A Trick of the Light by Ali Carter (surface ebook reader txt) 📕

‘Why not?’ Regrettably I sounded cross. But I was hurt.

‘Too much of a cliché,’ said Louis.

‘Yes,’ nodded Zoe, ‘we must think of something better than that.’

Felicity’s head came around the door. ‘Susie. There you are. I’m having a nightmare.’

I jumped up, relieved to have an excuse to leave these two. I didn’t like them conspiring against me.

‘I’m struggling again,’ mumbled Felicity as we left the room.

Hard work empties the stomach and the rush to tuck into tea proved how much everyone had put into their pictures this afternoon.

Hot buttered crumpets were devoured, tea was drunk and Zoe, who asked, ‘Oh do please let us look at all your work,’ got her way. ‘Fergus and I will give you a moment or two to lay it out over the music room floor.’

‘I’m not going next to you.’ Rupert pointed at Minty. ‘It would only make me look even less talented than I am.’

‘Go next to Jane,’ said Shane, thankfully under his breath.

‘Don’t worry,’ I said, ‘there’s enough space for large gaps between everyone. Hey, Lianne,’ she was struggling to carry everything to the far corner of the room, ‘why don’t you go here?’

‘I was going to do a performance piece and I was thinking there’d be room up there for it.’

‘Great,’ I smiled full of joy. This was a welcome addition to the mix. ‘Do you need any props?’

‘Nah. Improvisation’s more my thing.’

Zoe and Fergus came in and gazed at the work. ‘What a marvellous result,’ said Fergus, grinning at his wife.

‘Yes, a huge achievement,’ she replied with a hint of smugness between her lips, and I couldn’t help thinking, there’s still fourteen hours for it all to fall apart.

‘What a success,’ said Rupert, marching towards them.

‘There’s certainly a lot of work here,’ said Zoe, evidently tiring of his manner.

Felicity then did what he should have done. ‘Thank you very much. This has been a wonderful opportunity.’

Zoe grinned from ear to ear. ‘I’m so pleased it’s worked.’

‘Didn’t we do well,’ said Rupert. ‘What fun it’s been to take up a new hobby. Susie,’ he called out, ‘you are lucky to be an artist.’

I feigned a smile. Art for me is not a choice. I have to do it. My soul thrives with creativity and my character fades without it. If I could go out there and get an office job, be well paid and have regular holidays – I would. How much easier a lack of vocation seems. But no. I’m made up of dreams, ideas, emotions and anxiety, all of which breathe through my art. If I didn’t release them through my practice, my life would be meaningless. I’d quite possibly topple off the edge. Art gives me equilibrium (most of the time). By doing what I do each day, it helps me make sense of my being. I have a reason to be on this earth: to create. I doubt I’d exist any other way. Art is my life. Not some sort of permanent holiday dabbling in mediums, materials and colours. Rupert may have had ‘fun’ this week but being an artist full-time is far from this.

Everyone was tottering around the music room sniffing each other’s personal pieces. Rather similar to dogs in a New York poop-park I thought. Some accepting each other – ‘You have an interest in trees too?’ said Fergus to Giles – and others rejecting one another – ‘Video art is a waste of time.’

‘Look at her,’ said Minty.

Lianne was front-crawling her way into the room, arms going like the clappers as she headed towards the far corner.

‘Oh no,’ said Shane, ‘it’s the unidentifiable creature piece.’

She changed direction, now swimming towards him. Shane started darting from side to side. Lianne, unable to grab him, gave up and melted onto the ground instead. Then slowly, ever so slowly, she stretched out her hands and began dragging her voluptuous body across the floor.

‘She’ll be getting terribly dirty down there,’ said Felicity, but nobody flinched. We were all witnessing something quite special.

Lianne reached the corner of the room and as she began to pull herself upright against the wall her body contorted as if she was physically stuck to it. Finally standing tall she flicked her long black hair over her face and let out the most unearthly wail.

Felicity’s index fingers shot into her ears and Louis’ hands erupted in applause. Giles, Shane and Fergus followed his lead. Zoe, Jane and Minty were rather slower on the uptake. I stood back and laughed inside. Lianne had successfully divided the room.

Zoe grasped Fergus’s hand. ‘Let’s complete our circuit. We must look at everyone’s work.’

‘We must,’ said Fergus and round they went. Nodding and smiling and dishing out compliments. Taking their time and saying all the right things.

‘Well done, Susie,’ came Zoe’s congratulations as they headed for the door.

I smiled and waited for them both to leave.

‘Come round, come round, everyone, don’t pack up your work just yet.’

‘But I’d like a bath,’ said Jane.

‘It won’t take long. I was just thinking maybe it would be kind if you all gave Fergus and Zoe one of your pieces from the week?’

‘What a nice idea,’ said Lianne. ‘I’ll give them my doodle of the garden.’

‘And I painted the house for Fergus,’ claimed Shane.

‘I can’t think they’d want one of mine,’ said Felicity.

‘And I’m not giving any away,’ said Jane.

‘Everything I did is for my coursework,’ said Minty. ‘Isn’t yours, Giles?’

‘Good point, same goes for me.’

‘I’m in Felicity’s boat,’ said Rupert.

‘Me too,’ agreed Louis.

The less you’ve got, the more you give, was ringing in my ears as everyone other than Shane and Lianne left my side.

‘As you both won sponsored places here I think it is a particularly nice touch giving away one of your pictures, that’s if you really mean it?’

‘Jees yeah,’ said Lianne. ‘I’d like to do that.’

‘Me too,’ said Shane, ‘but you can give it to them, Miss.’

They both looked terribly nervous.

‘No, you must.’

‘Now?’

‘Before dinner