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The kids’ wide-eyed innocence turns to joy and hushed whispers of anticipation when they see the colorful art supplies on their workstations.
“I told you we’d have a guest instructor, and guess what? He brought us new supplies! Everyone say hi to Noah.”
“Hi Noah,” they all call out, and he relaxes with their welcome.
“I would like each one of you to stand, tell him your name, your favorite food, and favorite color.”
I want to hold his hand as I watch him interact with the children; they have his full attention. And fuck, he’s a natural with kids.
“I’m excited to be with you all today. Ashton has told me all about you, and I can’t wait to show you what we’re doing for the next several weeks. First, art is about color, and honestly, you get to choose what is pleasing to your own eyes. What colors I might choose for a painting isn’t what Annie or Corbin might pick.” He points to both kids. “Or even Ashton. So today we’re making a sun catcher. And this isn’t justanysort of suncatcher.”
Each kid thumbs through their supplies. “Who here knows what it means to build onto something you learned. Can I get anyone to give me an example?”
Corbin is the first to raise his hand. “We have to learn addition and subtraction before we can learn division and multiplication.”
Noah and I share a pleased look with one another. “That’s exactly what I’m talking about. Good job, Corbin. It’s what we’re doing today. We’re going to work on stuff that will help us make something even bigger later on in the year. But today is all about learning what colors you like together. Each one of you have special glue and a rounded piece of wood. I’ll call a table at a time to come up and pick up different strips of colors. As you see, each one is a different shape and length. We have a lot of colors to pick from. You decide how many colors you want, then we add the items that will help catch the sun.” He holds up tinsel, marbles, and even glitter glue.
He begins to show the class, with his own piece of rounded wood, how he’d choose to decorate it. “This is how I’ll decorate mine.” He’s exact in his technique, making it symmetrical. “This is the fun thing about art, it’s in the eye of the beholder. You don’t have to copy others to create your own masterpiece.”
We call each table up to grab supplies, and they begin creating their own pieces of art.
“You sure went out of the box with this suncatcher. Never seen it before.”
He shrugs his shoulders, and smiles that sexy grin of his. “What can I say, I’m original.” He leans in and gives me a kiss, and the kids oooohhhh and giggle and make kissy noises.
I ignore them. “I love your idea. Where is it leading?” I ask.
“It’s something that has stayed with me all these years, and I got the idea for it at a science center, of all places.”
The mention of the science center makes me smile, remembering it was where my mother took me for my ninth birthday. A memory I’ll always hold on to.
* * *
Lainey,Collin, and Devin are the first in the classroom, after dismissing the beginner’s class. I’d shared a little about their situation with Noah. I didn’t want to break the trust I’ve built with Devin for the past year. He knows they’re neglected at home and are good kids.
Lainey bounces over to me, giving me a high-five and a hug, then stares at the easels and acrylic paints Noah had set out at every workstation.
“What? Have I died and gone to art heaven?”
She’s animated and dramatic, but so damn sweet.
“Wow, what did you do Ash, go out and rob a bank?” Dev asks, looking around the classroom, a glimmer of excitement plastered on his face.
“Are you Noah James?” Devin asks, stepping back, taking in the sight in front of him. “I’m a huge fan!”
Noah is certainly a name in the art community, but as far as the world goes, he’s not reached the status of Ansel Adams. If Devin knows of him, he must have been looking.
“I follow the local art scene in Seattle. Your work is so inspiring.”
Noah isn’t one to take compliments. He comes across cocky, but not in this way. He’s confident in himself, and he doesn’t rely on other’s praise. But he’s always gracious when one is given. “Thanks so much. And you must be Devin?”
“I am. And these are my siblings, Lainey and Collin.” He turns around to find his siblings in the room, pointing to them.
“What’s your medium?” Noah asks.
Devin grins, and I can tell in the way his leg shakes that he’s both nervous and pleased that Noah is interested in him.
“Oil paints are my go-to. I love acrylic paints and dabble in watercolors, mainly because of this guy pushing me out of my comfort zone.” Devin points to me.
