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42 “Oh, nothing really, I guess. I was going to walk down to the drugstore.” I felt goose bumps raise on my arms as Bob’s gaze went from my jeans to my gray sweatshirt, to the hated old sweater tied around my shoulders. “You look great to me,” He shrugged and gestured. “Come on. Let’s just take a little walk together.” There was nothing else to say. I swallowed, nodded and followed him down the stairs. HEH That evening and through the daily afternoon and evening strolls that followed, I felt my defenses fading. We walked and talked for hours on end. I felt my closely guarded walls-against-the-world fall away, a layer at a time as we delved into each other’s most personal thoughts and 1 ideas. For the first time since my childhood, I spoke of my years long infatuation with an image. I told Bob of the strangely real figure of a man who’d appeared at my Grandmother’s concert grand piano and of the impression he’d made on me, an impression that still lived inside me. I also told him about my dreams of someday being a stand-up comic, or a model, or an actress or, I held my breath before I said this one and hoped he wouldn’t laugh CN 4 ott at me. “Maybe I’ll be an artist.” He didn’t laugh. In fact, he said, “Well, I can help you with that one if you’re sure that’s what you want to do. Art is a hard taskmaster!” Sculptures, oils, constructions. As he talked and explained art as he saw it, I felt myself moving further and further into the world of this man. Our kisses on the street corners became sweeter and more urgent. He lived just two blocks from where I did and I knew that if I let him come into my apartment or if I went to where he lived, that I would be making a declaration of some sort. Barbara Bartholic as told to Peggy Fielding Then he shared his dreams also.