[OTA] Pumpkin Faces

[tangodebaston.livejournal.com]

The weather was somewhat back under control, a little chill but certainly not an unhealthy one. The snow was melting, and the colors were turning, and that made Juan Pedro want to be outside.

His youngest class was in the middle of the afternoon, after school, and he decided that instead of dance lessons, today they would carve pumpkins. He'd purchased a whole bunch of them, and had them set up in the green, and he surprised the kids by claiming a field trip where he took them outside, and presented to them their trip.

Pumpkins, paper, child safe scissors, child safe carving sets, glue, paint, brushes, a whole assortment of goodies to do up some great jack o lanterns. They wouldn't last til halloween but they'd certainly be a fun, creative way to spend an afternoon outdoors. And there were plenty of the orange squashes for more than just his students. If any adults or young people decided to come and join the fun, the better.

To keep in the mood of Spanish dance class, he'd set up a sound system that was playing latin music, as he sat down with the kids to start working on a pumpkin. So far, it seemed a great success.

Comments

[tangodebaston.livejournal.com]

"Cocoa, pues claro. Piensas, que soy bruto?" He gets up to make her cocoa. He has south american chocolate powder, and he uses milk instead of water. He heats the milk up in the microwave, and then stirs in the rich chocolate, before setting it down on the table beside her, and sitting back down.

"No you are right, there is always at least a little truth in most things, but people's whose opinions are based solely on stereotypes are very narrow minded indeed."

[lowtohigh.livejournal.com]

There's the brief flash of a smile for that before she sets back to the work of carving the pumpkin, interrupted only by the faint click of Kevin's tongue when she sets the knife down and starts to pull out one of her own. After a brief moment of consideration, she'll set in with a paring knife instead.

"You'll always find narrow-minded people, though. No matter where you go in the world, even. Isn't that right?"

[tangodebaston.livejournal.com]

His eyes dart to Kevin, and then back at her, only barely registering that she was going to use her own knife to cut the pumpkin. And chuckles, in recognition.

"I am afraid that is true, it doesn't make it any less sad."

[lowtohigh.livejournal.com]

"No, it doesn't," she agrees with a little bob of her head, pausing from the pumpkin briefly to lift the cocoa to her lips. "Is it at least reassuring that people are the same everywhere?"

[tangodebaston.livejournal.com]

He shrugs "Is that a silver lining?" he leans over, and peers at the carving of a face she's started to cut out.

"Well, querida, you are the best with the knife so far." he sets his coffee mug down, eyeing her quietly "What is it exactly?"

[lowtohigh.livejournal.com]

"It is. There's consistency, at least, even if it's not the sort of consistency we'd like."

There's a faint smile as she sits back on her heels slightly, takes another sip of cocoa and examines what she's cut so far. "It's a lot easier than throwing them. And it's going to be a joker--without the word across the top."

[tangodebaston.livejournal.com]

"Verdad."

He smiles with her smile, and studies the drawing/carving, leaning on his cheek "I will say this for you chiquita, you have high goals. Do you need a smaller knife? for details?"

[lowtohigh.livejournal.com]

Down goes the mug, but her fingers hesitate without actually picking up the paring knife again. "D'you have a smaller one?"

[tangodebaston.livejournal.com]

He picks up his own mug and goes to refill it, and then finds a much smaller knife. Used for cutting the peel off fruit. It came as part of something he'd bought ages before. A dressing, or some sort of kit, he couldn't quite remember.

But it was petite, and he'd never really used it. Resting it carefully beside the other knives on the newspaper, he sat down and sipped.

"Careful, it is very sharp."

[lowtohigh.livejournal.com]

It's probably not the best thing in the world, but she perks up slightly at being handed a new knife. There's little actual Spade blood in her, but Julien and David have fingerprints all over her.

"Thank you." She'll only twirl it once before moving to start cutting again, at least.

[tangodebaston.livejournal.com]

He chuckles "You have too much glee over that knife, chiquita..." he comments, sipping his coffee before he scoots his chair closer to hers so he can watch her carve from the right direction.

[lowtohigh.livejournal.com]

"It's a nice knife," she murmurs, attention mostly distracted by the details of the card she's carving. "What's wrong with enjoying product of quality?"

[tangodebaston.livejournal.com]

He laughs "It's a sharp knife, but the handle is made of plastic... It was a free with purchase prize. I am not sure I would call it nice."

[lowtohigh.livejournal.com]

"It's sharp and it's doing the job I want it to be doing. What else could a person want in a knife?" At least in a pumpkin-carving knife, right?

[tangodebaston.livejournal.com]

"Eileen, me prometes algo? Keep seeing the silver lining, ok?"

[lowtohigh.livejournal.com]

"Lo prometo." It's out mostly automatically before she pauses, glances up properly from the pumpkin. "I promise I'll try, anyway."

That's all anyone could ever really promise, after all.