jerked away, whacked his arm on the cabinet, and yelled a long string of descriptive phrases about Roxy’s heritage.
Kat grinned. “Wow, you have a bigger vocabulary than I thought.”
“Just get the dog, please,” he said through clenched teeth.
“Okay, I’m on it.”
Chapter 4
Nothing to Hide
T racy got to the second day of class a little late. By the time she arrived, the typical educational social dynamic had come into play and everyone had already claimed the same seats they had been in the day before. Tracy sat down at the table in the seat next to Rob, who gave her a friendly smile in welcome.
After an evening talking to Shelby about the dangers of feline obesity and her various artistic endeavors, Tracy was feeling better about coming to class this morning. Dr. Cassidy would be proud of her for giving Shelby the fat-cat lecture, because Billy Bob really did need to lose some weight. And unlike Tracy’s parents, Shelby was supportive of Tracy’s interest in art. Shelby even had one of Tracy’s paintings hanging on her wall as a show of solidarity. Since it was her friend who had insisted that she finish the piece, it was fitting that she should have it.
The instructor, Ms. Melina, told everyone to open their files from yesterday. Tracy looked at her drawing of Roxy and missed her little dog. She had captured Roxy’s somewhat aloof and demanding personality in the expression on her face and the jaunty tilt of her head. Part of today’s class was to print the image. All the printouts would be hung on the wall and then each student would explain how the drawing was created. Other people then could make suggestions about how the artwork could be improved. Fortunately, as an art-class veteran, Tracy wasn’t as afraid of critiques as she used to be. And at least her image of Roxy was better than the thing Rob had created.
Tracy jumped in her chair as Ms. Melina bellowed, “It’s time to make art! Start a new file!” After hurriedly clicking on some menus, Tracy was greeted by a blank white screen. The instructor rattled off a list of instructions and Tracy clicked furiously, trying to keep up. She turned and peeked at Rob, who looked a little disturbed. He raised his eyebrows at her and Tracy shook her head slightly.
The entire class seemed to vibrate in unison as a loud siren went off. The screeching noise was insufferable, yet Ms. Melina managed to yell over the din, “Save your files now. We have to leave the building.”
Tracy clicked and at the very moment she pressed the OK button, her stomach clenched. Where had her detailed digital painting of Roxy gone? She had spent all of yesterday slaving over that thing. Did she now have only an almost-blank image with two black lines on it? How could she be so completely stupid? She slumped in her chair and closed her eyes as her classmates all rushed to gather their things.
Rob reached over and tapped her shoulder. “Come on. We’ve gotta go. I think I actually smell smoke.”
Tracy shut off the computer. “Okay, I’m coming.” She grabbed her bag and followed Rob toward the door and mumbled, “Stupid computer. I hope you fry.”
Everyone filed out of the building and gathered on the lawn. Tracy stood next to Rob and placed her bag on the ground. The students stared at the windows, looking for any sign of smoke or flames. The jangling sound of the siren was starting to get to Tracy and she bent to pick up her bag, and took a few steps back to get farther away. Rob gave her a sidelong glance, then looked away. Was he checking out her butt? Ignoring him, she looked up at the sky, watching the clouds swirl around. One of them looked like an African elephant talking to a refrigerator. How long did they have to stand out here? Couldn’t they leave yet?
Ms. Melina waved at the students, who were slowly starting to disperse across the grassy area. “Wait! You can’t go. Everyone come over here, next to this tree.”
Once all of the students had
Kat grinned. “Wow, you have a bigger vocabulary than I thought.”
“Just get the dog, please,” he said through clenched teeth.
“Okay, I’m on it.”
Chapter 4
Nothing to Hide
T racy got to the second day of class a little late. By the time she arrived, the typical educational social dynamic had come into play and everyone had already claimed the same seats they had been in the day before. Tracy sat down at the table in the seat next to Rob, who gave her a friendly smile in welcome.
After an evening talking to Shelby about the dangers of feline obesity and her various artistic endeavors, Tracy was feeling better about coming to class this morning. Dr. Cassidy would be proud of her for giving Shelby the fat-cat lecture, because Billy Bob really did need to lose some weight. And unlike Tracy’s parents, Shelby was supportive of Tracy’s interest in art. Shelby even had one of Tracy’s paintings hanging on her wall as a show of solidarity. Since it was her friend who had insisted that she finish the piece, it was fitting that she should have it.
The instructor, Ms. Melina, told everyone to open their files from yesterday. Tracy looked at her drawing of Roxy and missed her little dog. She had captured Roxy’s somewhat aloof and demanding personality in the expression on her face and the jaunty tilt of her head. Part of today’s class was to print the image. All the printouts would be hung on the wall and then each student would explain how the drawing was created. Other people then could make suggestions about how the artwork could be improved. Fortunately, as an art-class veteran, Tracy wasn’t as afraid of critiques as she used to be. And at least her image of Roxy was better than the thing Rob had created.
Tracy jumped in her chair as Ms. Melina bellowed, “It’s time to make art! Start a new file!” After hurriedly clicking on some menus, Tracy was greeted by a blank white screen. The instructor rattled off a list of instructions and Tracy clicked furiously, trying to keep up. She turned and peeked at Rob, who looked a little disturbed. He raised his eyebrows at her and Tracy shook her head slightly.
The entire class seemed to vibrate in unison as a loud siren went off. The screeching noise was insufferable, yet Ms. Melina managed to yell over the din, “Save your files now. We have to leave the building.”
Tracy clicked and at the very moment she pressed the OK button, her stomach clenched. Where had her detailed digital painting of Roxy gone? She had spent all of yesterday slaving over that thing. Did she now have only an almost-blank image with two black lines on it? How could she be so completely stupid? She slumped in her chair and closed her eyes as her classmates all rushed to gather their things.
Rob reached over and tapped her shoulder. “Come on. We’ve gotta go. I think I actually smell smoke.”
Tracy shut off the computer. “Okay, I’m coming.” She grabbed her bag and followed Rob toward the door and mumbled, “Stupid computer. I hope you fry.”
Everyone filed out of the building and gathered on the lawn. Tracy stood next to Rob and placed her bag on the ground. The students stared at the windows, looking for any sign of smoke or flames. The jangling sound of the siren was starting to get to Tracy and she bent to pick up her bag, and took a few steps back to get farther away. Rob gave her a sidelong glance, then looked away. Was he checking out her butt? Ignoring him, she looked up at the sky, watching the clouds swirl around. One of them looked like an African elephant talking to a refrigerator. How long did they have to stand out here? Couldn’t they leave yet?
Ms. Melina waved at the students, who were slowly starting to disperse across the grassy area. “Wait! You can’t go. Everyone come over here, next to this tree.”
Once all of the students had
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