The Inheritance Book 1

Ch 51 Sculpting: Sione Lavaki [Wednesday afternoon, Week Three]

Much as he was a people-person, there were times when Sione needed to be alone. To read, or ponder about the deeper issues in life, or work on his music. After lunch, he was in one of those moods, so he took the guitar up to his room and locked the door. Maybe writing a song would help him process everything that was going on.

He went to the chair by the window, set down the guitar, and gazed out at the forested east side of the estate.

This contest was supposed to be a simple summer-camp thing. Show up. Compete in a bunch of basic events. Win a pile of money. Go home. He did not expect to develop feelings for Elizabeth, which was complicated by his promise to Jarrett to step aside, and by her mixed messages.

Added into the mix of his emotions were all the mysteries: The noises coming from behind the steel door, Elizabeth's secret hater, the same birthmark all the kids had, and the strange little hummingbirds...or, were they actually fairies?

He knocked on his head and laughed at himself. No. He was being ridiculous. There was no such thing as fairies.

Oddly enough, none of these things prevented him from having fun here at Trecorin. He wasn't bored at all like he thought he would be without video games and the internet.

He just needed to sort through the pieces and somehow make sense of it all.

He settled into the chair and picked up the guitar.

Work work work that's what I do

But now it's like tryin' to move thru glue

Lost my sight, can't get my mind right

Thinking of you

Not his best lyrics, but whatever.

The bell rang. Time to report to the art room. Lunch recess was over.

Miss Em, her hair extra spikey today, stood near the counter along the wall where a variety of supplies and arts and crafts kits were laid out.

"As you are aware, your second Super Challenge is to create an artistic masterpiece," she said sternly and held up a set of paints in one hand and a latch hook kit in the other. "You can use any of these materials here that you want. It will be judged blindly by Allora, Miss Haversham, and the Carters on Sunday, so no self-portraits or fancy depictions of your name. Got it?"

"Can I do a portrait or fancy depiction of someone else's name?" Bryce wiggled his eyebrows at Elizabeth.

She rolled her eyes at him in disgust.

Sione knew exactly what he was going to do for this project. He went over to the counter and found some sculpting clay. He took it back to the table and sat across from Elizabeth.

"More art!" she complained. "This competition is so unfair." She hadn't even gone over to check out the supplies and kits yet.

"Like you even care about the competition," Sione teased.

"Rude! Maybe I would if there were events that showcased my talents."

He unwrapped a square of clay. "True, you are good at horseback riding."

"Among other things." Elizabeth twirled a strand of hair around her finger and smiled slyly at him under her long lashes.

Sione laughed because how else was he supposed to respond? At the same time, the way she said it made him wonder if she was flirting with him. He was never sure about her.

Jarrett was still at the counter trying to decide between the model car kit or the model plane. Sione also wondered if that shy boy had been making any progress with her. If he had, he wasn't sharing.

Sione pinched off a generous chunk of clay and began to roll and flatten it.

The white cat hopped up onto their table and stared at him with her piercing blue eyes. He knew better than to try to pet her. She sat down right in the middle of the table and watched what he was doing.

"Where have you been, Janey Cat?" he said. "Haven't seen you in a long time. Thought maybe the wolves gotcha."

The cat swatted his hand.

"That'll teach you!" Elizabeth laughed. She rummaged around in her bag and brought out a mirror, some eyeshadow and a skinny little brush.

Jarrett slid onto the stool next to Elizabeth. He had the model plane kit. "At least there's something for everyone this time. Even us art-challenged people can find something to do." He jiggled the box at them. "And building this might actually be kinda fun. Maui, what are you making?"

Sione peeled the flattened piece of clay off the table. "A sea turtle."

Elizabeth looked up from her reflection to bestow her silky smile on Jarrett. "You didn't ask about my masterpiece." She struck a pose and glanced up and down her body.

Right on cue, Jarrett's cheeks turned pink. Sione kinda felt sorry for him and kinda didn't at the same time. Elizabeth seemed to enjoy making him blush.

"If only makeup and clothes counted as artwork in this silly contest." She applied some purple powder in the crease of her eyelid.

"You would definitely win if I was the judge," Jarrett finally managed to say, while looking down at his model plane box.

"Same," Sione added.

"Aww!" Elizabeth put her hand on her heart. "You guys are so sweet. But, for real, I think I will sculpt a flower. Maui, are you gonna use all that clay?"

Sione rolled a ball of clay across the table to her, and glanced around to see what everyone else was doing. Most of them were using kits. His was going to be purely original, which should give him a huge advantage and help him stay in first place.