The Fish Picture

 By Miles Springer

It was early in the school year of 1971 at Middle Gate School. Our kindergarten class made an art project. I’m not sure how it was done, but it was some kind of wax paper drawing done with crayons. The class was tasked with drawing an underwater picture complete with fish, seaweed, bubbles, and such. Some of the pictures were framed by the fifth grade classes using cardboard, and some of the pictures were hung on the wall in the classroom with staples.

I wish I could say that my drawing was one of the best, framed by the fifth graders, but it wasn’t very good. It was just hanging on the wall without a frame and I didn’t really give it much effort.

Our names were not on the pictures and when it came time to take them home. Mrs LaCava held them up and asked, “Whose is this?” As we recognized our artwork we collected them to take home.

Well, one of the better drawings, framed by the fifth graders was held up and nobody was laying claim to it. I waited and still no one said, “That’s mine.” So I spoke up, “That is mine!” I said.

Now the fifth graders took time to write Middle Gate School on the bottom of the drawing. When I got the drawing back to my desk, I took a black crayon and scribbled over the writing on the bottom thinking it might be the name of the real artist. I was only 5, and I could not read.

When my Mommy saw the wonderful drawing her precious little boy had made, she couldn’t say enough about how talented I was: I loved it.

She loved that picture so much that she had it put in a real frame complete with glass and a little hook on the back to display proudly on the wall in our living room on Huntingtown Road.

For years my mommy raved about that picture. I never told a soul about my little white lie. It wasn’t until after I was married and nearly 30 years old, I confided in my wife about this dark secret that I have carried all of my life. She tried talking me into confessing, but I was reluctant. So she kept insisting that I call my mom and tell her about my deception. I would be free of this guilt that has haunted me for so long. So I decided to tell my sister Mary, who, by the way, also had Mrs LaCava three years earlier. Well my sister thought it was quite funny, and that I should tell mom. Still I was reluctant.

A couple months had passed and I finally worked up the nerve or gave in to my wife who was insistent that I tell her. I made the call. I began to beat around the bush as I struggled to find the words. I told her that I had this secret since kindergarten. My mom interrupted me with this strange smile and said, “Miles, is this about the fish drawing?”

My sister Mary had called her two months earlier and told her the whole story. I don’t know how they kept a straight face for two months but my mom knew I was going to tell her soon. My sister Mary and my mom laughed until their sides hurt.

Now, this is a very common story in the family that everyone loves to tell and my two girls love to hear over and over.

(Miles Springer currently lives in Palm Harbor, Florida.)