You chat to the artist

Curious, you make your way towards the sketching girl admiring her as you approach. She's intent on her work and oblivious to your presence for the moment. She is evidently Asian, her porcelain features classically pretty, and with dark almond shaped eyes. Her raven hair is highlighted with a single streak of neon pink.

When she sees you she puts her pad aside and gets gracefully to her feet, giving you a little head bob of deference. She doesn't appear in the least alarmed by your appearance, but seems to be evaluating you carefully.

"Good afternoon Mr. Sharpe," she says with a melodic voice.

"Good afternoon. I'm afraid you have me at a disadvantage."

"Excuse please?" she says with a puzzled frown.

"I don't know your name."

"Oh, I see. I am Ami Lee. I come here to sketch because the light is so pretty." she gestures to the placid lake.

"May I see?"

"Not much is done, but yes you may see. It is a poor effort so far."

She picks up her sketchbook and passes it to you. The sketch is anything but a poor effort, at least in your inexpert judgement. She has used coloured pencils to capture the subtleties of light on the water with great skill. It's clearly unfinished, but it's very good.

"This is excellent," you praise her, turning a page in the sketchbook and hearing her gasp. You look at her and see her face flushing with what appears to be embarrassment, then glance down at the page you've turned to.

This is a cartoon, rather than a sketch. It depicts a handsome athlete in a baseball uniform, his shoulders impossibly broad, his crotch bulging. He is surrounded by kneeling, worshipful schoolgirls, all of them looking at him with adoring eyes. As you look closer you see that one of the kneeling figures is not dressed as a schoolgirl but in an austere grey suit, and is a very recognisable likeness of Headmistress Naylor. Frowning in puzzlement, you turn another page and find a cartoon of a drunk sprawled in an alley, a bottle in one hand, his other groping at a disgusted schoolgirl. You glance from the drawing to Ami and see her bow her head in shame, before turning the page to see another study of the lake.

Turning back to the cartoon of the baseball player you tap it with one finger, smiling as you look at Ami.

"Is this meant to be Coach Watts? And this one here is the headmistress isn't it?"

"Yes Sir. Some of us, the girls that arrived early, were having party and chat in our rooms. We were talking about new men teachers, and being silly girls, saying silly things. I always carry a sketchbook, and I made cartoons as we talked. I do that. Too much says Mrs. Sommersby-Walker."

"So you were all gossiping, and you drew these?" you chuckle. "None of me or the Dean though. What did you girls gossip about?"

"That Mr. Carter was a drunk, and Mr. Watts was handsome and a famous player of baseball. Not much was said of you sir, and I did not make cartoon of you. There was a cartoon of the Dean, but it was taken."

"I see. And why is Ms. Naylor in the cartoon?"

"Margot said that Ms. Naylor had made a speech to the softball players and said how lucky they were that he would coach them. She said the headmistress..." her voice trails off to nothing before she takes a deep breath and continues. "That Ms. Naylor was 'creaming her panties' talking about him," she blushes harder and gives an embarrassed giggle. "It was silly girl talk sir. That's all. I'm sorry I made the cartoons."

You look at the pretty Chinese girl, taking in the sincerity of her contrition. Her exotic beauty also registers on you, and you note her swelling breasts under her shirt, and her well formed legs extending beneath her plaid skirt.

"I'm very disappointed not to find a picture of myself," you chuckle, handing her sketchpad back. "I would have hoped I'd be as worthy a subject as the other teachers."

"It is just that the girls did not gossip about you Sir. They knew little about you before you came."

"And now that you've seen me?" you smile with a raised eyebrow.

"You are a handsome man," she blushes. "Like the others. Four very handsome men."

"Well perhaps you'll find me worth sketching sometime."

"These are cartoons, not sketches Sir. But I would be happy to make sketch of you. You have interesting face."

"Thank you Ami. So do you. A very pretty face."

"Thank you Mr. Sharp. That is kind."

"So when do you plan to do this sketch? And do I have to pose, or will you do it from memory? I'm very curious to see how I look to your eyes."

"I can do cartoon anytime, but I do not know what to make cartoon of. If you wanted me to sketch you, it would be better if you posed. It works better for me."

"Excellent. For me too. Why don't you come by my cottage after my class? We could do it then?"

"Yes, I would be happy to Sir, thank you for not being angry about silly cartoons."

"I'm not the subject of them. It would be up to Mr. Carter and Coach Watts to be upset if they want to. Are you going to show them?"

"No Sir, unless they ask. Are you going to tell them?"

"None of my business Ami," you smile. "See you after class."