A Different Blue(63)

in the ass to get in my truck.”

Everyone laughed, and I winced and muttered an apology for my language.

[page]“So tell us about this particular sculpture.” Wilson ignored the laughter and continued,

refocusing the class. “You called it 'The Arc' – which I found fascinating.”

“I find that if something is really on my mind . . . it tends to come out through my hands. For

whatever reason, I couldn't get the story about Joan of Arc out of my head. She appealed to me,

” I confessed, slanting a look at Wilson, hoping he didn't think I was trying to butter him up.

“She inspired me. Maybe it was how young she was. Or how brave. Maybe it was because she was

tough in a time when woman weren't especially valued for their strength. But she wasn't just

tough . . . she was . . . good,” I finished timidly. I was afraid everyone would laugh again,

knowing that “good” was not something that had ever been applied to me.

The class had grown quiet. The boys who usually slapped my rear and made lewd suggestions were

staring at me with confused expressions. Danny Apo, a hot Polynesian kid I'd made out with a

time or two, was leaning forward in his chair, his black brows lowered over equally black eyes.

He kept looking from me to the sculpture and then back again. The quiet was unnerving, and I

looked at Wilson, hoping he would fill it with another question.

“You said carving is seeing what's possible. How did you know where to even start?” He

fingered the graceful sway of the wood, running a long finger over Joan's bowed head.

“There was a section of trunk that had a slight curve. Some of the wood had rotted, and when I

cut it all away I could see an interesting angle that mimicked that curve. I continued to cut

away, creating the arch. To me it looked like a woman's spine . . . like a woman praying.” My

eyes shot to Wilson's, wondering if my words brought to mind the night he had discovered me in

the darkened hallway. His eyes met mine briefly and then refocused on the sculpture.

“One thing I noticed, when I saw all your work together, was that each piece was very unique –

as if the inspiration behind each one was different.”

I nodded. “They all tell a different story.”

“Ahhh. Hear that class?” Wilson grinned widely. “And I didn't even tell Blue to say it.

Everyone has a story. Every thing has a story. Told you so.”

The class snickered and rolled their eyes, but they were intent on the discussion, and their

attention remained with me. A strange feeling came over me as I looked out over the faces of

people I had known for many years. People I had known but never known. People I had often

ignored and who had ignored me. And I was struck by the thought that they were seeing me for the

first time.

“It's all about perspective,” I said hesitantly, giving voice to my sudden revelation. “I

don't know what all of you see when you look at this,” I nodded toward my carving. “I can't

control what you see or how you interpret what you see any more than I can control what you

think of me.”

“That's the beauty of art,” Wilson suggested quietly. “Everyone has their own interpretation.

”

I nodded, looking out over the sea of faces. “For me, this sculpture tells the story of Joan of

Arc. And in telling her story . . . I guess I tell my own, to some degree.”