It was August and I was with my husband and two teenaged kids at my best friend Tracy's neighborhood cook-out / pool party. We don't live in her town, but being friends we were invited. Tracy's kids are older than mine so each of my kids brought a friend, frankly that was the only way I could get them to go.
My names Gloria, we live in the suburbs, I commute daily into Manhattan, I complain about it, but the fact is I could find a job closer to home, but I love my job. I'm in my 40's, work hard to stay in shape and have been complimented on my looks.
There were about 50 people there when we arrived around 3 PM. Friends and neighbors would come and go throughout the day and into the evening, so there was always someone new to talk with.
The kids disappeared in the crowd and my husband was playing horseshoes. I was sitting with some people that I knew from other party's that Tracy has hosted over the years. While chatting I had a feeling someone was looking at me and when I turned my head I saw a young man with a sketch pad looking at me and drawing.
"Hey Rembrandt, come over here," I yelled and gave him a hand signal to come on over.
He was a well tanned, lean handsome young man I would guess in his early 20's.
"I'm sorry it was rude of me to stand there drawing you without asking," he said while walking up to me.
"That's okay, are you any good?" I asked while smiling so he would know I wasn't really mad.
"Here look," he said while handing me his sketch pad.
I took it from him and looked at his drawing, along with the lady's I was taking with. It was a rough charcoal drawing, but there was no doubt that it was me he was drawing.
"Very good," I said and the other lady's agreed.
"What's your name? So when you become a famous artist I can say you once drew me," I asked.
"Hi I'm Justin, I live down the street."
"Glad to meet you Justin, I'm Gloria," I said while shaking his hand.
"Can I keep the picture?" I asked.
"Sure if you want it."
"I love it, it'll be worth a fortune when you're famous," I said.
"Actually this is just a hobby, I really want to be a doctor," he said.
"Always good to have a hobby," I said.
"Well I'm going to wander around and sketch some more, nice meeting you," he then said," would it be okay if I see you around during the cook-out that I draw you?"
"That would be fine," I answered.
I found a lot of fun people to talk with and was even able to spend a minute or two with my husband. I walked by the horseshoe pit to watch my husband, one of the guys asked me if I wanted to try to throw a shoe, but added there was a danger I might break a nail. The guys seemed to think that was hilarious. I took the shoe and threw a ringer, winked at my husband and walked away.
I walked to the other side of the yard, found a chair to sit on, checked to make sure I didn't break a nail, and saw Justin heading my way.
"Hi Gloria, can I get you something to drink?" he asked.
"You can get me a Pepsi if you don't mind?"
"Sure, no problem, hold my sketch pad and I'll be right back."
I looked at his drawings while he was away and they were really good. Some were action type drawings, like the one he did of me, the people in the picture weren't posing and unaware someone was drawing them and in others the subject posed or at least sat still, they were very good. The kid had talent. I was looking at one posed picture of my daughter and her friend when Justin returned with my soda.
"You like the drawings? "He asked.
"Yes very nice."
He saw the picture I was looking at and said. "The smoking hot blonde is home from college."
"The smoking hot blonde is my daughter and just got out of middle school," I said.
"She told me she was in college, honest,"he said.
I laughed and said" I have no doubt that she did. I think she's too young for you though."
"Would it be okay if I draw you now while you're relaxing?" he asked.
"Okay, just promise to make me look good," I said.
"You're the hottest lady here, how could I not make you look good," he said with a grin, and started drawing.
It only took maybe ten minutes and he showed me his work. It was great, if I didn't know better I would think it would take a lot more time to complete it. I complemented him again, but before he could give me the picture, someone called him and he said good-bye and left.
No sooner had Justin walked away Tracy sat in the chair next to me.
"I see you met our local artist," she said.
"Yeah, cute kid and very talented," I said.
"Did he ask you about doing a private sitting?" Tracy asked.
"No why?"
"A few years ago he told me he needed to make some money and wanted to know if I would like him to make a drawing of me for my husband and give it to him as a gift."
"Sounds like a creative way to make a few dollars,"I said.
"I thought so too, you know the picture that's in my husband's office, that's the one he did."
"Yes I remember, I think I even complimented you on it," I said
We went on to talk about something else, then she had to mingle with her guests and I went off and talked with some other people I met.
It was getting late and my kids wanted to leave, so I told them to get in the SUV and I'd round up their father. I saw him sitting with some people talking and on my way to get him I saw Justin.
"Hey Justin, I was talking earlier with Tracy and she said you pick up some extra money doing drawings that could be given as gifts."
"Yes I still do that, you interested?' he asked.
"Yes give me your phone number and I'll call you."
He gave me his number and said he would look forward to my call. I was looking forward to calling him!
.
A week after the cook-out I was sitting by my den relaxing while enjoy a few extra days I took off to make a long weekend. The kids were at their summer jobs and my husband was at work. For some reason Justin popped into my head, I went in my home office and found the cell phone number he gave me. I called it, but it went right into his voicemail, so I left him my number and told him to give me a call.
It wasn't 10 minutes later when my phone rang and it was Justin.
"Hi Gloria, sorry I missed your call."
"Hi Justin, are you interested in earning some money doing some drawing for me?" I asked.
"Sure tell me where and when and I'll be there," he answered.
"I'm home now if you're free."
He told me he was, so I gave him my address and he said he would be right over.
I was wearing Capri pants with a matching t-shirt, no bra. I fixed my hair and added some make up, took a quick look in the mirror and felt good about my appearance.