The Dreamer

by Angela

The 5 year old looked up from her paper and crayons, when sheheard the door unlock. Her mom was finally home, from cleaning hotelrooms all day.  Violet didn't want to work, but after herhusband walked out on them, she had to work to make ends meet.

The second her mom walked in, the girl ran to her mom. "Mama, mamalook what I drew."

Her mom picked up the little girl and gave her a big hug. "Whatdid you draw for me today?"

The girl was all smiles as she showed her drawing. "See my picturemommy?"

"I see it. Why don't you tell me about it?"

The little girl smiled. "Well, this is me, and that one's you andwe're in the park on a sunny day flying a kite."

"That is a great picture, and I think we need to hang itsomewhere. Where would you like to hang it?"

The little girl looked at the walls and the ceiling that wascovered in her pictures. "I think I want to hang it there," the girlsaid pointing close to the ceiling.

"Okay, let me get the tape."

After she got the picture ready to hang, she picked up the girland let her put it where she had pointed to.

"You know something mommy?"

"What?"

"I want to be an artist someday. I want my picturesto make people happy."

"I'm sure you will be a wonderful artist someday sweetheart."

*****

As the girl grew older, her dream of being an artist, neverdimmed. She took all the art classes she could, and she discoveredthat painting was her favorite. She had been so wrapped up in herdream that the thought of friends and boys never crossed her mind,and now here she was in her 40s.

She lived in an old apartment, and trying to find enough work tokeep a roof over her head and food on the table. The combination wastaking its toll on her. Her mother had passed away several yearsearlier leaving behind a broken hearted daughter and several unpaidbills. She knew that the rent was months behind and she'd better belooking for somewhere else to live. However for the moment, shewanted to forget about life and just paint her troubles away.

She went to the basement to get her easel when she saw a strangeopening. She decided to explore and what she found was better thanany easel. The walls were smooth, too dark for her taste, and neededbrightened up. She went back to get her paints and brushes when sheran into a small boy. Before she could speak to him, he ran off.

After she grabbed her paints and brushes she made her way back tothe tunnels. She was right in middle of painting a sunset when a manand several others approached.

"Why are you here?"

The woman looked at the strangers and then returned to herpainting.

"I'm here to paint." She didn't seem a threat, so the olderman looked at her and said

"You are welcome to paint all you want. We won't bother you."

The group turned to go back 'home'. Jacob stopped turned aroundand said, "You never told us your name."

The older woman smiled and said, "Elizabeth."