Page 15 of Big Island Summer
“Typical mom stuff, right? We do everything for our kids but forget thatweused to like art too.”
“No kidding. Half of the time, I forget to eat.”
“Been there.”
“You know, the moms here would probably benefit from some art classes as much as the kids. More, maybe.”
Alohi’s words struck Nell so hard that she stumbled to a halt. “You’re so right.”
“Maybe you do a class for us next time.”
“I’m not really an artist, though. I don’t have anything to teach grownups.”
“Sometimes it’s more about creating the space and giving people permission, you know?”
“Teacher!” the girl shrieked again.
“What’s up?” Nell jogged over to the kids, jostling Everett enough to make him giggle.
“Bella took all the good ones! I don’t have anything to paint.”
“There are plenty of flowers left.”
“Like what?”
“These are my favorite.” Nell picked up a strange Hawaiian flower that grew in hanging bunches of alternating buds. They were bright red, tipped with green and yellow. “Anybody know what these are called?”
“Helicania rostrata.” The voice was so quiet that Nell almost didn’t hear it. She looked around for the source and saw a young teenager hovering nearby.
“That’s right,” she said, surprised. She held out a sheet of paper, and the girl accepted it with a grin. To the younger kids, Nell said, “These arealsocalled hanging lobster claw! I thought they would be a fun one to paint.”
As the little kids jostled over the flowers, one of the older boys spun a brush between his fingers with a pinched look on his face.
“Do wehaveto paint flowers?” he asked.
“You can paint whatever you want.”
A mischievous grin stole across his face. “Like blood and guts?”
“Shut up, Jayden!” The teenage girl shoved his arm. “You’re gonna get us kicked out.”
“I’m painting the flowers!” Cassie boasted.
Nell patted her head distractedly, looking for Jayden’s mom across the yard. She spotted her and then caught Alohi’s eye.
“I’ll be right back.”
“No problem.” Alohi joined the kids at the table and asked, “Who’s gonna show me how to use this stuff?”
Nell was back five minutes later with two sketches of Jayden’s remote-controlled car.
“Do you want to paint these?” she asked, setting them down in front of Jayden and his brother.
“That’s pretty sick,” Jayden muttered with a grudging sort of respect. He looked to his brother.
“I guess we could. I mean, she already drew them.”
“It would be rudenotto paint them,” Alohi said.
