What The World Needs: Adopted by Ride the Cyclone

Six: The Met Art Competition

The Day Before

"Tiffany, Lillian, Emily, I need your help." I said when I got to the theatre after school.

"What do you need help with?" Emily asked.

"Do you know that I'm a visual artist?"

"No?"

"My art teacher entered one of my paintings into the Met Youth Art Competition, and the show's tomorrow night, and I need a dress for it." I said frantically.

"We have about three hours until the show. We can make this work. OFF TO MACY'S!" Tiffany exclaimed, dragging us to the mall nearby.

"Hey! Wait up! I need to put in my advice too!" Kholby said, following us.

We got to Macy's five minutes later. "What dress are you looking for?" Lillian asked.

"I don't know. I just want something cute and comfortable."

"Not like a cocktail dress or anything." Kholby clarified.

"Like business casual." I said.

We started browsing for a business casual dress. "How about this floral one?" Emily suggested.

I tried it on. "Too babyish." I said. "Not really appropriate for an art competition."

"How about this striped one?" Lillian said.

"Not my thing."

I started looking for a top-and-slacks look. "Ooooh!" I exclaimed, pointing to a purple ruffled shirt, and grabbed some slacks to match.

I tried them on. When I stepped out of the fitting room, Tiffany's eyes widened. "That's PERFECT on you!" Kholby said.

Present Day

"Oh gosh, I can't do this." I said, putting on my makeup and fixing my yellow headband.

"You'll be fine, Kat. I promise." Kholby said reassuringly.

We were off to the Met, and my hands were shaking. I was so nervous. What if my painting sucked? What if I didn't win? What if it gets ruined? What if I freeze up while trying to explain it? I had my painting entered before my mom kicked me out. What if they find out? What if my birth mom shows up out of nowhere? KATRINA GRACE DUBOIS TAKE A CHILL PILL.

We arrived at the Met, and there was my Central Park painting, hung up on display. Katrina DuBois, 13, Central Park was written on the sign next to it. I took a deep breath and took out a slip of paper which had my quote for my painting. I had this practiced for weeks. And then the competition began.

Turns out my painting was first in the lineup. UGH. "What is your name?" The judge asked.

"Uhh..Katrina DuBois."

"What's the title of your painting?"

"Central Park. I know it's not very original but..."

"It's completely fine. Tell us about your painting. What inspired it?"

I pulled out my quote from my cardigan pocket. "My painting was inspired from my studio apartment view over Central Park. It's one of my favorite things about New York. It's from my Parks collection, and hope you enjoyed it!"

"Thank you Katrina!"

I awkwardly stood right next to my painting, fidgeting with my 'K' necklace. Then the cast came over to my painting. "Kat! You're so incredibly talented! How long have you been doing this?" Gus asked.

"I think since I was seven, eight or nine. Most likely eight. I'm thirteen right now..."

"Star sign?" Emily asked.

"Aries. The lucky nature. March 21."

"We have the same sign!" Kholby exclaimed.

And then my art teacher came up to my painting. "Kat, just to say, I am so, so, proud of you. And your family..."

"Just wanted to introduce myself. I'm Kholby Wardell."

"You are..."

"I'm fostering her."

"Oh. I'm Mrs. Perot. Kat's art teacher. I can't wait to have Kat back next semester."

"Speaking of that..." I muttered.

"What was that?" She asked.

"I'm not coming back to Speyer. I'm moving." I said confidently.

"Where?"

"With Kholby to Victoria, in Canada." I said.

Mrs. Perot had a frown on her face. "I'll miss you, Kat. Keep doing your art, okay?"

"I will."

"Introduce me to the rest of your family...why do you all look so familiar?"

"We're in Ride the Cyclone. I'm Tiffany Tatreau, by the way."

"And I'm Gus Halper."

Mrs. Perot was blushing. I pulled her aside. "Even when I met Gus two days ago, I was like that. Almost everyone is."

I walked back over. "And that's Lillian Castillo, Alex Wyse, and Emily Rohm.

"Wait, where's Karl?" I asked.

"SURPRISE!" Karl said, running over to my painting. "You must be Katrina! I've heard so much about you! So sorry I'm late."

And about a half hour later, the awards came out. "Third place, oil painting, Maurice Glover, Snow Day."

A seventh grader stepped up and received her award. "Second place, acrylic painting...Katrina DuBois, Central Park."

I was shocked. I didn't even think I would win something. "Go up, you deserve it." Kholby said encouragingly.

I walked up, my hands shaking. "Congratulations, Katrina. How do you feel?"

"Man, I didn't expect this, I put so much time and effort into this painting that I wouldn't think I would win! Just thank you!"

I walked back to my painting with a ribbon and a small trophy. "We're so proud of you, Kat!" Mrs. Perot exclaimed. "You're the first out of anyone at Speyer to enter this! Congratulations, darling."

"I'm so so proud of you, my little K." Kholby said, giving me a hug.

"Little K?" I asked.

"My nickname for you. Do you like it?"

"Oh my gosh yes! I love it!" I said.

And then I had a photo op beside my painting. With the whole cast, the whole cast with Mrs. Perot, Mrs. Perot individually, each cast member individually, the guys, the girls and me with the director of the art museum. Before I knew it, I was on the subway, heading back to Kholby's apartment with my first ever official art achievement. Maybe I could brag about this in Canada!