SKETCHS
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— Pajamas again, Master Damian? — Alfred asked wearily, entering the boy's old room with the breakfast tray.
— They're so comfortable...! — the boy replied dengoso*, continuing to search the desk.
— Before you only accepted to use them to sleep. It was enough to wake up to wear something else... — the butler was not sure which word to use. Of the few times that Damian was not in his school uniform, crime fighting uniform or pajamas, he was ready for a formal meeting.
— ... more serious?
— Exactly. — There was no better word at the moment.
— But it's so comfortable...! — again the child did dengo*.
— And all this excess of comfort can make you even more sleepy than the effect of the drugs, little boy — Alfred made the concern clear in his voice — In fact, what do you do alone in your old room? How did you get in?
— My dad let me get drawing materials while he bathes. — The youngest stopped his search and looked at the butler — Mr Pennyworth, is there anything wrong with me entering my old room? My dad said he had no problems, but if there are any I can get things later! — The voice was with some desperation, he didn't want to be inconvenient as it was before — I didn't disobey badly, I swear!
— The room remains yours, regardless of what happens — The butler placed the tray on the empty part of the desk and approached the child — The only problem is that you had a mischievous way, so to speak. You liked to play tricks on people and I didn't have time to disarm all of them — He smiled, straightening the rebellious and wet wires of the youngest. Damian, so inattentive and innocent now, would never notice the lethal amount of weapons in the decor and the others hidden in the room.
— Sorry, Mr. Pennyworth.
— No need to apologize, Master Damian — Alfred continued to touch his hair, arranging the dark strands in the best way he could. It was past time to cut.
— Mr Pennyworth, did I really draw all this?
— Evidently.
— As?
— With dedication, I believe... — The butler ended the hair care of the youngest and took a good look at the drawings on the table. Most were sketches depicting animals or parts of the garden, all lacking the finish. Bruce made sure to leave them exactly as they were for his son to finish when he returned.
— ... I think I forgot how to draw.
— It's like riding a bicycle — Alfred bent down a little and stood up to Damian's eyes, holding his face affectionately by his cheeks — I'm sure that after a few attempts you will be able to draw as well as ever.
— And if I can not? I-I would be spending these materials for a while, I may even end up spoiling some! — Damian's green eyes filled with tears — Do you think my father will be sad if I don't know how to draw anymore? And if I don't even know how to do anything I knew before?
— How can you think that kind of thing, young boy? — Alfred's voice was far from sounding reproachful, it was overflowing with concern — Your father will continue to love you unconditionally, regardless of what you know or remember. In fact, it's not just him who loves you, everyone in this mansion adores you!
A moment of silence was enough while receiving the comfort of Alfred for Damian to feel better. However, no matter how much he tried to stop being so pessimistic about himself, the child could only think about how irritating he was before and how incapable he was now — and despite everything, they still liked him.
— Mr Pennyworth, how do I draw?
— How could I know something like that, my dear boy? — The butler chuckled, walking away to Damian's bookshelf — I think some of these works can help. In fact, if you want, we can hire an art teacher.
— I wanted to draw something now...! — Damian said returning to his dengoso* tone.
— In this case... — the butler took two books from the art-related options and placed them on the desk — Then, only after eating all these fruits, you can look at some pages of the books and try to draw. I bet you will be surprised by your talent — He smiled.
The child nodded and pulled the tray close to him. However, before putting one of the pieces of fruit in his mouth, he looked at the butler again and asked:
— And if I can not?
— In that case, you will have to do it like anyone who wants to learn to draw! — Alfred said in an enigmatic tone, taking advantage of that childish behavior that Damian had now.
— What am I going to need to do!? — The green eyes were full of sparkle just for imagining a magic formula.
— Devote yourself a lot! — The butler ended up chuckling at the younger boy's disappointment features — That's how you learned before: over many years studying with teachers and training.
— Okay, Mr Pennyworth... — Said the boy still disappoint, despite not making any resistance about eating the fruits before doing anything else.
— And you, Master Damian, are still adorable even if you are disappointed — The sweet compliment was more than enough for the child to smile again — Do you know what you want to draw first?
— Hun... — Damian tried to think of something, but considered everything difficult enough to not be a good idea — Here?
— ... On here?
— ... It's where I live. Here... — The youngest tried to think of a better explanation — This big house... Mr Pennyworth, is this a mansion?
— Yes, this is Wayne Manor.
— ... Wayne like my father's name?
— And same as your name too, young man.
Alfred wished he had the courage to take his phone out of the pocket and take a picture of that moment: Damian seemed to be so surprised by it, as if he had just discovered a Templar treasure buried in the garden at home. That genuine, stamped surprise was just another sign of how innocent Damian was now: he didn't even have a clue who he was.
— How about... — The older man started, taking the fruit bowl out of the youngest's hands and allowing himself to pamper him a little more, taking one of the pieces of fruit with the spoon and bringing it to his mouth, still open in surprise — ... if you designed the Wayne family crest?
As his mouth was full, Damian just nodded energetically.
— Master Wayne, for sure, will want to frame and put it in his office — Alfred commented, repeating the same actions while the little boy held one of the books with his hands free and started his study session.
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NOTE
I could be here in those notes saying how well Damian did, instead of doing it in the previous one. However, I will do something more profitable:
If you have ever tried to draw an image that you saw and found incredible and, however, it went wrong, you don't need to be discouraged and give up everything thinking you don't have "talent or gift to draw". I am not being a hypocrite and saying that "talent" does not exist, since it does, but I will say this: talent can be ACQUIRED with DEDICATION. Learn hard! If you make a mistake, do it again, no matter how long it takes! It is better to try and make mistakes until you are well than to try, give up and never be able to do it.
In fact, I bet you never stopped to think about how long it took that artist you like to make an art. I'm not talking about the time for a finished art, I'm talking about all the time he spent studying, training and dedicating himself to where he is. Until finally having the "talent / gift".
About the asterisk up there (*): "dengo" is an expression in Portuguese, my native language, that I just can't find a substitute for. It is a way of behaving childishly, which is both cute and "stubbornness ".
