2 Beyond the painting

One day, I was alone in my room. My granny went out on the deck, to chit-chat with my neighbor who was an old woman of her age.

Someone knocks on the door. I open the door. It was a young man.

" Hello, I am Alfred Wood ", he smirked.

" Hello, I am Anna, Anna White ", we handshakes.

" I know you ", he smiles

" But I have never seen you before! Did we meet before? ", I asked

" No, we have not. I am here to ask if you could paint a portrait of me. I will be very happy ", he requested.

" Oh sure, please come in Mr. Wood",

He came inside, through his appearance it could be understood that he was a rich man. He was humble and polite.

" Please sit here ", I gave him a chair.

" Thank you ",

" Please wait let me take out my weapons ", I said and started to search my material.

" Weapon!", he gasped.

I laughed and said, "Sorry,  I mean my tools. It's a painter's language. ",

" Oh, I learn a new code ",

I started to search my painting box, I got it but it was almost empty and messy so I decided to use my granny's. I open my granny's box, I found it. Her materials were clean and almost full. Then I saw a painting book of my granny, I decided to take a glance at it.

" Can I look at your painting, which you are holding in your hand if you don't mind ", the man asked.

" Of course, but it's not mine,  it's my granny's "

" Oh, I think your entire family is painters", he chuckled.

" Yeah, some sort of "

We look at the paintings of my granny, there were also sketches. We almost looked halved of the but there was only landscape. There was a half-torn page, then granny entered and she immediately pulls back her painting books.

" Sorry gentleman, but it's a personal thing. Never mind ", she smiles and puts it back into her box.

" Did you look beyond that page? ", she asked.

" No"

" What's beyond that page? ", he asked

" Oh I could have sawn you my book if I could, but I am sorry. I can't. ",

" Not a problem ", he remarked.

" Anyway, are you her friend or.. boyfriend", my granny asked.

We both laughed.

" No he is neither my friend nor my boyfriend, it's our first meeting, he is our customer ", I explained.

" Oh never mine. Which painting would you like to buy, all are on the wall", she sawed him.

" No, he is here for his portrait", I said

" Oh I too got a same task, my neighbor requested me... Is this my painting material?", she asked

" Yes "

" Oh ok, I will be using your one, but I will take some tissue from yours because I know you had messed up your material ", she jeered.

The man turned left and giggled.

" Oh, let's get into our work ", I  said

" Yeah ",he gestured.

" It will take a long time, get ready for body ache ", I joked.

" I am ready for it ", he smiled.

My granny left and I began to paint the portrait. I looked into his eyes, he laughed.

" Oh stop laughing, it distracts me ", I beamed.

" Ok, fine I will try not even to smile ", he said and stopped laughing.

" Ok"

I started to begin my painting again. I again looked at him, after looking at such a serious face, now I was going to laugh but I somehow manage not to laugh.  He too was about to laugh. I again looked at him. This time, we both couldn't control and we both burst out a roar of laughter.

" Please stop laughing ", I laughed.

" You make me laugh, it's not my problem ", he chortled.

" I got an idea! ", I said

" What idea? ", he was still laughing.

" You look to the window ",

" Ok ", he clicked.

I began my portrait again after an hour he laughed again, and chortled, " Sorry I couldn't control by looking at that scene ",

" What is there outside? ", I looked outside I too began laughing, a woman was chasing a boy with a toilet brush and there was a packet of cookies in his hand.

" I think we must stop them ", he murmured and we went outside but before we could do anything the woman pull the boy inside to a room by catching his ears.

" Too late ", I said

" Yeah, now let's get back to our work ",

" Now you look to the left, at the door ", I said

" Hope no one makes me laugh again! ", he joined his hands.

I again began the portrait, it was almost evening, I was tired so I said,

" Can we do the remaining tomorrow ",

" Oh sure, anyway...Ahh, my neck is paining, well then see you tomorrow " he griped.

" Bye " I waved his hands and he left after a few minutes my granny came back and she asked, " Did that boy went? ",

" Yes ",

" Could you finish? ", she asked and kept my materials on my bed

" Almost, but not totally what's about your's", I asked

" I completed ", she said and continued, " But I am sorry the painting is with her, you can see her painting in her room. Do you want to see it? ",

" Yeah, but not now, it's already night, I will see it tomorrow ",

" Yeah old woman, she might be tired! ",

" Hahahaha! ",  l laughed

" Why are you laughing? She is older than me, I am 5 years younger. It's a huge difference  ",

 " I acknowledge. Anyway, granny, let's eat dinner at the hotel which is on the top floor ", I said.

" Oh yeah I am tired of eating bread and silly those fruits, let's relax our tongue ", she agreed.

We went outside we almost reach and then I gasped, " Oh no! ",

" What happen? ", she asked

" I forgot to bring my wallet ",

" Oh, how could you do that! "

" Sorry, let me get my wallet I will return soon ", I said and ran down.

 I bought the wallet I just lied to her to see the painting book. Why she didn't want me to see her painting book. She never use to hide any painting instead use to call me and show me every painting. I quickly, grab the painting book and started to turn over pages, there were landscapes, landscapes, and landscapes but in between, there was a picture of a group of people, I again turn over but there were only landscapes, landscapes, and nothing more. There was nothing any special I again turn the pages again from the first, then I saw that the picture of a group of people seems familiar to me. It was my family, there was my dad, mom. granny, an old man, probably my grandpa, a small child, it was a boy, how could it be I was the only child of my family, but what really surprised me was when I saw the date. It was just a day before my birth, I was schoked, how could it be then, I heard the sound of footsteps it could be my granny so, I quickly put it in its place and I open the door, it wasn't my granny. It was a stranger. I locked the door and went upstairs.

" Where on the earth were you? ", she growled

" Sorry ", I smiled.

We started to eat dinner and went back to the room we were preparing to sleep.

" Granny? Can I ask you a question ?", I asked

" Yeah, sure ", she agreed.

" My mom told me that I had a brother? Is it true? ", I asked.

She started to stare at me.

" What happen, granny, why are you looking me like that? ", I fretted

" Don't think I am a  foolish old lady! your mom would never say that. You disobey me, you saw my painting just before in pretext of not bringing the wallet ", she barked.

My face turned white but somehow I made courage and mumble out the truth,

" Yes "

She started to cry.