AVA Wednesdays were probably my favorite because I got to host my art club after classes ended. One of the perks of working for a school like Willingham was not only that they had a gifted summer program, but that there was plenty of money in the budget for extras like art club. My art club wasn’t very big. Only six students had signed up. I didn’t mind, though. I actually thought of it as a blessing in disguise. Only those who were genuinely interested in the world of the fine arts were here, which meant it was much easier to teach them. In a way, we were on the same wavelength. Vibing, as the kids say. Cory, as always, was the last to arrive, but I made sure to set out a fresh canvas for him in a quiet corner of the studio. He greeted me with a big, sweet smile. “Hello, Miss Cruise.

