her fingers against her leg when it gets quiet for a minute
.
When Dad talks about something that might happen soon, Mom just smiles and then looks somewhere else. Or changes the subject
.
Although Mom was home, everything felt the same as when she was gone. I still miss her, even when she is at home
.
There are dust bunnies under the couch that I see when I lie on the floor reading
.
The lamp I broke when Dad swung me around still works, but the crack shows
.
Mom did not notice either of these things
.
I was happy to be at Miss Stellaâs
.
Her wrinkles are beautiful
.
The morning I am to give my report, I read it to Dad first.
âYou were word perfect. You will be a hit,â he says afterwards. Then he makes my breakfast. I have told him all about what Super-Concentrated Miss Stella told me about mindfulness. I think he understands now that doing two things at once is not always necessary.
My egg is perfect today. The toast is still in rectangles, but it does not really matter.
I am nervous when I pick up Parveen. âI will be rooting for you,â she says.
Of course she will. She is a Trusted Other.
Art is first class of the day, and Mr. Howarth says that we will start with my report about calligraphy before we work on our collages. When everyone is settled, he steps aside so I can stand next to his desk.
Then I take a deep breath and begin.
All about my famous sitter and calligraphy
By Tansy Hill
While my mom is away at a clinic being treated for depression, I got a new sitter
.
I stare very hard at my paper so I canât look at Devin and Ryan.
Her name is Miss Stella Vickers. And she is famous. She is a famous calligrapher. Even the Queen has one of her books
.
I hear Erin Warren at the front whisper, âThe Queen!â But I keep reading.
Calligraphy is like handwriting. But it is more special and lots harder to do
.
Miss Stella said it was started hundreds of years ago in Turkey. And China
.
Miss Stella is teaching me to do it too. You donât use a computer. You need to use a special pen like this
.
I hand one to Mr. Howarth to pass around.
I have to be super-concentrated when I do it so it turns out just right
.
Like this
.
I take the white envelope from behind my report and hold it up high so everyone can see. It says in big letters
A letter to Momâfor her eyes only. From Tansy
.
Each word is perfect. Underneath are two different flourishes Miss Stella taught me.
This is a special letter for my mother who has been away for weeks and weeks
.
I still have not given the letter to Mom yet. Dad says I will know when the time is right.
I tried to tell my mom everything that has been going on while she has been away. But not enough to worry her
.
Calligraphy is hard to do, like lots of things. But if you are super-concentrated like me and Miss Stella, you will find it easier to do
.
I pick up my book from Mr. Howarthâs desk and hold it open so everyone can see the title page.
This is the book Miss Stella made me. It is very special. It is one of a kind
.
It is my own calligraphy book
.
Maybe when I am as famous as Miss Stella, I will teach the kids I babysit how to do calligraphy
.
If you ask me later, I can show you too
.
CHAPTER 19
One Letter at a Time
I am all out of breath when I finish. When I look up, Parveen claps so hard her braid swings. Then Mr. Howarth applauds too, and everyone in the class joins in.
Devin and Ryan look at each other. Since I gave Devin the pea butter sandwich and the cookie manufactured in a nut-free facility, he stays away from me. Like he is scared of me, maybe.
Perhaps Mr. Howarth gave Devin and Ryan a good talking to. I think Miss Stella was right that it is his job to stop the bullies. I feel better now I have told him about it.
These days I hardly ever think about being allergic because, as Dad says, I donât have time to worry about everything.
âThat was an excellent report,â Mr. Howarth says
.
When Dad talks about something that might happen soon, Mom just smiles and then looks somewhere else. Or changes the subject
.
Although Mom was home, everything felt the same as when she was gone. I still miss her, even when she is at home
.
There are dust bunnies under the couch that I see when I lie on the floor reading
.
The lamp I broke when Dad swung me around still works, but the crack shows
.
Mom did not notice either of these things
.
I was happy to be at Miss Stellaâs
.
Her wrinkles are beautiful
.
The morning I am to give my report, I read it to Dad first.
âYou were word perfect. You will be a hit,â he says afterwards. Then he makes my breakfast. I have told him all about what Super-Concentrated Miss Stella told me about mindfulness. I think he understands now that doing two things at once is not always necessary.
My egg is perfect today. The toast is still in rectangles, but it does not really matter.
I am nervous when I pick up Parveen. âI will be rooting for you,â she says.
Of course she will. She is a Trusted Other.
Art is first class of the day, and Mr. Howarth says that we will start with my report about calligraphy before we work on our collages. When everyone is settled, he steps aside so I can stand next to his desk.
Then I take a deep breath and begin.
All about my famous sitter and calligraphy
By Tansy Hill
While my mom is away at a clinic being treated for depression, I got a new sitter
.
I stare very hard at my paper so I canât look at Devin and Ryan.
Her name is Miss Stella Vickers. And she is famous. She is a famous calligrapher. Even the Queen has one of her books
.
I hear Erin Warren at the front whisper, âThe Queen!â But I keep reading.
Calligraphy is like handwriting. But it is more special and lots harder to do
.
Miss Stella said it was started hundreds of years ago in Turkey. And China
.
Miss Stella is teaching me to do it too. You donât use a computer. You need to use a special pen like this
.
I hand one to Mr. Howarth to pass around.
I have to be super-concentrated when I do it so it turns out just right
.
Like this
.
I take the white envelope from behind my report and hold it up high so everyone can see. It says in big letters
A letter to Momâfor her eyes only. From Tansy
.
Each word is perfect. Underneath are two different flourishes Miss Stella taught me.
This is a special letter for my mother who has been away for weeks and weeks
.
I still have not given the letter to Mom yet. Dad says I will know when the time is right.
I tried to tell my mom everything that has been going on while she has been away. But not enough to worry her
.
Calligraphy is hard to do, like lots of things. But if you are super-concentrated like me and Miss Stella, you will find it easier to do
.
I pick up my book from Mr. Howarthâs desk and hold it open so everyone can see the title page.
This is the book Miss Stella made me. It is very special. It is one of a kind
.
It is my own calligraphy book
.
Maybe when I am as famous as Miss Stella, I will teach the kids I babysit how to do calligraphy
.
If you ask me later, I can show you too
.
CHAPTER 19
One Letter at a Time
I am all out of breath when I finish. When I look up, Parveen claps so hard her braid swings. Then Mr. Howarth applauds too, and everyone in the class joins in.
Devin and Ryan look at each other. Since I gave Devin the pea butter sandwich and the cookie manufactured in a nut-free facility, he stays away from me. Like he is scared of me, maybe.
Perhaps Mr. Howarth gave Devin and Ryan a good talking to. I think Miss Stella was right that it is his job to stop the bullies. I feel better now I have told him about it.
These days I hardly ever think about being allergic because, as Dad says, I donât have time to worry about everything.
âThat was an excellent report,â Mr. Howarth says
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