Chapter 5 #2
“I did my first commission piece a few months ago,” Song said.
“The guy wanted a Viking warrior with the head of a stag, the wings of a raven, and the tail of a wolf. He wanted a bone battle axe too, with the handle shaped like a serpent and the figure to be standing atop a pile of fallen adversaries with broken helms and damaged weapons. It took me almost two weeks just to sketch the details on the weapons and work out how to get the shading right on the ravens that were swooping in behind him, bringing with them a massive storm of lightning and feathers. It’s one of the coolest pieces I’ve ever created, but I can’t show anyone until after they do their New Year’s cover reveal. ”
“I’m looking forward to seeing that,” Daddy said. “Just from the way you’ve described it, I can already tell you that it will draw a ton of attention. What medium did you use to create it?”
“I start with sketches, and once I have all the pieces worked out, I lay them over my drawing tablet and create digital drawings that then have to be detailed and compiled. I lost count of how many times my hand cramped up while I was working on it, but his reaction when he finally saw it made it more than worth the aching shoulders and sore back I wound up with after every session.”
“Did you have to go to art school to learn how to do that?” Zachy asked.
“Naa, I hated school. No way was I going for another four years after I graduated,” Song explained.
“I’ve been drawing since before I learned how to play the drums. I started out just trying to copy things from different How to Draw books, but once I got the hang of each of the forms, I started adding my own touches and playing with the poses and the details in them until they no longer looked like duplicates.
If I’d come in here alone, I’d have wound up drawing on napkins while I waited for my food, or writing lyrics on them. ”
“That’s so cool,” Zachy said. “I don’t draw very well, but I love to color.”
“I do too,” Song said. “It’s my favorite way of decompressing. I’ve got ideas for coloring books, and I’d started organizing them into lists of different pictures to include, but then the bookings for the band started to really pick up, and I haven’t had a lot of time to devote to it.”
“Does that mean you’re gonna be busy this Sunday?” Zachy asked.
“Not if it means we get to hang out again,” Song replied.
“Done deal then,” Daddy said. “Does the same time as last week work for you?”
“Definitely.”
“Then we’ll see you then.”
“Ohh, can we get stuff to bake cookies?” Zachy asked.
“We sure can,” Daddy replied.
“What kind are your favorites?” Zachy asked, turning towards Song, who plucked a napkin from the table to wipe away a smear of something from Zachy’s cheek. “Thank you.”
“No problem,” Song replied. “And I love chocolate peanut butter and oatmeal chocolate chip.”
“Mmmm, those sound good,” Zachy said. “Chocolate chunks are my favorites, but I’d love to try something new.”
“If you have some recipes handy, why don’t you text them to Zachy, and we’ll have everything ready for you guys on Sunday,” Daddy said.
“Awesome! Thank you for letting me come over again.”
“As long as you guys are having fun, you can come over as often as our schedules will allow.”
“I’d like that,” Song replied.
Much like Zachy, he’d finished everything on his plate while they’d been talking.
“It’s about time we start heading back,” Daddy said, as he paid the check Beth brought over and told her to keep the change.
“You didn’t have to buy me lunch,” Song said, reaching for his wallet like he was going to try and give Daddy money for it.
Daddy gave him the same stern, pointed look he always gave Zachy when he tried to pay for meals when we were out, and Song eased his hand away from his pocket.
“Thank you,” Song said.
“You’re welcome. I’m glad we got to spend some time together today,” Daddy said.
“Me too, it was fun.”
Song slid out of the booth, and Zachy slid out behind him and was treated to a hug from Song, who immediately looked sheepish when they broke apart.
“I’m sorry, I should have asked first,” Song said.
“No, it’s okay, I love hugs, especially from my friends, and you’re gonna be my very best one,” Zachy said, getting a bright smile from Song in return.
“Looking forward to it,” Song said as they headed for the door.
It sucked, waving goodbye on the sidewalk, knowing he was going to have to wait a whole three days before he could hang out with Song again, but at least they had video chats and texting.
As far as Zachy was concerned, that was the next best thing.
Heading up the block, Zachy wondered how soon they could plan a sleepover because that would be awesome, though they’d probably wind up exhausting his poor Daddy and Papa with late-night giggles and shenanigans.
And games, all the games, and so much coloring that there would be new pictures to cover the fridge with, especially if Daddy and Papa colored with them.
With plans already unfolding in his head, the only thing left was to wait for the perfect time to suggest it and plead with the puppy dog eyes to have his very first sleepover and a whole night of nothing but fun, fun, fun.