9: Inspiration

9: Inspiration by *KP-chan



I sat in my drawing pad, trying my best to get the picture right. Something’s missing. Gah! This is hopeless. Negative thoughts kept entering my head as I crushed the paper and threw it over my head. I sighed in frustration as I grabbed a new piece of paper. My pencil was nearly out of lead, so I had to refill it. I sketched the same drawing again, but it keeps leading me into an art block. Why is this happening to me? I see the picture in my head, so why is it not turning out right when I draw it?

I tapped my pencil, grabbing my hair as a habit when thinking when suddenly; I felt a light breathing on my right shoulder. I looked at the corner of my eye, only to catch a glimpse of an optic. I yelped out of surprise as the person did as well. I did a double look, only to find a young stitchpunk, garbed in black and white stripes with a black key hanging around his neck. His feet were made of wood; his hair messy and charred yarn; his optics uneven; but, his fingers were of pen nibs that gave him an artistic ability.

“6! You surprised--! Wh-where are you doing—what brings you here?” I stuttered on my words, covering up my artwork. He hid part of his face in front of a piece of paper he was holding. This unsure doll looked at me and then the ground back and forth.

“Uh…I…” He spoke quietly. 6 seemed nervous sometimes when talking to people. He spoke in small words that somehow he knows what he’s talking about, but no one else does. I always tried to encourage him to speak loudly, however. It never works…

“What’s up, 6? You obviously came up here for something.” I told him.

“Not…something…” He spoke again. I tilted my head in confusion. Suddenly, he handed me the paper he was holding abruptly. “Gift…for you…”

I took the paper from him gently, and looked at it. It was a drawing, but not just any drawing. It was art. This is what I meant by his artistic ability. He may speak in small words, but his art work speaks big. It was a lily flower, given with shading and light. He normally draws in black, but with this; it had a little of color to it. I glanced over at 6’s hands. They were holding his key that was tight around his neck. His pen nib fingers were coated with black, green, and soft yellow. More black got stained on his outfit, as well as over his face. I looked back at the picture and smiled.

“Oh, 6! This is beautiful. Did you do all of this?” I asked cheerfully. His head perked up.

“Yes…all day…make it perfect…” He replied.

“Perfect? Well, 6, you should keep this. You’ve worked too hard to give it away.”

“No! I want it…perfect for you…to keep…”

I looked at the picture, and then back at 6. I smiled warmly. “Thank you, 6. I’ll treasure it.”

“Kiara…inspiration…to me…”

I gave out a giggle and ruffled his hair, blacking my hand, but I didn’t care. “Man, you’re too adorable, you know that?”

6’s shoulders tensed, and then relaxed. He looked at me and gave me a small smile. Wait, that smile. Could it be…?

“THAT’S IT!!!” I shouted, nearly scaring 6 out of his body. I rushed back to the drawing pad, and drew. It was it; the missing puzzle piece! I put down my pencil, and looked at my drawing. “Success! It’s perfect!” I beamed with joy. 6 looked at me in confusion. I looked back at him with joy. “You know what my inspiration is, 6?” He shook his head. “I’ve been trying to draw a new family member that I hold dear to my heart. He’s kind, sweet, and has a beautiful gift that very few understand. I love him very dearly, and I want to make him feel welcomed into my family. You see, he’s my inspiration.”

I giggled and handed the paper to him, in which I rolled up. “This…is my gift to you.”

“Wh-why?” 6 asked.

“I wanted to make it perfect for you.” I ruffled his hair again. “Get some sleep, Lil’ Bro. You’ll need it.” I then walked off to my bedroom, but stopped at a corner. Looking back, 6 opened the paper. I couldn’t tell his expression, but he held the paper close to his body after a look of it. I smiled. I hoped he liked it. The picture tells a story of a little stitchpunk named 6 who had a cute smile, and was surrounded by my father, my mother, my sister, and me. Imprinted on the bottom were small words, saying:

                                                  To my Lil’ Bro, 6.
                                             Welcome to the family.