September 6, 1900

Tombstone. 

This morning I walked down the street and waved to Mr. Joe in front of the undertaker’s office. “How are you sir?” 

“Alive and kicking I think is the medical expression. What about yourself?” 

“I’m okay. Been takin’ care of Ma but her arm’s gettin’ better. I told her she has to rest more today.” 

“Yup I saw the shooting, and the salient has certainly been busy since.” 

I looked down and said, “Jimmy told me ’bout the man who shot her and Mr. Thomas.” 

“Yup, same man and his partner also blew the safe up at the telegraph office, but marshall got them I think,” Mr. Joe nodded. 

“Partner?” 

“Yeah, some woman called Susan, or as he calls her his ‘love and dear’,” he said and made a face.

“Oh. I make sure not to talk to ’em then. There was an Apache lady here the other day.. She got real mad at Mr. Rock ’cause he said somethin’ bad to her. Said she was gonna cut off his tongue so he couldn’t speak no more.” 

“Might be a good idea…” he said and paused before adding, “Ah, that would be Dancing Cloud.” 

“Yeah... I thought Apache stayed in their camp usually?” 

“She seems to like to hang around the Russ here, see her around more than the white folks,” he shook his head. 

“How come? That not safe for an Apache woman I thought.” 

“Well as long as she keeps herself to her self and doesn’t cause trouble, no reason she should not be here.” 

“But she were gonna cut the man’s tongue!!!” 

“Yeah, well maybe the man should be more respectful, if it’s who I think it is.” 

“They wouldn’t tell me what he said. I talked to him and he said all he said was hello. But then Miss Bianca said he say somethin’ else mean.” 

“Well that probably should tell ya everything, but some folks don’t like the natives here.” 

“Ma said we had to be nice to them. Cause it were thir land first.” 

“Ah well lot of folks say mean things, and some folks just don’t like the company of other folks, hell I should know,” he said and looked at me. “Well ya ma is right there.” 

“I sorry, Mr. Joe, I can go if you don’t want company. I should go to school anyway.” 

“Nope most folks speak to me until they know my job and then leave quickly,” he laughed. 

“Well I don’t mind what ya do for work. Everyone’s gotta make money somehow, right? And ya might be mean sometimes but I think it’s just cause you need more friends. Friends that actually talk back,” I winked. 

“But yes you should go to school, and yes somebody has to do the unpleasant jobs,” he nodded. “Aye or I don’t tel them what my job is. But frankly, real friends wouldn’t care of my job.” 

“Well I see you later Mr. Joe. Try to have a good day!” 

“Enjoy school,” he nodded. 

I ran off to school and greeted Sabi and Ruby. Miss Aeryne came over and we talked about how Ruby got a new kitty cat last night. I told them about Mr. Thomas’ new wolf pet and then we met a girl named Soria. Ruby’s mother, Miss Angeles, came over, and I asked to ring the bell but we waited a bit before I did so. Payton came over to the school house then and we went inside so I could ring the bell and call everyone to school. 

Miss Aeryne asked if we did our homework and everyone said they had. I told her I did Mr. Finesmith’s homework and she said our project was to create some sort of art. 

“Oh. I didn’t know bout that homework,” I looked down at my desk. 

“That’s alright Natalie, I have just the perfect idea of what you can contribute,” Miss Aeryne said. 

Soria said that she did a project and Payton did poetry but she wasn’t really good at making anything, she said. Miss Aeryne asked us to collect our projects and then we went on a field trip. 

Black Diamond. 

I followed them out to Black Diamond and Miss Aeryne smiled. “

Welcome to the first ever Children’s Art Fair of Black Diamond! Now then, if you have pictures like Ruby and Sabi why don’t you put them on the easels on up the sidewalk. Soria, did I see you have a sculpture of some sort?” 

Miss Bree came over and greeted us and I looked around, wishing I had something. Soria and Ruby gave the teacher their art and she was pleased with their work. 

“Now then, who remembers what we talked about in our last class together? Why do we create art?” Miss Aeryne asked. 

“To express ourselves?” Payton asked. 

“Very good Payton! Anyone else?” 

“To make the world pretty?” Ruby guessed. 

“Excellent Ruby! Any other reasons? Anyone?” 

I pushed my toe at the dirt and just listened as Payton guessed, “Um.. Some do it to relax?” 

“Well, how about to serve as a reminder of who we were? To show the history of who lived in our towns?” Miss Aeryne asked and I thought about Ma’s journals and nodded. “Our art reflects us. Now then... children as you can see we have some treats for you. Why don’t you each grab a treat of your choice and we will move on to the next part of our lesson.” 

I didn’t go over to get a treat because I didn’t have anything for class, but Payton smiled at me and Miss Aeryne said, “Come now children, don’t be shy, the treats are for all of you.” 

“Hey Natalie…” Payton looked at me. 

“Yeah?” I looked over at her as the other kids ran over to get ice cream. 

“Ya okay?”

“I didn’t do homework I didn’t know bout, so I don’t get treat.” 

“Go ahead Nat and Payton, get your treats,” Miss Aeryne instructed. 

“Well.. ya didn’t know.. so .. not yer fault it didn’t get done,” Payton said. 

“Yeah…” I nodded slowly. 

“So… get a treat then silly!” 

I grinned and went over slowly as Ruby said that this was the best class ever. I got some cotton candy and Payton helped bring me closer to the treats. 

“Alright,” Miss Aeryne said then. “Now then, we have a couple of students who are offering special works of art for us!” 

“I’m gonna make something this week and bring it to you here. Okay Miss Aeryne?” I looked at the teacher. 

“Art is not only about painting, or making sculptures, or things you might see in a museum. There are all sorts of kinds of art! Ahh I have something better for you Natalie! You enjoy a certain series of books do you not Natalie?” 

“Uh huh! Shrelock!” 

“Right! Do you think those books are art?” 

“Uh huh I think so. Cause they tell a story. Maybe I could write a story.” 

“Right! Exactly! Very good Natalie!” 

“Maybe I could write a story ’bout one of mommy’s cases and share it?” 

“That sounds wonderful! But you better ask your mommy first to make sure its okay.” 

“Oooo that would be fun Natalie! Story time with Natalie!” Ruby grinned. 

“And then I could share it with the people who were in the case!” I grinned. 

“In the mean time do you think you could tell us a little about Sherlock? Who he is and why you enjoy reading about him?” Miss Aeryne asked me. 

“Well…” I started. “Mr. Sherlock is a detective like my mommy… He helps the sheriffs and stuff solve crimes when they get stuck. He finds clues like fingerprints and stuff to know who did it. But he watches people too. He can figure out if they’re tellin’ the truth or if they lyin’. If they good or bad. Like mommy does. I like readin’ it cause they get bad guys to go to jail for what they did. And Mr. Sherlock as a friend named Mr. Watson. And Mr. Watson is kinda like Mr. Alex, who’s mommy’s friend. They both doctors.” 

“Natalie, I think I am going to look forward to hearing your story! I think I can guess the stars of the show!” Miss Aeryne grinned and I giggled. “Thank you very much for sharing with us dear. Payton? Tell me... what sort of things do you enjoy creating?” she looked at her. 

Miss Angeles headed off to the fort then and Payton looked like she was thinking before she said, “Well.. I don’t really create.. I am learning ta take care of horses.. learnin ta be a vet.” 

“That’s a wonderful past time Payton! Do you cook perhaps? Or sing?” Miss Aeryne asked. 

“Mommy sings!” I grinned. 

“Yes she does Natalie! And she is very good too!” Miss Aeryne smiled. 

“Well… I don’ sing at all,” Payton giggled. “That would kill a deaf hog. I know I scrapbook… Mommy… Well soon ta be mommy is gonna teach me ta cook.” 

“Ahhh scrap books! Tell us about them Payton?” 

“Well.. I take things that have meaning for me.. like.. flowers.. an scraps of my baby blanket.. things from places I have been.. people I met.. like a feather I got given by an indian friend.. an I glue them inta the book on the pages and tell a bit about each thing .. can use pictures too,” she explained and I frowned a bit at the words ‘Indian friend’. 

“That is absolutely wonderful Payton! See? You do create! Do you think that making scrap books is art?” 

“Yes,” she giggled. “Like you said about art.. to create a history.” 

“Exactly! Very good! Now then, come along with me children,” she said and we walked into the nearby cafe. “Now then, the poster by the table there. It is an advertisement, do you think such things are art?” When we nodded she asked, “Why?” 

“It makes the wall pretty,” Ruby said. 

“Has a lot of colours,” Soria guessed. 

“And it tells a story,” I suggested. 

“Good!” Miss Aeryne smiled. 

“An the baked goods.. an pies.. cakes.. those would be art too then,” Payton said. 

“So even though it’s mean to sell us something it does so in an artistic way. Meaning using art for yet another purpose we have not thought of,” Miss Aeryne said. “Yes, they definitely can be Payton! What do you think makes food art... or not?” 

“There’s different ways to make ’em,” I said. 

“Because it has to look .. appealing.. to make people want ta eat it?” Payton asked. 

“Good mornin Miss Aeryne and young’un!” Mr. Tye shouted over as he passed by and we waved at him. 

“Right! So the way Ruby makes an apple pie, and the way Sabi might make an apple pie might be different!” Miss Aeryne said. 

“Cause each artist creates in their own way,” Payton nodded. 

“Exactly Payton! Very good! How about this picture over the fireplace, of our own Lollipop Gang? Is that art?” 

“Yup… cause like you taught.. words is art too.. tellin a story. Plus it’s my favorite colour,” Payton blushed. 

“So photographs can be art too…” Miss Aeryne grinned. “In fact you can apply artistic aspects to almost anything you create can’t you? So how about, to close class today, we make a piece of art together?” 

“Like.. um.. when my soon ta be mommy fixes my hair?” Payton asked. 

“Maybe if she does it real fancy huh Payton?” Miss Aeryne grinned. “Alright children, let’s go back out on the sidewalk.” 

When Soria raised her hand and she nodded to her, Soria asked, “Can ugly stuff be art too? Cause the stove is kinda ugly.” 

“Ahhh well there is an old saying Soira, ‘Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.’ That means that what some of us might consider ugly, others might consider very beautiful! So yes, ugly stuff can be art.” 

“I think so too. Cause I seen some ugly pictures before too. Paintin’s I mean,” Soria said. 

“I sorry Miss Aeryne but I gotta go home. I’ll have story done for next time,” I said then, knowing I had to get home and do my chores. 

“Okay Natalie, thanks for joining us!” Miss Aeryne said and I waved before heading home.