Two Is Better Than One

Chapter Five.

Adam spent his Friday afternoon glued to his mahogany desk. He finished his class early just to get enough time to look at the work of his students. Two weeks had past and he still wasn’t acquainted or knew the names of any of his students. He didn't believe in the introduction of future artists.

He was taught that the work of an artist should speak volumes that words couldn’t dare to explain. An artist was defined by his work. Adam wouldn’t know them, until he saw the spark or potential that he so eagerly wanted to develop.

He looked at the pile of sketch pads on his desk, as he went through each he could tell which sketch belonged to whom, though he wasn’t quite acquainted. Adam used their personalities to judge their work.

He had a colourful class, mixed with people from different walks of life. It ranged from the housewife that loved painting to a the businessman who stole away from his world of sharks and parasite to indulge in his love for art,  the ex convict who found his love for drawing in prison and others were art students who had fallen out of Art School in one form or another.

He loved his class. Indeed variety was the spice of life but Adam wanted them to break away from their one track minds. The next time he looked at their sketches, he needed them to be less predictable.

Adam planned to develop their love for art into a powerful skill. From its history, though an art school, its art students were somehow always incompetent. From what he heard their incompetence reflected the teachers the school had employed.

It wasn’t a full-fledge art programme where degrees were offered at the end of three semesters. It was the underdog programme that had the less attention when compared to the others.

Adam was fueled by this, his work engine wanted to pull their best out of them, just to prove a point. He wanted to get his students ready; the only way for them to get recognized and evolve to more than what they were was through the medium of an art show or festival. He made a promise that he'd get them there. First on his agenda was LeDuke Art Festival in April, just two months away.

He sighed as he shifted the sketch pads to the corner of his desks. Allie wouldn’t be home yet and Jamie had to work late. He glimpsed at his watch, the long hand was on 3 and the short hand on 5. He decided he had sometime to spare, so he push his leather chair back and brought his feet to his desk. He let his mind wonder from the interiors of the dull room to the affairs of his heart.

All Allie, since he had made his choice, Ria had become slippery ground. He tried his best to put her to rest and let the past stay locked away in its own place. Hard but he did it.

Since the dinner, he and Allie were making progress and he felt Ria's grips on him slowly becoming slack. He was really finding comfort and happiness.

He sat in silence for what he hopped was longer before he heard knocking on his door.

“Mr. Hale.“ Daniella called "are you there"

Adam wondered what had gotten Danny so formal. She was a school mate and along time girlfriend that score a job through family links.

"Come in" Adam answered his eyes still closed trying to salvage whatever silence he had left.

"Ms. Patterson, the art advisor, who works on the school board, she is the one who hired you.."

"Let her in, I doubt I need to tell her to enter, since she is probably the one signing my pay check." He mumbled.

Adam peeked through one eye, shocked to see that Ms. Patterson wasn’t old and shriveled but young and vibrant.

She sat on his desks, gracefully crossing her legs. Adam squeezed both eyes shut, trying to erase the image in front of him and out his head.

"No, Adam, no thoughts of Ria. Noooo, let it be."