about this one."
John decided to go for broke while his grandmother was here to control his father.
"A week from Tuesday is the District Art Show. My new art instructor says she has a surprise for me. Would you like to come it starts at 6:00 in the college Art building." John invited the dear old woman.
"I wouldn't miss it." She looked at her son. "Mark I appreciate your offer to pick me up at 5:30. We will enjoy the show together." The emphasis on the word will was not missed by her son.
Ruth wondered what `the whole story was' that could control Mark to this extent.
John's schedule changed yet again. gymnastics was later in the evening and three days a week. On Monday, Wednesday and Friday, Andrew and John would do homework right after school on those days. Andrew's baseball was getting ready to begin on Tuesday and Thursday while John was watercoloring. John was beginning to see how the watercolor techniques might work with his life drawings.
The day of the Art Show arrived. The principal mentioned the students in the show during announcements. John wasn't surprised that he wasn't mentioned. The professor said he probably wouldn't be. Ruth and John rode to the show with Andrew and his parents. Waiting in the lobby of the exhibition space was Mark and his mother.
"John, I don't see your name on the program." His grandmother asked. John looked over the program and was disappointed. He wasn't listed in the Elementary section. Just in case he checked the Secondary section. His name wasn't there. He was desperately searching for his name when his eyes caught a John Littleton mentioned.
There must have been some mistake. He was listed under special guest artists. These were professionals or known artists that had been invited to display some of their works. Some were even auctioning off prints of their work giving the proceeds to support the Arts programs in the school. John stopped at the display of the works of John Littleton. There for auction were prints of the four baseball paintings. The note said the originals were on display at a gallery in Salt Lake.
Andrew recognized the pieces immediately.
"I never saw them finished. They are really good." He paused. "Who is John Littleton?"
"That would be me." His grandmother was ecstatic and was ready to put a bid on the pieces. The high bid so far was $650.
"I can tell you must be John's grandmother. Mark looks a lot like you." Professor Terrion noted as she approached the group. "John gets some of the unnumbered sets to give away. I assumed that he would give one to Andrew's family."
She turned and shook Andrew's hand. "It is good to finally meet John's willing model."
John made the introductions all around. "May I give my mom and grandmother a set of prints?"
"They are at my studio. They just need to be signed." She finished as two very well dressed men approached the group. "John let me introduce Brent Middleton and his law partner ..." Professor Terrion didn't get a chance to finish the introduction.
"Frank, I haven't seen you since my husband died. Are the two of you doing well." Grandmother Litchfield had gathered the two men into a giant hug. "These are the lawyers that helped so much when my husband died."
"Grandmother, I think they are my lawyers too." John interjected.
"Their law firm is handling John's contract and trust." Professor Terrion added. Mark was just a little overwhelmed. The surprises were coming too fast to process. His mother took his hand.
"You have quite the son, Mark. A professional artist and a medal winning athlete. You have a lot to be proud of." Brent offered. "Let's boost this a little bit." Brent drew a line through the present bid and wrote $1000 and his firm's name."
"Brent are you sure you want to do this? You already purchased a set for your office." Professor Terrion interjected.
"It's early yet. I bet they go for a lot more than that." Frank answered. "It's important that no one associates you with the painting yet." So the group visited the rest of the show.
Finally at the end, everyone moved to the auditorium where the presentations were made, John was feeling a little left out. Everyone one else was getting recognition. Professor Terrion kept patting his shoulder. "Not yet little one."
Finally they began to announce the winning bids for the fundraiser. If the artist was there they often wrote an inscription on the back of the piece and personally signed the provenance for the piece. This would make the piece more valuable if the artist ever became famous. Some had a few words to say about how the Arts program in school had helped them.
"The last piece for the night is "Baseball, The Four Seasons" by John Littleton. The winning bid is $1,900." A very distinguished woman came up to claim her artwork. "We have not only the artist but the model in attendance. I would like to introduce, both." Andrew and John shook the Master of Ceremonies' hand. To say there were a lot of surprised faces was an understatement. John and Andrew both signed the pieces on the back.
John then spoke for just a moment about the importance of the Arts in the public schools. Not just graphic arts, but music and other ways children can learn to express themselves. He received a round of applause.
He returned to his seat glowing. His grandmother claimed the first hug. He wasn't sure if his dad would have hugged him if Brother Terrion hadn't hugged him first, but he would take what was offered.
My posting for this story is going to be intermittent. It is Medicare Open enrollment. If you would like to be notified when a new chapter is available drop me a line. ringinmine@yahoo.com