"In here hun," Her mother called from the den, "You should see this." Julie's mother was watching TV. A psychic was telling the talk show host and a woman with a cartoon puppy on her shirt that the woman with the cartoon puppy on her shirt was having relationship problems. The Woman (puppy shirt and all) was shocked as she confessed that she hadn't had a steady relationship in years... in fact she hadn't been with a man since her husband left her... years ago.
"I seriously, can't believe that you buy into this," Said Julie.
Her mother didn't answer, but sipped her red wine while still watching the TV, "did you need something?"
"Yeah, I found this in the basement," Julie handed her mother a hard bound book, a round red stain was visible on the cover.
"Oh my god, I haven't seen that in year's, how did you find this," Julie's mother opened the pages of the book to reveal slightly smudged pen and pencil sketches.
"I had to get something out of the basement," probably better to keep vague, thought Julie. She came across the book while in the basement with Bill, her boyfriend. her shoulders blades were still sore from the concrete floor. Bill liked being on top.
"Are these your drawings?" Julie asked her mother, as she leaned against the love seat to look over her mother's shoulder.
Her mother nodded as she sipped her wine. "yeah, but I forgot all about these, I haven't seen it since we moved out of the apartment."
"I didn't know you could draw like that," Julie looked over her mother's shoulder as they flipped through the pages.
Her mother sighed, "Oh yeah, I used to love drawing, in high school I used to illustrate for the school magazine."
"I love this one," Julie pointed over her mother's shoulder, "It reminds me of the story I wrote."
"Which one, hun," Her mother said it almost as if she had no idea that Julie wrote.
"The one for class," She searched her mother's face for recognition, "I gave it to you and dad last week..."
"Oh, that reminds me," her mother said, "your father's working late again tonight and the home owners association is meeting here because the Pickinses have been running their sprinkler system at off hours, so can you go out in a bit and pick up drinks and snacks?"
Julie rolled her eyes, "yeah, no problem."
Her mother sipped her wine and went back to the book of sketches, "You know? When I was younger I wanted to be an artist."
"Seriously?"
"Uh huh," her mother flipped a page.
"Did you ever do anything with it?"
Julie's mother coughed a laugh, "No, I don't think it would've gone anywhere, plus art school would have taken me away from your father, and I didn't want that to happen."
"You gave up art school for dad?"
Her mother nodded, licking her lips, "Well, I loved you father, and I knew that I would never find something as good as what your father and I had again." Julia's mother sighed deep and flipped a few more pages. She stopped on a drawing of a middle aged Elizabeth Taylor snapping her finger, "I don't even think I would have been that great of an artist, I just did it as a hobby."
The conversation became quite. Only the sounds of psychics and TV talk show hosts could be heard with the occasional sound of swallowing.
"They're really great," said Julie walking out of the den and up the stairs to her room. Books filled a shelf in the corner and a hand full of scribbled notebooks sat on her desk next too her computer. She had a message from Bill:
Hey Babe,
Just got my room assignment for ill. State
WE"RE IN THE SAME DORM!!!! :-D
next year is gonna B great!
Call me, Luv U.
Julie smiled as she read the message and looked at the welcome folder from Illinois State University, the red bird mascot stood out from behind the university logo, and the tag line, "Spread the Red" seemed vaguely sexual to Julia. She just stared into the folder and then, without any reason that she could remember, she reached into her desk drawer, where she put it months ago, and pulled out an application to the University of Iowa. She began filling it out.
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