The Earth Painter (11 page)

“The other gift was a special spring that would bring healing. Fritz was furious at his gifts that, to him were no gifts at all. He had thought his gift would be much grander.”

Theo stopped, as if trying to find the right way to say what was next. “Fritz, for some reason, had it in his head that the world we were making would be for us to rule over.”

Geo interrupted. “You are too generous with his motives.” Then the punk rock looking science guy spoke to me. “Fritz thought he should rule the world. He thought Earth would be his gift.”

Theo took back over. “You see, as we were painting, we had no idea it was for any other purpose than the Sculptor’s amusement. We didn’t know his plan for people. When the Sculptor made them and told us his plans, Fritz got angry and did some things.”

I looked at them both, “So he got mad and did what?”

Theo continued. “First of all, he buried the Mia-
Dae
rather than distribute it as ordered. He hid the healing spring and to this day no one, not even the sciences, has found it. And he did some other things…but we won’t get into that.”

Geo’s monumental voice rang out. “I’ll get into it.” Then he stood and walked closer to where I was sitting. “Fritz stirred the oceans and made waves. Suddenly the water was coming up on the land destroying Theo’s work. He dumped salt into the ocean, making it undrinkable for the land creatures and cursed the water so that when land creatures went into it, they’d drown.”

I sat on the settee for a few minutes after Geo finished, trying to take it all in. “It sounds like Fritz directed all his anger towards you, Theo.
But why?
Was it just because you were assigned people to paint?”

Geo raised his hands. “Whoa. Wait a minute here.” He looked at Theo. “Are you taking credit for people?”

Theo looked indignant. “No…No…I never…” He looked at me. “No, you’ve misunderstood. I painted the land, the plants and the animals on it, but not people.
Never people.
They were the complete thought and handy work of the Sculptor. Humans are the only living thing here sculpted and not painted. Touched by the Sculptors own hands and more than animated. The Sculptor breathed his breath of life into people, and they were so.” The look on Theo’s face was one of wonder.

Geo shook his head and laughed. “He’s always had a love for the humans. I’m sure he’s thrilled to have you around.”

My cheeks burned hot.

“Look, you’re making her uncomfortable,” Theo said. “The point is, someone is all of a sudden bothering the well, and I have a feeling
it’s
Fritz.

Geo sat back down at the table. “How do you plan to find out?”

“Well after Bio confirms what you’ve said, I plan to go to the school board meeting tomorrow. If Fritz is involved, he’ll be there.”

A knock sounded at the door. A guy with a choppy bowl cut and smirking grin stood in the doorway. He leaned against the frame, striking a pose in his dark suit and white shirt opened at his chest. He rubbed his fashionably
stubbled
chin before he spoke. “Sorry I’m late.” Then he saw me. “What’s the human doing here?”

Theo gestured towards the door. “Holly, meet Bio. Bio…this is Holly.”

Chapter 11

After getting Bio caught up on all the details, the guys settled into a game of cards while I watched. Their wagers were quite bizarre. They bet on future tweaks of things biological and geological.

I noticed right off that Theo wasn’t friendly with Bio the way he was with Geo. Theo would throw down a card and talk smack to Bio, Bio, in turn, would usually win the round and return the taunts. I was wondering what
was
up with them when Geo called them on their behavior.

“Guys, let it go already. What’s done is done.” His deep voice bellowed.

Bio swatted his long bangs from his eyes. “It’s Theo who won’t let it go.” He turned his attention to the painter. “The dinosaurs had to be eliminated if humans were going to be the dominate species. Would you really want to hear the evening news lead in with, A family of five was killed today when an Apatosaurus’s tail slammed into their home. Or, Chesnee High School won their game tonight by forfeit when the Woodruff team’s bus was attacked by a T-Rex. Only the water boy survived.”

Theo surveyed the cards in his hand. “You could have come up with something to keep them around. At least Geo came up with a way to preserve a record of their existence or no one would even know they had been here.”

Bio leaned closer and got louder, “They were too big, and I kept them around as long as I could, for your sake. If it had been up to me, they would have died out sooner.”

They went on like that all afternoon. Theo never won a hand, so he would not get his way on any future tweaks. Geo and Bio made gestures and motions that I was sure were some kind of code.

Bio started in on Theo again, “Does your human friend notice the trend here? That Painters aren’t exceptionally
adept  at
games of logic. You’d never have won, the few times you have, if this wasn’t also a game of chance. We can’t risk that happening again.
Sheesh.
Who knows what kind of disaster Theo’s ideas would bring.”

I was too curious so I had to ask, “So what happens if Theo wins?”

Bio answered without ever taking his eyes off his cards.
“Pandas.”

My forehead wrinkled.
“Pandas?
What does that mean?”

Bio put his cards face down on the table before looking at me to speak. “Pandas have sharp teeth. The kind of teeth best used to rip and tear flesh. They have a metabolism best suited for a carnivorous or at least omnivorous animal. And yet they eat a specialized diet of bamboo.
Makes no sense at all.”
He picked up his cards and gestured towards Theo. “Theo won, and now you have cute, cuddly bears that spend all day chewing bamboo with the wrong kind of teeth.” He shook his head and threw down two cards.

Theo smiled. “Bio, where’s your sense of whimsy?”

When the bell rang, I knew I had to get to the parking lot to meet Shelby, but my mind wasn’t with me. It was back with Theo and all the odd things about my world I was trying to digest. I’m not sure how many times Shelby shouted my name before I heard her. I turned around to see that I’d long since passed her car while walking and thinking about how to act normal. So far, I wasn’t doing so well.

Shelby laughed as she buckled her seatbelt. “You’re still out of it? We’ll definitely be heading to Starbucks before shopping. You need something strong… like a double espresso.”

I buckled my seatbelt and mumbled, “It won’t be strong enough.”

Shelby pulled out of the parking lot. “I’m going by the wholesale beauty supply place while we’re out. If you want something, I can get it for you with my discount.”

“Ok…maybe…” This conversation brought me back to my normal life. “I asked my dad for some money, but…he didn’t have a lot to give me.” Not like he used to.

“That’s fine. I’m a smart shopper.” She reached over and touched my hair. “You could use some frizz control and deep conditioner. I’ll show you how to use it with a paper towel to dry your hair into springy curls.”

“Paper towel?”

“Yeah.
You take the paper towel and scrunch your hair dry with it.
It’s
way more absorbent than a terrycloth towel, and you can hang it up to dry and use it for several days. It gives you better curls too.”

We went through the Starbucks drive thru and then on to the beauty supply place. We were in the back looking at nail polish when a girl walked by. The girl looked at Shelby like she wanted to kill her. She snatched up what she‘d been looking at and brushed by us. Shelby tugged at me and pointed at her. “I’ll tell you about her when we get in the car.”

Shelby helped me pick out some products. Her discount actually did help my money go further. I was used to paying much more for things back in BC times.
BC—before Chesnee.
When we got in the car, Shelby kept her promise to tell me about the girl in the store.

“That girl used to be in the cosmetology program with me. Her name’s Tina. She goes to a different high school that also uses
Swofford
Vocational Center. Anyway, she used to try to start stuff with me. She’d bump into my work station trying to knock something over and break it. Sometime she’d say stuff about a haircut I’d given or whatever. I never responded because
fighting will get you kicked out of the program. I want this career so bad that I never said a word—nothing at all.” Then her eyes sparkled as she looked at me. “But I never forgot either. Last year, at finals, I switched out her chemicals and relabeled them during lunch, right before exams.” Shelby started laughing. “She burned the hair right off her mannequin and flunked out of the whole program.” Then Shelby looked at me again, obviously proud of herself.

“The program takes two years to complete so if you fail your junior year, you’re out of the program the next year.”

She leaned back in her seat as she drove. “This year was completely Tina free.”

I blinked a couple of times looking at Shelby when she’d finished. It was a side of her I’d never seen before. “Wow…I don’t know what to say. If I didn’t know better, I’d think you were some kind of crazy person.” Did I actually say that last part out loud? “I’ll try never to get on your bad side.” I laughed nervously trying to make it all a joke.

She smiled back at me and laughed. “Oh I am a crazy person when somebody crosses me, but don’t worry you’re way too smart to ever do that.”

After some discount shopping and dinner, we headed back to the high school. We parked next to a truck. I recognized it as Brad’s, Shelby’s boyfriend. He got out when we did. I was closer to him than on that first day. I could tell by looking at him that Brad wasn’t in high school or even someone who’d just graduated. He was much older than us. His expression was far from friendly. Shelby ran to this guy with a scowl on his face.

“Hey, sweetie.”
She threw her arms around him, but he remained stiff and pushed her away.

She stepped back, disappointment all over her face. “What’s wrong?”

He glared at her with his arms crossed. “You’re hair. What the hell did you do to it?”

Apparently, he hadn’t seen the extensions.

“I told you, I had a surprise for you. We did it for class. I’ll change it back next week.”

Shelby tried again to embrace him and again he pushed her away, but this time with more force. “You look like a slut. I don’t like brown hair, so who’d you color it for?”

He spun around and got back in his truck. Shelby went after him and banged on the door. I stood there, not sure what to do when she told me to go on, and she’d call me on my cell to meet up in the stadium.

The stadium was crowded. Bright lights made the night as bright as day. People were crushed in together, herding themselves up the concrete bleachers to watch the game. I guessed football was a big deal in a town with nothing else to do. I eyed the crowd and thought about sneaking off to the auditorium, but I didn’t want to bother Theo and his friends. I’d already intruded on their guy time today. Besides, Bio and Geo didn’t seem too happy to have me there while they played cards.

As I stood looking like a lost idiot, the stadium became more and more intimidating. I didn’t see anyone I knew well enough to feel comfortable striking up a conversation or sitting with to watch the game. I had trouble cheering as the team busted onto the field. I’d only been a student there a month. I had to look around at the signs to remember we were the eagles and not cubs like my old school.

I got in line to buy a hot chocolate at the concession stand since the air had a chill to it. I’d only been there a few minutes when someone whispered in my ear, “What are you doing here?” I turned to find Theo’s dimples and laughing gray-blue eyes just a few inches from mine.
Suddenly, my insides turned to warm butter—like I was no longer made of solid matter. The butter oozed to the surface, making my cheeks warm against the cool night air.

“Hey, I thought you were playing cards with your friends.”Theo looked over to where Geo and Bio stood and then pointed at me. “See how she does that? I whisper, and she knows it’s me.” Theo reached his arm around me and put his hand on my shoulder. With his touch, the butter was now boiling. It must have been a workout for my
heart,
the thing was competing with the band’s timpani drum. He pulled me out of line and over to his friends.

The two of them leaned against the brick wall of the school looking at us. Bio was the first to speak.

“This is quite bizarre. The closest thing I’ve seen to this was that time in Italy.” He slapped Geo’s shoulder. “Remember those human artists. They were listening in on our card game and started talking like Theo—remember? He was talking about how special humans were and then they started talking about it.”

“How could I forget?” His voice boomed like thunder. “It ended up being the biggest and longest card game ever. Walden even joined and brought
Astro
and Physics with her. Next thing we knew, the human guys were talking about stars and planets and coming up with ways to get a better look at them.” Geo tilted his head, and his forehead wrinkled. “Didn’t one of them actually make the first telescope?”