Page 11 of Reeling for His Omega

The plumber was starting to look relieved.

Which he shouldn’t have, because the next question the savvy attorney asked showed he was too smart for both of us. “So, it must be the pipes that are worrying us.”

Us.

“As it turns out, there was more damage in the walls than we hoped. Or the water is off until the morning.”

“Plumber there?”

“Yes.

“Put him on.”

For the next few minutes, the plumber, Jamie, was answering questions, but when he handed me back the phone, he didn’t look too shaken.

“Hi, Eryx. All taken care of.”

“Yes. I wish there was not so much to take care of, but I budgeted for overages and I think we’re still on track that way. I haven’t thanked you enough for everything you’ve done. You’re making my life easier.”

“Well, I still have most of my work to do, so you can thank me later if you still feel the same.”

“You’ve had a lot of responsibility. It will get done. I have a meeting to get to, but I’ll speak with you later.”

With the other trades settled in and doing their thing, I got started on my job. The first wall, painted a soft cream, was already done and it looked so naked. It seemed a waste to have a blank canvas like that.

I started the opposite wall, and by the time it was nearly done, the other workers were putting away their tools to go home for the day. I sat in the back row and looked at the work I had done. It was neat and tidy and boring as hell. There were different colors planned for other parts and other theaters. Maybe just a small drawing in the corner would be all right?

I found a pencil and sketched a lion. Just one small beast, and then I grabbed a stack of cups from the snack bar and filled them with paint from different cans. I finagled finer brushes than the ones provided. And I set to work.

Chapter Eleven

Joaquin

It began with that little drawing in the corner of the first theater. None of the auditoriums were large, and once I got going, I got the large side walls done quickly without allowing my artistic desires to come through again.

And then I reached the lobby. I’d already used each of the various colors, but the mural I began to sketch was going to require more. I knew Eryx had ordered the paint from out of town, but the local hardware had enough of what I needed to supplement. With all the paint smells, I propped the front doors open and settled in to sketch out what I had in mind. The wall behind the snack counter would offer a perfect canvas, and as I drew, I began to remember how much work even the most modest mural took. My previous works back on the lands had all been group projects. I laid them out and guided my friends and family in filling in the colors; it was an amazing process and so special to do together.

Everyone who participated or was related to someone who had been involved—which added up to the whole streak—would walk past the works with such pride. It didn’t matter that I’d done everything to create what amounted to a paint by numbers. They’d all thrown in and helped to make something beautiful.

After I left, I hadn’t considered doing anything like that. Murals were very important cultural artworks, in my humble opinion. They were not only worked on by the group, but the subject mattered. In this case, I had chosen movie history, which was perfect for the venue, but doing it myself? Not so perfect.

And I was taking a big chance that Eryx would like what I’d done. Choosing to ask forgiveness rather than permission was another feature of street art, but this was his theater.

“Hey, I’m wrapping up here.” Jamie, the plumber, had come up behind me at some point. “What are you doing?”

“I’m painting a mural.”

“Don’t you need a bunch of people to do that? I saw one on TV and they had dozens of people helping.”

“That was probably a much larger project, but usually there are helpers, yes.” I considered the design and added some more lines. Better.

“What does a guy have to do to become a helper on this? I’d like to do some. I’m no artist, but if you can show me, I’ll try.”

I could have hugged him. “Grab a brush and I’ll show you what to do.”

The electrician came in and picked up a brush as well, and I began to notice people outside the open doors slowing as they walked by.

“I think I’ll go and see if anyone else would like to help.”