The Art of Wag by Susan C. Daffron Read Free Book Online

“That’s true. So what’s for dinner?”
    “I know you’ve been eating that nasty packaged pasta stuff, so I’m gonna get some good Southern food into you. It will help your brain power. You just watch.”
    “At my place, we refer to that packaged pasta stuff as dinner.”
    Shelby paused in her kitchen organizing. “I know. And that’s just sad. So tonight we’re having black-eyed peas, greens, and my famous homemade corn bread. It’s good for you, and the total cost for both of us is less than five dollars.”
    “Greens? You know how I feel about vegetables.” Tracy picked up the evil bundle of leaves. “At least it’s not grits.”
    “This food is part of my heritage. And you know you love my corn bread.”
    “That’s true. It is amazing. You have won over countless men with that recipe. They date you just to get more of the stuff.” That and the fact that Shelby was beautiful in an elfin way. She had a round face and a sweet smile that seemed to turn men into a puddle of quivering gelatinous goo.
    “My grandma’s corn bread recipe is my secret weapon.” The corner of Shelby’s mouth turned up in a small, knowing smile. “You could learn a thing or two from watching me cook, you know.”
    “I suppose. I hope you’re right about my brain power too. Today I thought my brain would explode. Why do they make software so complicated? It’s like it’s out to get me.”
    Shelby poured some of the wine into two glasses and handed one to Tracy. “Cheers! Don’t think of the software as complicated. Think of it as empowering. Remember how you struggled with paints? You can’t erase paint with just a click.”
    “My apartment is ample proof of that. I’m hoping my mother doesn’t stop by. There was a cerulean blue incident that it’s probably better she not know about.”
    “So other than the software being complicated, did you enjoy the class?”
    “Sort of. At first, the guy I was sitting next to was afraid the instructor wouldn’t show.”
    Shelby tilted her glass toward Tracy. “Guy? Is there something you aren’t telling me?”
    “No. I tried to make myself look large like I needed the whole table to myself, but it didn’t work. He spotted the empty seat. I guess he was harmless enough. At least he wasn’t some art snob. I created a picture of Roxy that I thought was okay. The layering effects you can create are cool. Once I figured out how to do some stuff, the time flew by.”
    Shelby sipped her wine. “See! That’s great. You’re so talented. I wish you’d stayed around here and gotten an art degree.”
    “It wasn’t meant to be.” Tracy twirled the wine in her glass. It was a deep, rich burgundy color that almost looked velvety as it swirled around. “After I dropped out twice and pretty much flunked the biology program, effectively killing the idea of vet school, my father said there was no way he’d pay for any more college. And he told me an art degree would be useless as far as getting a job. You know I’ve never had enough money to try and go back myself. I can barely pay my tiny rent. Now, it all just seems pointless. I can paint by myself whenever I want, after all. So what do I need a degree for, anyway? Plus, I don’t miss the black-beret crowd.”
    Shelby shook her head. “It just bothers me that you didn’t pursue something you enjoy. That’s what school is for.”
    “Not according to my father.” Tracy put down her glass and leaned on the counter toward Shelby. “Oh, you’ll be amused to note, my instructor actually was wearing a black beret when she walked in. I almost laughed out loud!”
    “Maybe it’s a uniform. So you can pick artists out of a crowd. It’s like at home in Alabama where you can spot the biggest loser rednecks because they wear their baseball hats turned backwards. And then they’re shading their eyes with their hand. There’s some comedian who calls the backwards hat the “stupid sign.” All I know is that it’s helpful when