Drawing Conclusions, Grade Nine
Penn Kemp
In our first Science class, the teacher instructed us to bring
next day a drawing of the beaker of water and retort stand
he’d set up on his desk. I knew a still life when I saw one.
As I inherited some skill from my father, a painter, my pencil
sketched and shaded the objects with artful nuance. My com-
position displayed a proper balance of proportion and form.
The teacher chose two drawings to illustrate his point. One
was mine, of course, chosen for its beauty. The other was
a clumsy, childish depiction of the cup in three straight lines.
The water inside, my new classmate had drawn as simple
horizontal dashes. I shuddered at the scorn the teacher would
display. Poor dear, and she the daughter of a math professor.
You’ve guessed the end of the story, the end of an illustrious
science career. Holding my drawing aloft for all to sneer along,
the man mocked its still-born life. Right salute. Left salute.
