Pin and paper part 1
It all started off so simple. I had no idea what was going on until it was too late , and by then I had lost control. I'm what some might call a starving artist, I get by off of the money I make from my day job as a cashier. It was my 26th birthday and my brother Tommie did something realy nice for me . He bought me this old antique pin. It was wooden with a gold tip and an engraving that said "truest art". In the box it came in there was a letter. I asked him about it and he said the guy that sold him the pin said to make sure I got it and read it before using the pin. My brother, the smart fox that he may be, didn't bother to read the letter. But that was the start.
My brother left my apartment that night and the only ones who remained were myself and my roommate Donita.
Me and my roommate shared a small 2 bedroom apartment. Its a pretty rectangular place, you walk in and your in the living room/kitchen, then theres a hallway. On the left side is my room and on the right is Donita's, and at the end of the hallway is the office. Oh and of course there is the one bathroom on my side of the hallway as well. We agreed that if I didn't ruin the kitchen with my bad cooking I could use the office as my personal art studio.
Donita was sleeping in her room by the time my brother left. I took my gift to my art studio where I sat it on my wooden desk. I picked up the letter and opened it . The writing was old and faded but I managed to make out the words.
"Put love into all your art or it will be soulless and void"
"Do not abuse your art for it like ourselves may have needs"
"Creations made in moments of raw emotion will be filled with that essence"
"All art fades away in time so cherish it while you can"
Thats all I could make out , the rest of the letter seemed to be too faded. I sat the note aside taking its words as metaphors. I leaned back in my chair tired from day. I picked up the pin and almost started to draw something, just for the sake of getting in that first good use but just as quickly as i picked the pin up i then sat it back down. I went to my room and went to bed , I had work in the morning and it was already midnight.
The next morning was terrible, my alarm clock did not get the memo on the five minutes longer I so desperately needed. It was a struggle just to get out of bed and into the shower. By the time I was ready to go I was already waiting to get back home. I started to leave but I noticed the door to my studio was open. I walked back to check out why and inside was Donita looking around as she siped her morning coffe.
Tristan- what are you doing in here
Donita- oh just looking around, you have some really cool stuff in here
I blushed a little and I could tell that she saw because she smiled at me with her lovable bunny smile.
Donita- I know you like to keep your art private but you should really get these out somewhere
Tristan- Im trying but its hard to promote yourself when you have to work a day job you know
She extended a hand out to me placing it on my shoulder.
Donita- I'm sure you'll make it work some day if you keep making art like this
She retracted her hand as she left the room sipping from her coffe mug. It gave me a jult of energy for Donita to be so supportive like that before I left the apartment. Its hard to describe how hearing something you work at so long and hard is good can make you feel like a new dawn even when your running on so little hours of sleep.
That energy lasted a long while throughout my day , I was inspired and I just wanted to make it home so I could put something on paper. Funny how I was so tired I could drop at any moment but speaking to Donita made me happy enough to want more out of my day.
I made it home around 4 in the afternoon and went straight to my studio. I set up a canvas and paint but rememberedmy gift from the last night. I put away the canvas and took out paper. As I sat at my desk I didn't know what I wanted to draw so I let my hand put the pin to paper and move until I saw something start to come from it. I was drawing a face, it was a male face , a tiger , and he was happy. I spent about an hour drawing him in good amount of detail from the hair on his head to the suit and tie on his body down to the fancy polished shoes on his feet. I was happy with my creation and felt it was a good representation of my feeling.
I wanted to keep adding to the image but just as I was about to start working on the background Donita called me into the kitchen. She made an early dinner. I often times forget that shes a chef at a popular local restaurant until she cooks for me. People thought we were a coulp in the past because we live together and sometimes act like a married couple. But she's just a really good friend from art school. Maybe I should have gone into a more practical art like she did , everyone needs a good cook after all.
Anyway after we ate she had to get to work and I was beat. As much as I wanted to keep working on my latest work of art I could resist the call of my bed any longer.
It didn't take long for me to drift of into a nice sleep. I should have stayed awake. As I slept I began to hear noises and sounds , they got louder and louder until I was forced out of bed to go check them out. There are a few people that have keys to the apartment such as my brother, Donita, and my friend Vincent, and its a pretty nice part of town so I wasn't worried about a burglar. The sounds got less audible but they still went on , they were coming from my studio. I walked down the hallway opening the door at a normal pace not expecting to find anything out of the ordinary.
As I stepped inside on my desk sat a tiger all dressed up like he was ready to go to a cocktail party.
Tristan- who are you
I asked confused and off put by the sight of the stranger siting on my desk.
Gerald- I dont know who I am , you haven't named me yet
I took a step back out of the room slowly.
Tristan- what do you mean I haven't named you, how did you get in here
Gerald-you haven't given me a name , you drew me , thats how I got here
It took me a moment but I soon realized the tiger siting before me resembled the one i had just drawn. His clothes matched down to the mistake I made in a detail on the belt around his waist.
Tristan- I drew you
Gerald- yes, am I your first
Tristan- first what
Gerald- your first creation
Tristan- yea I'd say you are
I started walking back into the room, It was amazing, the picture I had drawn somehow was standing before me life sized and even in color.
Tristan- I must be dreaming this , is that whats happening here
Gerald- no , I can assure you this is all very real
Tristan- and you said you dont have a name yet
Gerald- no , will you give me one , I would love to be able to come back here when I go
Tristan-what does that mean , what do you mean when you go
Gerald- I wont be here for very long but if you give me a name the next time you draw me I can come back and Ill be able to remember everything that happens while I'm here
I stepped even closer ignoring all boundaries as i began to feel through his furr. He felt and looked exactly as I saw him in my mind even beyond what I had put on the paper. He didn't seemed bothered by my feelings and examining him.
Tristan- where will you go
Gerald- I dont know, but its a place where everything is dark
Tristan- well how long will you be here
Gerald- not long , but if you give me a name and draw me again later Ill be able to stay longer , and the next time after that even longer
Tristan- I dont know what to name you
Gerald- but you are my creator
Tristan- yes but are you allowed to name yourself
I stopped feeling him but I continued to eye him intensely.
Gerald- if you don't name me then it wont work
I thought to myself for a moment and for a while I drew a blank. But then it hit me , my favorite TV show, the main characters name on this detective show is Gerald.
Tristan- what do you think about the name "Gerald"
Gerald- I love it
Tristan- then its settled, your name is Gerald
Gerald- oh thank you creator, this means so much to me
He huged me and it was a strong hug. But to my surprise as he huged me he started to disappear from his legs up. By the time he let go I watching his eyes fade into thin air.
He wasn't back on the paper ether, he was just gone.