Art Show

Art shows had always made Oliver a ball of nerves. Maybe that's why he hadn't participated in one since college. Because there he stood, along with several other nicely dressed college students. Everyone was watching and waiting for the judge's verdicts on their art. 

Since the show would continue until late, his co-workers promised to stop by after they finished work. Anita said she and Norman would come once he had finished for the day. Despite Anita’s insistence they were only friends, no doubt Norman would still try to make a date out of the event. He was still trying to convince Anita they were soulmates since they touched hands on New Year's. 

Shasta hadn't said if he would come or not.

"Oliver!" A familiar voice squealed as someone attacked him from behind.

"Leigha, get off," he pried the girl off, Leigha letting go easier than if she had been holding her brother or was drunk.

"I would say sorry we are late, but it looks like we're the first." Leigha looked around the room, allowing Oliver to see that she had arrived with Shasta.

"Are you two…?" he gestured to his two co-workers.

"Oh, no. Shasta didn't dress nice enough for the event when I saw him, so I took him to get a better outfit. Maybe I have the skills of a professional shopper."

Indeed, his co-workers were well dressed. Shasta looked like he was wearing a waiter's uniform instead of his work uniform. Leigha looked like she took the excuse for a fancy occasion to wear the most colorful dress she could find. Her outfit looked like some of the abstract canvases he saw when wandering the displays.

"Don't bank on it," Oliver murmured, turning back to the crowd to try and find the judges.

"There's Anita and Norman! Hi!"

Leigha waved at the couple before taking a glass of alcohol that was being passed around. Anita had on a navy-blue dress, complimenting Norman's tie. Whether Norman planned that or not, Oliver couldn't tell.

"Congratulations, Oliver," wished Anita, hugging his side, followed by Norman shaking his hand.

"Thanks, but they haven't announced the winners yet."

"Oh, well, for entering then. It took a lot of courage."

"Oh, Anita!" Leigha crushed Anita and Norman in a hug.

"My favorite couple next to Miles and Ramona! You both look perfect together."

The couple blushed. Leigha was squeezing them for a while before letting go. She looked over at Shasta, who kept a neutral expression. But then again, he was looking at Anita instead of Leigha.

"You look nice, Anita," commented Shasta before looking elsewhere. He glanced back to Anita, who was blushing but then pulled to Norman's side. The men stared at each other before looking away.

"Aw, you're not going to say I look pretty," whined Leigha, placing her empty glass on a tray and replacing it with another.

Shasta said nothing, helping himself to a drink.

"I think you look adorable, Leigha. The dress suits you," offered Anita with a sweet smile.

"See, I knew there was a reason you were my best friend." Leigha pulled Anita into another hug, nearly spilling her drink. The boys looked away, wondering when Miles would show up to spare them from a drunk Leigha.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, the judges have reached their decisions."

The five turned their attention to the stage, although Anita had to turn Leigha.

"We are going to start with our painting selection, Locations," announced one of the judges. He looked behind him to the other judges, who nodded in agreement. Oliver again felt his nerves tangle, his friends' hands not helping calm him down much.

"In third place, Zoe Phillips and her "Mount Fuji" collection."

A college girl approached the stage, smiling as she took her prize. That was one award down, two more to go — the second and first prizes.

"In the second place, Ben Steigerwald and his "Streets of Tokyo" collection."

It's okay, Oliver could still win first.

"And in the first prize, Candace Emerson and her "Fishermen Pier" collection."

Oliver could feel the air knocked out of him. He hadn’t won. Oliver thought for sure he would win something after months of practice and training. Oliver didn't have what it took to be an artist.

"Hey, Oliver!"

Oliver felt a hand shake him out of his stupor. He looked over to see Shasta’s hand shaking him roughly.

"Why don't you show us your pieces," he offered.

"Yes, I would love to see which ones you picked," added Anita.

Oliver nodded, leading his friends over to the area where his art hung on the wall.

It was three of his favorite pieces, all tidied up compared to the originals.

"Oliver, they're beautiful," praised Anita, pulling Norman to see the paintings. One was of Tormino's celebrating New Year's, back when Oliver first started. Another had his friends walking past Tormino's at various stages of their life. He updated it for the recent hires since it was last year's spring mural.

"Who are the old people?" slurred Leigha, holding a new drink and not of a sound mind.

"That's Cyrus and Linda. I thought it would be more fitting if they were an old couple."

"Aw, and here we are, Leigha!" Anita pointed to part of the painting that had them walking with matching strollers.

"Aw, we're mommies." 

Oliver smiled; his friends were talking about his paintings. He liked this, sharing his artwork with his friends. As the announcements continued, Oliver showed his friends other pieces of art. He found the winners of his division; all had engaging and talented pieces. Oliver tried to pick apart their art pieces to see what kind of techniques they had used, only for Anita to call him away when the rest of Tormino's employees arrived.

"Come on, Oliver, show us your art," begged Sierra, pulling Oliver back to his art pieces. Miles was trying to figure out how many drinks Leigha had already had. By this point in the night, she couldn't walk straight and was trying to convince Miles to finish her current drink. Ramona found the artwork impressive as she tried to take it all in. Miles had to do damage control with Ramona so she wouldn't fall on the artwork when she scurried around, which led him to pass Leigha to Cyrus, who did not want the responsibility of a drunken Leigha. Plus, it looked like he had brought Linda, who was giggling at Leigha's antics until Cyrus dumped Leigha on Linda. She soothed the drunk girl and walked by her side, garnering Cyrus' irritation. Shasta followed behind the group at his own pace.

"You did a wonderful job, Oliver," congratulated Linda, as everyone crowded around his pieces.

"That wasn't there before," slurred Leigha. She pointed at something beside his name tag and the collection title. Oliver pushed through to see; the judges placed an "Honorable Mention" sticker.

It was nice to see some recognition, although not the one he wanted. He stepped back to let his friends admire his work. They pointed themselves out in the spring or winter painting. The final picture had been a fall scene. The restaurant was empty of people sans Oliver, with the lights on inside as he painted a mural. It was the third painting done at Tormino's but still one of his favorites.

"You did good, Agate," complimented Cyrus, putting a hand on his shoulder. For once, the gruff man was smiling, Oliver followed his gaze to see why. Linda was in a permanent red state, looking at the older version of her and Cyrus on the spring painting. But Cyrus seemed to be noticing the details of the New Year's picture.

 "Ah, Mr. Agate!"

Oliver turned at his name, finding the older gentleman he had met at Tormino's along with another older man. He was not quite as dapper as the curator, and he looked like he worked long and hard at manual labor.

"I'm glad I found you. My associate and I have been looking for you. Congratulations on your honorable mention." The older gentleman extended his hand for a shake, which Oliver obliged.

"Thank you, sir."

"Can I ask you, young man, what inspired these paintings?" asked the older man. He nodded towards Oliver's art, his co-workers still crowding around.

"I've been working at that restaurant for the past couple years, sir. The restaurant is like home to me."

The old man nodded, "These are your family members?"

"Yes, sir."

The older man smiled and nodded.

"I am very impressed by your art. It has soul but lacks some technique."

"I figured, sir. I was looking at the other winners and saw that they use techniques more advanced than mine."

"Because they had a proper mentor, several are on this program's board."

Oliver nodded, figuring his lack of mentorship would be part of it. But he didn't expect that much of a margin since he had continual practice.

"If you are willing, I would like to invite you to be my protégé. I'm near retirement and would like to pass along my knowledge to one who is willing."

Oliver looked at the older man, then to the older gentleman.

"Reynard Malzieu, a famous artist from Hokkaido," the gentleman introduced the companion.

"Your paintings were in my modern art class book."

"Glad to hear it. Not very many artists remember me from the modern era chapters."

The older man paused to regain his breath.

"It would mean you would have to stop working at the restaurant to train at my studio."

Oliver turned to look back at the friends he had grown close to while at Tormino's, all excited for his response. He would finally be able to pursue what he loved while leaving his friends behind. But maybe it was time to close this chapter. It didn't mean he would lose them. He looked up to Cyrus, who gave him a gentle nudge forward.

"Master Malzieu," he said and bowed at the waist, "I would be honored to study under you."

His friends all cheered, Leigha and Sierra cheering the loudest. Whether that was under the influence of alcohol, Oliver didn't know.

"I'm glad to hear it." Oliver shook the man's hand again.

"My bullet train departs Monday evening. May I meet you at Tormino's around five?"

"Five works for me."

Master Malzieu nodded, "I will see you then. Enjoy the rest of your evening."

The two older men disappeared, leaving the Tormino's crew to celebrate, which meant touring the gallery and Leigha having a few more drinks. Miles eventually insisted on taking his sister home, especially when she was about to let Ramona try a sip of the alcohol. Ramona's parents stopped by to admire his art before taking their daughter home. Eventually, everyone else dispersed from the show. 

"I'll drive you back to the restaurant," offered Cyrus as he and Linda were about to get into his car.

"Thank you, but I'll walk back. I still have the key." He flipped the small thing in his hand, Cyrus sighing.

"Don't lose it, Agate," he scolded before getting inside the car with Linda.

Oliver walked out of the museum, leaving the paintings on display for the next month per the application’s request. Master Malzieu said he would have them sent to his workshop before he had said goodbye for the night.

Oliver walked home in silence, with a slight dance in his step. He was moving forward. After many years, he was moving forward.