Chapter Seven: Girl Meets Maya's Mother
I was in my art class with Maya, Riley and the rest of my class. "Why draw fruit?" Farkle asked as he entered the room. I looked up and saw that he was wearing a robe. He grabbed the bowl of fruit off the stool and handed it to Ms. Kossal. "Let's draw a real work of art. That's right, check out 48 lbs. of nasty." Farkle continued taking off his robe. "No." Maya, Riley, and I shouted in sync. Riley and I covered our eyes. I heard our teacher laugh so slowly I took my hands away from my face to see Farkle wearing a red and black stripped tank top with shorts.
"Well lookie here," my teacher said, "the male physique." "Why thank you art lady." Farkle replied to her. "Why aren't we drawing Lucas?" Riley asked smiling at Lucas. The teacher looked at him. "Because nobody looks like that." She answered. Then she walked over to Farkle. "Get used to this, get used to this right now. When drawing a Farkle, start with the eyes. "I think the eyes should go straight to the gun show." Farkle told us "Flexing" his non-existent muscles.
As Maya and I started drawing, Riley leaned over to us. "Maya, Caroline you're supposed to concentrate on the eyes." She told us. "You see, you know what my problem is? I don't listen." Maya told her. "And I felt like there is more to Farkle than what's there." I told her. "Oh and by the way you're drawing Lucas." I added. "Oh," Riley said. She looked down at her work and smiled at Lucas. "Well that's the first time I've ever done that."
Maya flipped open Riley's notebook to the next page to reveal a drawing of a bowl of Lucas' face on every fruit. "Do I need help?" Riley asked us. Maya nodded. "More than you think." I added. "Alright I know these are works in progress, but let's see where we are." Ms. Kossal told us. "Maybe we'll become famous artists. Well go to Paris," Riley stood up and leaned against the table, "drink coffee in outdoor cafes." She pretended to drink coffee. "How do I look?"
Maya started to sing while I think drawing a picture of how Riley looked. Once she was done she showed me and Riley the drawing she did of Riley. "Fine, make fun of me. I am a serious artist who belongs in Paris." She told Maya. Then she turned and smiled at Lucas. "Bonjour Lucas." "Bonjour Riley." Lucas replied. The speaking in French he told her that maybe they could go to Paris together. Riley didn't understand him so she repeated, "Bonjour Lucas."
"Vous porlez Français?" I asked. "Oui." He replied. "You know I have family that speaks in French most of the time when they visit and I think you speak as well as they do." I admitted. "That's Caroline." Lucas thanked. Ms. Kossal came over to check on our work. "Oh my gosh." "See I'm an artist. I'm finally something!" Riley exclaimed, smiling widely. "Maya, Caroline." Ms. Kossal said happily. "What a life I'm having." Riley said annoyed.
"Maya, Caroline. My goodness." Ms. Kossal said. She shows Maya and I's work to the class. "These are brilliant." "Farkle's in a birds nest." Riley stated in confusion looking at Maya's then she looked at mine. "And surrounded by barbwire sitting on pillows." "They're works of surrealism, Riley. It's how the artist mind views the subject." Ms. Kossal explained. "I'm a bird to you?" Farkle questioned Maya then looked at me. "You think I need to be locked up?"
"No, you just need to be protected." Maya and I answered together. "You love me." Farkle told us. "Leave us alone." Maya replied. "Maya, Caroline, there's a school exhibit coming up," Ms. Kossal said. "I want one of you pieces in it each." "What about my piece?" Riley asked. Ms. Kossal looked at Riley's notebook then at her top. "That's a cute top."
"No thanks, Ms. Kossal. I don't draw for other people to look at, but thank you." Maya said. "I don't like showing my drawing I think they are something personal." I told her. "I'd appreciate you two thinking about it, okay?" Farkle got up to leave. "Where you headed, Farkle?" Riley asked. Farkle turned to look at Riley. "Gym class. That should go well, right?" He said before leaving.
We were sitting at the dinner table while Riley was standing at the refrigerator. "They've been lying to you Auggie." Riley said. She moved to sit at her place at the dinner table. "Your artwork would not be hanging on a single refrigerator outside this apartment." Auggie looked up at Topanga. "You said I was a little genius." Auggie told Topanga. "Oh you are a little genius." Riley pointed out. "Well I had no one to compare you to honey." My godmother told her.
"Maya and maybe Caroline are going to be famous artists and everybody speaks French but me." Riley complained. "My sister Riley. You're a very simple girl and people like you." Auggie said in French. "You are going to change the world with your brilliant mind," Topanga praised Auggie, Topanga looked at Riley. "You have such a cute top." I looked at Auggie. "Try not to make your sister feel bad about herself even more." I told him in French and he nodded.
"Are there any more of these mashed potatoes?" Cory asked. "That's what you're thinking about right now?" Riley questioned in shock. "Riley, this whole 'what am I good at' thing, I've been there my whole life. It's a waste of time. You know what's not a waste of time? Mashed potatoes. You know why? They never let you down. They're the best in the world at what they do." Cory stated. "Oh boy." I muttered.
"So don't be mashed potatoes because they're better at that than you could ever be." Cory instructed. "How are you helping me?" Riley asked. "Can I eat a meal?" Cory questioned. "What about you guys. Do you have any talent? Did I inherit anything from you two?" Riley questioned her parents.
That question led to a very "interesting" magic show that caused me to put my head down on the table. Riley quickly closed the possibility that magic was a talent for her. Topanga then did this dance with her hips and Cory joined her. This embarrassed Riley so she put her head on the table. "Caroline what about you? What are you good at?"
"Um well I can sing, dance, design and create clothes, draw, cook and bake, gymnastics, acrobatics, can play multiple instruments, can speak eight languages, and I have never gotten anything lower than an 'A' in school." I listed off. "Show us something." Riley demanded. I got up and did a few acrobatic tricks while singing, "I'm gonna swing from the chandelier, from the chandelier. I'm gonna live like tomorrow doesn't exist. Like it doesn't exist. I'm gonna fly like a bird through the night, feel my tears as they dry. I'm gonna swing from the chandelier, from the chandelier." I got up from my split and sat back down.
"This is so unfair." Riley moaned which made me giggle. "Why couldn't Caroline be our daughter?" I heard Topanga ask Cory. I shook my head and continued to giggle at them.
"Okay history makers, welcome to career day! Now there are a lot of ways to make you mark on the world-" Topanga opened the door and walked into the classroom. "Hi Riley, hi Caroline." She said. "Oh great Shakira's here." Riley exclaimed sarcastically. "Where's your mom?" I asked Maya. "She won't be coming." She replied. "But she told you she was coming." Riley pointed out. "Yes she did." Maya said.
"Okay guys our first guest today is a lawyer," Cory said, "and I likes her. Hey lawyer lady, how's about we go out sometime? I get off work every day at 3:15 except for Tuesdays, I've got playground." "So I am an attorney." Topanga started. "I got here through a lot of hard work and school. By the time I was your age I had 350 'A's'."
Suddenly there was a knock at the door. "Your mom!" Riley exclaimed to Maya. "There she is." Cory opens the door and there was this tall man in a blue blazer with brunette hair swept to one side. "Minkus!" Cory said pointing at him. "Topanga." The man said, ignoring my godfather and looking at my godmother. "Stuart." She replied.
"Topanga." He said again. He walked over to Farkle and placed a hand on his shoulder. "Father." Farkle said. "Farkle." Farkle's dad said. "Wait a minute." Lucas said. "Yes?" Farkle asked. "He's your father?" Lucas asked. "Look at us." Farkle replied. "Your name is Farkle Minkus?" Lucas questioned. "Don't wear it out." Farkle told him. "I don't know how you could." Lucas replied.
Stuart got up and walked to the front of the class. "Sorry I'm late everybody. I had helicopter problems, 'cause I have a helicopter. Do you have a helicopter, Cory?" Stuart said to everybody then directly to Cory hoping to get a rise out of him. "Nope, do you have a Topanga, Minkus?" Cory asked. "Nope, because she chose you. I run Minkus International, I have a helicopter, and she chose you." Stuart said.
"Stuart, please. Aren't we a little too evolved to still be competing with each other?" Topanga asked. Stuart laughed, "Of course." Then Topanga laughed, "Of course." They both turned to look at each other. "Go!" They shouted. "Between the two of us, Riley and I have 1,260 'A's'. Ha!" Topanga bragged. "That's remarkable, Topanga. Between the two of us, Farkle and I have 1,261 'A's'." Stuart told her. I don't know why she didn't use mean because I have more than Farkle. "Ha!" Farkle shouted. "Ha!" Stuart shouted.
Topanga turned to look at Cory intimidatingly. Cory screamed. "I had to, Topanga. He's a lot smarter than I am." Cory defended. "And Caroline is too." Topanga snapped; "But what's more important to me than anything, is that I have this guy. Come up here son." Stuart said. Farkle got up and walked up to the front. "Come up here daughter, Caroline." Topanga said. Riley and I got up and walked to the front. Topanga grabbed us and pulled us close. "Look how tall she is. She's been taller than me since the day she was born." Stuart pushed Farkle up to make him taller. "And Caroline has been smarter than me since she was five."
"Well very nice. Good for you guys. So this is what Career Day is really all about." Cory said. "Yeah, I love it every year." Maya said sarcastically. "Are you okay?" I asked. "I'm always okay." Maya replied. Riley walked over to Maya and grabbed her hand and pulled her over to us. Us three hooked our arms together and stood in front of Stuart and Farkle. "Yeah thanks." Maya said.
"So these are the three ladies you tell me keep chasing you, huh?" Stuart questioned. We all looked at Farkle is disbelief. "Please." Farkle whispered. "Yes sir, it is us." Riley replied and I nodded. "I'm not doing it." Maya whispered. Riley elbowed her in the side. "Yes sir, it is us." Maya repeated. "We hope that one day one of us will become lucky enough to be the future Mrs. Farkle Minkus and have many baby Minki."
"Why won't you two show your art?" Riley asked us as we sat at her bay window. "Because I'm fine believing that nothing much going to happen for me. Otherwise I'm full of hope. You hope for things, you get disappointed." Maya explained. "And I don't feel like doing it if my parents aren't here to see it." I told her. "What reason could your mom have for not showing up, Maya? You're right, I did expect her." Riley said. "And I didn't, see only one of us is disappointed." Maya replied.
"And only one of us will never let this go. You know that." Riley told her. "I don't expect out of life what you expect, Riley." Maya said. "What does she expect?" I asked. "She expects good things. She expects people to keep promises and people to show up." Maya answered. "You don't?" Riley and I questioned. "Riley, Caroline, I'm not one of those dreamers like you two are.
"If you mom saw your art, doesn't it make sense that she'd be proud of you?" Riley asked. "Yeah, it makes sense to you. Riley, you need to be okay with this. Do you understand that finally something is beyond your control? Look, I know you can't control you twisted need to fix people's lives." Maya told Riley. I had to agree with Maya on that. To prove Maya's point Riley fixed Maya's jacket and my blouse. "I'm begging you." Maya begged. Riley tucked a piece of Maya's hair behind her ear and put her hand on top of one another. Then when she tried to fix my hair, I quickly got up and ran to my room. I got into my bed and tried to stop the tears from flowing. Hearing Maya and Riley talk about Maya's mom is missing my parents. It's not like they're dead, but they decided to be with my brothers instead of me and it hurts. After a while of trying to stop crying I drifted off to sleep.
I was in Cory's class playing with my blouse. "The Korean War." Cory started. "Genghis Khan." Farkle said out of the blue. I turned and gave him a look. "What?" Cory asked in confusion. "I just wanted to see what would happen." Farkle told him. I nodded and turned back around in my seat. The door opened and a lady in a waitress uniform walked in.
"Hello, Cory Matthews. I am so sorry for interrupting." She said. "Oh no." Maya said. "Nothing to forgive Katy. Class, this is Maya's mother, Katy Hart." Cory introduced her to the class. I remembered going to the diner and seeing her. "Mom what are you doing here?" Maya asked. "It was yesterday." "Yesterday I was unable to attend your little job fair." Maya's mother told us. "Career day." Maya corrected.
"Yesterday I was trapped in my vehicle in the rushing flood waters of the mighty Colorado River!" She started telling us some story. "To make matters worse, I just found out I was about to have a baby any second. So I crawled myself through the sunroof and I said, "Let's do this thing." Then I commenced to deliver my own baby until I heard that wonderful, magical sound." She made a popping sound then mimics baby crying. "Mama? Are you my mama?" "Maya?" Riley and I questioned.
"Soap opera. She was auditioning for a soap opera." Maya told us. "Can you believe I didn't get it?" Maya's mother asked. "Yes." The class answered. Katy laughed. "Yes. I am an actress. Are there any questions I can answer for anyone?" She asked. Farkle raised his hand. "Ah yes, the Farkle." She called on Farkle. "Why are you wearing a waitress outfit?" Farkle asked. "Anyone else?" she asked avoiding Farkle's question.
This time Lucas raised his hand. "Yes, the pretty, young man right there." Katy called on Lucas. "Yeah, thanks. Um, why are you wearing a waitress outfit?" Lucas asked. "My dad says actors are a bunch of people who never grow up." Sarah pointed out. Katy chuckled then asked, "What does your dad do?" "He's a director." Sarah answered. "Is he? Well, I'm sure your father never gave me a job either, which is the real reason I wear this outfit every day. Well, I'll just be going now." Katy said. She turned and walked out of the room.
Riley then got up and walked out of the room after Katy. I shot Maya a sympathetic look before she got up and walked out of the room too. When I got home Riley tried to talk me into helping her with Maya and her mother's problem. I ignored her and went into my room, I didn't want to get in the middle of their problems because it didn't involve me.
"Drawing a woman's face is different than drawing a man's. Look for subtle differences. Ms. Kossal instructed. "The lips are different." "No matter what, don't get mad at me, okay." Riley told me and Maya. "We could never." Maya and I told her. Ms. Kossal turned her head. "To paint a young woman's lips, she needs to stop flapping them." "Because if I have a talent at all, it's this, so don't get mad at me." Riley told us. "We could never." We told her again.
"Because when the mouth is moving, it will affect all the sketches. And they will come out like this." Ms. Kossal held up two sketches of Riley with her mouth open. "Except for these two. You don't listen to a word I say, do you?" she asked me and Maya. "Uh, it's not because we're disrespectful." We told her. "It because you're artists. I'm glad you two decided to display your work. I got your notes in my teacher's box." Maya and I tilted our heads to look at Riley.
"That's the thing you're not supposed to get mad at." Riley told us. "The exhibit starts at 6:00. It's thrilling seeing your art displayed, you two won't regret it." Ms. Kossal told us. She walked out of the classroom. Maya and I walked closer to Riley. "You don't listen to a word we say, do you?" Maya asked. "I-It's not because I'm disrespectful. It's because you're artists." Riley defended. "Yeah? Then let us paint you something." I told her. Maya and I each grab a brush. Maya throws green paint while I through blue at Riley's face.
Everyone in the class noticed and ran out of the room. Riley gasped and sighed. "Maya, Caroline, I am your best friend and I will always do my best by you no matter what you say." Riley told us. She grabbed two paint brushes and dabs our faces with red paint. "And who named you the king of friendship?" Maya and I asked painting Riley's face blue and green. Riley chuckled and painted our faces red. "I did, I made myself the king of friendship. And this would be my first act as a king." She told us. She grabbed re paint with her hands and covered me and Maya in paint.
We started to fight by throwing paint at each other. "Why won't you leave this alone?" Maya and I asked. "I don't know how!" Riley exclaimed. "Whoa." Ms. Kossal exclaimed. She walked over to us. "Riley, this is the most authentic piece you've done all semester. Now clean it up. See you tonight Maya and Caroline." She leaves the classroom once again. "One other thing, I invited you mom." Riley told Maya. Maya handed Riley a bowl of purple paint. Riley took the bowl and sighed before dropping the paint on top of her head.
Maya and I were seated next to our painting which were right next to each other. We stood up and smiled at the parents who looked impressed by our work. I see Riley walking towards us with Farkle and Lucas. "How's it going?" Riley asked. "It's going fine." Maya answered. "It's okay." I added. "What does your mom think?" Riley asked. Maya gave Riley a confused look. "She never showed up?" Riley asked. "It's just you guys." Maya replied. "Are you telling me your mom never showed up?" Riley questioned in disbelief.
Maya shook her head. "No, but of course you did." Maya stated pointing at Cory and Topanga. "Hey, Maya, Caroline. Wow, you two really have some talent. Look at this place." Topanga said looking at Maya's painting. "And you two Caroline." "I bet it's got great mashed potatoes." Cory said looking at Maya's painting. "Look at that lady. Why can you only see half of her? And why is that family so far apart from each other?" Farkle asked. Lucas wrapped his forearms around Farkle's mouth from behind. "Oh." Farkle said in realization. Riley was about to leave when I stop her. "What Care?" she asked. "Let me come with you." Was all I said. She grabbed my hand and we walked out of the room.
Riley walked into the diner with me behind her. Some stranger bumped into Riley on his way out. "Get out of our way." Riley demanded angrily. The guy moves aside so Riley and I could walk up to Katy at the counter. "Did you think I wouldn't hunt you down?" Riley asked. "No, I was pretty sure you would. You want a tuna melt?" Katy said. "No, because we're supposed to be somewhere, and so are you." I told her. "You know all I do with Maya is disappoint her." Katy said as she walked around the counter and over to a table and we followed her.
"Here's what's funny, you not disappointing her at all. You're only disappointing us." Riley said motioning at me and her. I came to school and embarrassed her. I pretend I'm fancy, but I'm not." Katy started. She picked the money up. "I thought I had a good marriage, but I didn't. I pretend to have a career." She picked up the plate, "and it don't. I love that little girl and I won't pretend with her." Katy walked back to the counter and we followed her. "You need to go to her." Riley and I told her. Katy walked behind the counter and laughed.
"No, you saw what happens when I do. You need to go to her. You two need to go to her. Riley, Caroline, what do you dads do for a living?" She asked us. "Teacher." Riley answered while I said. "Business man." "And mom?" she asked. "Lawyer." Riley answered and I answered, "Surgeon." "And me?" Katy asked. "Actress." Riley and I answered.
"Waitress, Riley and Caroline. And people tend to stay at the same level as their parents, and I want more for her than coming home with those little arms of hers covered in pancake syrup. Maya's very lucky to have you two. Don't you think I don't know that? And I am offering you two a tuna melt to show you my gratitude. Yes or no?"
Riley and I walked back into the art room with the tuna melt. "Yeah, we even bought a drawing." Topanga said holding up a sketch. I looked and saw that it was a picture of Riley. "You have to wonder who this silly, little weirdo is." Riley opened her mouth widely. "Aw, that's our silly little weirdo." Topanga said. "Thank you for staying with Maya." Riley and I thanked them. "Always." Cory said before he and Topanga walked away.
"I couldn't get her to come and I'm very disappointed." Riley told Maya. "I know. You expect too much." Maya replied. "This is hard on me." Riley admitted. "You need a hug, darling?" Maya and I asked. Riley nodded and we pull her into a hug. "Maya, I was wrong." Riley said. "No, Riley, you were right." Maya said and I knew what she was talking about. "I'm very confused." Riley admitted.
"I showed my work. People liked it. It made me feel like I could be something someday." Maya said. "And it made me feel like I didn't have to have my family here to feel important." I added. "You will be. You are now. And your family is here." Riley said to Maya then to me. "Thank you, Riley." Maya and I said. "You're welcome. You want a third of a tuna melt?" Riley asked holding up the container. "You know why she gave this to you two?" Maya asked.
"Why?" Riley and I asked. "She knows it's my favorite thing there. She knew that you'd share it with me." Maya told us. "We'd be happy to give you the whole thing." Riley and I said. "I know you two would." Maya turned to look at her painting. "I'll be fine with half or a third." Maya, Riley, and I sat down with the tuna melt.
We were at the apartment eating desert with Maya, Farkle, and Stuart. "And Riley, for your excellence in your display of unwavering hope for others, I'm giving you an 'A'." Cory informed her. "Ha!" Topanga exclaimed. "What?" Stuart questioned. "Can he do that?" Farkle asked. "No you can't do that." Stuart said to Cory. "I does whatever she wants." Cory replied. "Yeah, so would I." Stuart stated.
"I come from a very talented family." Riley stated. "What am I talented at?" Auggie asked. "You're gonna find it someday, honey." Topanga told him. Auggie got up and walked into the living room. He started to sing in Italian while a spotlight shone on him. He stopped and said, "Nah." He walked back over to the table. We cheered for him and threw roses into the air. This is what having a family should feel like. Little did I know I was going to have a change in everything I knew.