Impossible Things Read Online Free Page B

down and changed the subject. “Okay, listen up. I have some exciting news for you all. There is an art contest coming up. It’s open to all grade six, seven and eight students in the district. Each school will have a contest, and one winning piece of art from each school will be entered in a district-wide competition.”
    Joe, who rarely participated in class discussions, sat up straight. “What do you get if you win?”
    The teacher smiled. “One hundred dollars plus one year’s unlimited art classes at the Thomson Art Institute.”
    There was a flurry of excitement. Amber’s hand flew up. She and Madeline were practically bouncing out of their seats. “Ms. Allyson! What kind of art do we do?”
    â€œAnything you like,” Ms. Allyson explained. “Painting, pottery, sketching, sculpture, collage. It’s up to you. The theme is ‘Who Are We?’ So you might work on some kind of self-portrait or a work that reflects who you are in some way.”
    Madeline raised her hand. “Do we get to work on it in class? How long do we have?”
    â€œThe deadline for all entries is in three weeks,” Ms.
    Allyson said. “I’ll give you as much class time as I can.”
    Amber was looking around and smiling smugly, as if she’d already decided the prize was hers. Too bad.
    I wasn’t going to let Amber win. No way. I imagined arriving home and telling Mom that I’d won a contest. An art contest. Guess what? I’d say. I won an art contest… I’m going to be an artist. She’d have time to listen to that, I’d bet. I imagined her face lighting up in a delighted smile, her arms stretching out toward me, her warm voice saying, Cassidy, honey! I had no idea you were so talented.
    â€œOkay!” Ms. Allyson’s voice shattered my little daydream. “Everyone find a partner!”
    I blinked, cheeks burning. Stupid sappy fantasy. I didn’t care what my mother thought anyway. I glanced around the room. Practically everyone was already paired up. Amber and Madeline were together, of course. Even Felicia already had a partner—Nathan. I stood up to look around. Was I really the only one without a partner? Newsflash: No one wants to pair up with the class freak.
    I wished Victoria was here. Though, of course she probably wouldn’t want to be my partner now.
    â€œChiaki, right? And Cassidy. It looks like you both need partners. Why don’t you pair up?” Ms. Allyson ushered Chiaki into the empty desk beside mine. Victoria’s desk.
    I nodded at her, my teeth clenched so tight my jaw ached. My old thumbuddy. Chiaki smiled back, her face anxious beneath her dark bangs.
    Ms. Allyson sat on the edge of her desk and crossed her legs. “So, before you begin thinking about your art pieces, I want you first to consider what it is about yourself that you want to convey through your art. We’ll do some writing exercises, alone and with a partner, to help you get started. These exercises are to help you begin reflecting on who you are: what is important to you, how you see yourself, what challenges you face, what strengths you bring to help you meet those challenges.” She broke off abruptly. “Amber, did you have a question?”
    Amber was shifting impatiently in her seat. “I thought you said we had to draw a self-portrait. How come we have to do all this writing?”
    Ms. Allyson nodded. “That’s a good question. First, this contest isn’t about drawing a picture of yourself. It’s about exploring who you are.”
    I couldn’t see Amber’s face, but I’d bet she was rolling her eyes. Either that or her mouth would be hanging open.
    â€œWriting can be a way to learn about ourselves, to uncover what lies beneath the surface that we present to the world,” Ms. Allyson went on. “Try to think of writing the way an archaeologist might think of a tool she uses to