Free The Art of Life by Sarah Carter Page A

power to make
sure you go to school for this.   I mean
it.”
                    “I
wish,” I reply.   “That would be a dream come true.”
                    “We
will get you there, even if I have to sell some of my organs.”
                    That
makes me laugh.   “Only
if they are the good organs.”
                    Jeremy smiles.   He
goes back to looking at the framed pieces.   “I could spend the rest of the night looking at your work.   I would say we should get a bottle of wine
and do just that, but alas, you are still but a child.”
                    I
slap him on the shoulder.   “I am only
three years younger than you!”
                    “Yeah,
I know,” he chuckles.   “You still have so
much to learn, grasshopper.”
                    Narrowing
my eyes, I have to ask.   “Is that how you
view me?   A child?”
                    “What?”
He responds, turning to look at me.
                    “Nothing,”
I say, shaking my head.   Pointing to the
frame next to Jeremy, I tell him, “This is my favorite piece.   She was this little old lady that I volunteered
with.   Well, let me back up, a year ago I
volunteered at a hospice facility.   Her
name was Rita.   She was the sweetest old
lady, and had the best stories to tell of her life.   The thing is her family had nothing to do
with her.   She was all alone and
dying.   It broke my heart.   We became really good friends.   I stayed with her and was actually there when
she died.   Otherwise, she would have been
alone.   I couldn’t volunteer there
anymore after that.   She was the closest
thing I had to a grandma.   It wasn’t for
that long, but she left a big mark on me.”
                    Jeremy
looks very carefully at the sketching.   “It is very hard to watch someone die.”
                    “It
is,” I reply.   “Especially
when it’s someone so innocent, sweet and a good person.   It seems almost wrong.”
                    Suddenly
standing up straight, Jeremy takes in a sharp breath.   “Yeah, death can be…..very unfair.”
                    “Have
you ever lost anyone?” I ask.
                    Stepping
over to look at more of my art, Jeremy doesn’t say anything for a minute.   Finally, he quietly answers, “I think we have
all lost someone at some point.”
                    Suddenly,
my door opens farther.   “This is the
first time that I have ever had to worry about a boy being in your room.”
                    We
turn to see my mom.   She has a drink in
one hand and her debit card in the other.   “Jeremy is just looking at my work,” I say.
                    “Well,
even so, I think it’s time we talked about birth control.”
                    Oh lord have mercy on me! “MOM!” I yell.   “You don’t say stuff like that
in front of people!”
                    Jeremy
snorts behind me.   “Madam, you do not
need to worry about such things.”
                    “So,
you are supplying the protection?” My mom slurs a little.   “You better be.”
                    I
am going to die.   “Mom, we aren’t having
sex.   Don’t be ridiculous.”
                    “I
watch TV.   I know what goes on these
days, all those people your age being promiscuous!”
                     “Mom,” I hiss sharply.   “I am a virgin, so there isn’t anything you
need to worry about.”
                    She
thrusts forth the debit card.   “Here, get
whatever you want.   You should buy some
new clothes, too, to go along with your hair.”
                    “We
are planning to do that next weekend,” Jeremy replies