Blank Canvas

Chapter Thirteen

Summary: Talia spent the entire night with her Mom but the wonderful time of being together triggered some unwanted memories and thoughts. Talia unleashed all the negative emotions inside her at the treehouse, with Jay as a witness.

"You can't miss it. You can't."

Jay was standing by the entryway wearing a black shirt and a black hoodie while speaking in a very animated manner. He sent me a text message asking me to meet him at the front door. Before I could say hello, he started to prattle on about what else? Art.

"Jay, stop. You're babbling like a madman. Start over." I asked him to come inside but he said no. We walked outside by the gate. There was an umbrella tree outside our house. It was not big but Mom wanted to move it elsewhere because whenever she pulled out of the driveway, she feared that she would bump into the tree.

I listened as Jay invited me to come to him to a friend's art exhibition that was also a photography shoot. It was a form of auto-destructive art, which was no surprise. Jay had rarely gotten ecstatic over art that was common (he could not resist a beautiful mosaic though) which I told him was ironic because all these "anti-art" art would become "regular art" in the future. Jay's friend was putting on a show called Imprimatura Exitium wherein he made a gigantic piñata head which was filled inside with paint, not candy. A wide canvas would be placed under the vessel to catch the mess which was the art part.

"Where do you even get the energy to join another art event? We came home from Baler less than two weeks ago. I still have creative euphoria residue."

Jay gazed at me, his eyes were fiery. "I am never tired for art." He lightly pulled on my fringe and said, "See, art made you happy. This will make you happier. I will let you take a whack at the piñata, if that's what you want. You can give it a proper knockdown."

"What, no guitar will be smashed? That's a shame." I was teasing Jay because Pete Townshend of The Who liked to do that.

"You can't make fun of that. That's art. Besides, those moments are jaw-dropping and historic." He frowned at me slightly.

I raised my eyebrows at him, trying to challenge him.

He did not take the bait. "Anyway, my friend hired this young photography whiz and he would take amazing perfectly timed images just as the piñata would disintegrate into pieces and specks of paint would fly off in every direction. You know what would make it cooler? It would be so great if the photographer will convert the pictures into a set of stereographic projections."

"What's a stereographic projection?" I removed the beret that I wore on my head. I dressed hectically that day because I was running late. We were not required to wear our uniform so I wore my trusty, black combat boots, black socks, a short sleeveless dress, a small vest and my hat. Avis liked my layered, thrown-in outfit.

Jay's hand grazed the top of his head. A few months ago, he got a semi-mohawk. The sides of his head were partially shaven but the middle section was not. I thought it suited him well. "You have seen them. They are also called Tiny Planets, I think."

I nodded.

He added that next week, the photographs would be in a gallery. He further said that he was one of the "piñata killers." His term, not mine.

"Next time, okay? I'm sure you or one of your friends will find a way to create another auto-destructive art. I promise I will be there for that."

"But," he whined. "You will miss a great art show. Come on, Talia. Plus, there will be a party after. Are you not even the least bit curious who the head is?"

I shook my head with a smile. Knowing these mutinous art geeks like Jay, the head was probably either someone they adored or someone they abhorred. Since there would be a lot of destruction and demolition involved, I figured it would be the latter. After another round of fruitless persuasion, Jay left reluctantly. He feigned sadness for a while but I was resolute in my decision.