The Art of Us

Chapter Twenty-four

Ireland

Ireland and Mara made it to school early on Monday morning. It was time to go back. They had faced the crowds on Saturday night, and everything had been fine. And sure, there would probably be rumors and gossip in the halls, but it would be okay because they had each other’s support.

They had to arrive early because the mural still needed to be finished, and it was important to get it done. The other members of the art club had worked on it a lot over the week prior while Mara and Ireland had been away, but they hadn’t finished. Ireland was secretly glad it had taken them longer than they had thought because it meant she got to be part of completing the project she had helped to start.

As Ireland’s eyes trailed over the various images and words that made up the school mural, she felt all the ways it showed the individuality of each student while also showing how they all fit together.

Asha, Cooper, Sophie, Julianna, Charisma, and, of course, Kal and Mara were all there. They each had their sections to work on. With paintbrushes in hand, they unified the individual images into one cohesive piece. Mr. Wasden was there as well, guiding them in the ways that they could smooth the images together so that it all worked.

When they were done, they invited the principal to come and see. She stood in front of the mural for a long time. Ireland hoped that the principal could see the mural the way she did: as a collaboration that bound the students together.

“Well, Mr. Wasden. It’s an ambitious project, but you and your students managed to pull it off beautifully. I think we should go ahead and keep it.”

The art club cheered and clapped and high-fived one another. They gathered up all the supplies and put them away. Ireland went to Janice to borrow some of the cleaning supplies to make sure that the space was perfect. She didn’t want Janice to have to clean up after them. With all of the art club working together, the cleanup went by fast enough that they would be a few minutes early for their first class.

Kal took Ireland’s hand in his own and they walked to class together. Ireland let out a contented sigh.

“Happy?” Kal asked.

“I really am.” I really am , she repeated in her head. Because Ireland realized she had been right on that cold night alone in her bathroom.

Being a homeless teenager had not been the worst thing that could happen. That was one of the top-ten truths Ireland Raine had told herself because it had led her to this moment, when she was safe and she was warm and she was loved.