Caricature
A flash fiction, Valentine's Day story
“Where are you?”
My heart was pounding, my palms were sweating, and he wasn’t there. How could he! All through high school he had constantly been by my side. In fact, I had noticed him long before that. From ninth grade on, not a moment passed that I wasn’t sure of his love, his presence, and even his guidance. He even stood by me when I got caught peeking in my book for an answer on my stupidly complicated math test.
That was embarrassing. Mrs. Jenkins had been fair, I admit. Five days in the crowded detention room during final period had been alleviated by scribbling wickedly sharp cartoons of my least favorite teachers, which he laughed at as he leaned over my shoulder.
Anxiously waiting for the calling of my name at the prestigious Caricatures As High Art Academy, I was hoping to dazzle. I knew a quick sketch of each judge was a requirement. Admission was very select and only my quick eye for feature and his whispered commentary on detail was likely to get me through.
Didn’t he love me? He promised he would never leave me, my whole life long. He promised to always be there, whispering his love and God’s love towards me.
What good is a guardian angel if they don’t come when you need them, I thought savagely. How dare he desert me now?
Following a high-swept bun and the staccato pulse of high heels into the judging chamber, I breathed deeply to calm my racing pulse.
There he was!
Sticking his tongue out at me, he made bunny ears over the unsmiling judge at the end of the panel. I whipped my sketch pad out before I could think, and while they questioned my name and aspirations, I was etching that tongue into a caricature of the unsmiling judge’s face.
“Happy Valentine’s Day!” my angel, my supporter, my beloved life-long friend, mouthed to me.
My heart was pounding, my palms were sweating, and he wasn’t there. How could he! All through high school he had constantly been by my side. In fact, I had noticed him long before that. From ninth grade on, not a moment passed that I wasn’t sure of his love, his presence, and even his guidance. He even stood by me when I got caught peeking in my book for an answer on my stupidly complicated math test.
That was embarrassing. Mrs. Jenkins had been fair, I admit. Five days in the crowded detention room during final period had been alleviated by scribbling wickedly sharp cartoons of my least favorite teachers, which he laughed at as he leaned over my shoulder.
Anxiously waiting for the calling of my name at the prestigious Caricatures As High Art Academy, I was hoping to dazzle. I knew a quick sketch of each judge was a requirement. Admission was very select and only my quick eye for feature and his whispered commentary on detail was likely to get me through.
Didn’t he love me? He promised he would never leave me, my whole life long. He promised to always be there, whispering his love and God’s love towards me.
What good is a guardian angel if they don’t come when you need them, I thought savagely. How dare he desert me now?
Following a high-swept bun and the staccato pulse of high heels into the judging chamber, I breathed deeply to calm my racing pulse.
There he was!
Sticking his tongue out at me, he made bunny ears over the unsmiling judge at the end of the panel. I whipped my sketch pad out before I could think, and while they questioned my name and aspirations, I was etching that tongue into a caricature of the unsmiling judge’s face.
“Happy Valentine’s Day!” my angel, my supporter, my beloved life-long friend, mouthed to me.