Dream Vibes Part 1 " Oil Paintings"

 Eric wants to be like his father so bad. See, his father was a teacher of the arts, at least that's the story he told people. Erics dad would have events and seminars at various colleges in the Southern California area providing knowledge to young adults about the "fundamentals" of oil painting, how to hold the brush at a particular angle to get the image just right. Eric wasn't allowed to acknowledge his dad during these seminars. He was told to sit in the back and refer to him as Brian, like the rest of the audience. See, Brian was rich and single. He had an image, he wore a tailored suit, drove a 2021 Tesla and lived in a 3 story home on the top of the Baldwin Hills.  As far as anyone knew, Eric was his little nephew tagging along. And it was always that way, for as long as he remembered. Eric knew his father did more than "just paint", he knew his father had a darker and sinister side, he just didn't know what that was. As a smaller child, Eric often told his dad " Daddy, I want to be just like you". Before he could even finish his sentence, his dad would abruptly tell him " No, son, I'm not who you think I am".  Each year, the same statement is made and still, Eric has no idea what his father really does. At this point, he's wasted his life trying to figure this secret out that he wasn't a child. He missed out on a lot and it seemed like years were minutes. The next thing he knew he was a senior in High School with no date to the homecoming dance. The girl he's only ever liked is walking down the stairs of the CSU library with her older sister exploring her future school. Eric sparks up a conversation with her and asks her if she's going to homecoming with which she replies with a yes. That means she has a date right? No girl that pretty and chill goes alone. Eric replies with a " oh that's cool, maybe I'll see you there". In his mind, he was hoping to ask her out but his mind and mouth didn't seem to go to the same meeting because that was not what he wanted to say. By the time he realizes that he messed up, she says bye and walks away with her sister. Brian was done with his class about 20 minutes or so but stayed in the classroom to chop it up with a few young women. Eric looks on with astonishment and admiration and only wishes he would be smooth like his daddy. 

--- Oil Painting by Oresegun Olumide