Encouraging Drawings Novels & Stories

The pages contained enthusiastic attempts at houses, bridges, trees, and tiny figures standing beneath impossibly large clouds. “They are lovely.” The girl looked unconvinced. “They are crooked.” “They are curious.” Elena smiled. “And curious drawings become better every time you make another one.” She spent several minutes talking with the child about observing windows, doors, and the spaces people shared rather than worrying about making every line perfect. When the girl finally ran back toward her waiting mother, she carried the sketchbook with renewed confidence. Adrian watched her disappear into the crowd. “You always know what to say.”

A small drawing desk in the corner, crayons scattered across it, a few papers with colorful scrawls. I stepped in slowly. On the wall, drawings were taped up. A child's drawings — a house with a triangular roof, a sun in the corner with rays drawn as straight lines, a tree with round red fruit. Then I saw it. One drawing in the middle. Three figures standing hand in hand. The small one in the middle, in a dress with long hair. A woman on the left. On the right, a man in a black suit.

"Your uncle’s feeling a bit weak today." She drew a shocked breath as if I'd said something blasphemous. "So, it’s true! Mommy said you got hurt being stupid again." I swallowed a sigh. "Did she, now? A more restrained shuffle came behind her, and Emilio entered more cautiously. His arms were full of what looked like half a dozen drawings. "I drew things for you, Uncle" he mumbled. "Did you?" I said as I took the pages and looked at them. His drawings were a mix of smudged markers, lots of red, and some vaguely tank-shaped blobs. I smiled even though it didn’t make sense. "This is just what I needed."

Adrian would throw a tantrum if he saw me in this position, so I stood and leaned against the door. He nodded enthusiastically. “This one has more details.” I took the drawing from him, my chest tightening in the softest way. It was another image of us again. Four figures this time. Adrian, me, Ollie… and a slightly bigger circle where the baby was. There were tiny lines now, little attempts at arms and legs. “It’s growing,” he explained seriously, pointing at the paper in my grip. “So I made it bigger.” “That’s very accurate,” I say, my voice gentler than I expect.

I come before I can get to the fun part again, but I don't even regret it because it was way more fun than watching human porn. I think Laurent is on to something with these little drawings, they work.

“Please choose the most beautiful drawing!” "Of course! But I’ll be fair, okay?” I replied, winking at her. “So, who’s ready to get started?” "I!" they all shouted at the same time, and soon we were all sitting on the floor, with papers and pencils everywhere. “Just don’t forget to sign your drawings!” I said, watching them focus. Their joy was contagious, and I felt so happy to be there in that house full of love and laughter.

When Elaine walked closer, Ellena reached out to touch her head and said, "Daddy also thinks that you painted well." Elaine heard Ellena's words and looked up at her little bun like face. She looked at her in a daze. Did Daddy praise her just now? "Father just thinks that you drew well and you must continue to work hard! Come on!" Ellena made a gesture of encouragement to her. Elaine also followed suit and made a gesture of encouragement. Then she giggled. It was good to be a child. She did not know anything. A few words of coaxing could make her happy for a long time.

Two elders, a male and a female on the edge, both holding the hands of a small child in the middle. Since Anita came to know about how talented Lauren was in drawing, She had talked her into helping her daughter out. Alexa loves drawing and painting but she wasn't excellent in it but since Lauren intervened-- teaching her all that she needed to know, including tips and tricks to be better at drawing and painting-- Alexa had really improved. "That's you on the left Uncle Stanley" Alexa pointed to the male-like figure. "This is you, aunt Lauren." She pointed to the female like figure on right.

It was barely visible. Aurelia knew that children’s drawings often spoke more honestly than their words. But once again, she held herself back. Asking too quickly might make Caca close up even more. “Your drawing is really great, Ca. Maybe I’ll take it home later and put it on my wall.” Caca seemed a little happier. “Okay…” That afternoon they did not study math or reading. They just drew, colored, and occasionally laughed when the marker ink stained their hands. But even though Caca smiled, her eyes still held clouds. Like an evening sky pretending to be clear when rain was already on the way.

Drawn by a four-year-old with the fluency of someone who had not known it. I put the drawing on my desk next to the others. Three drawings now. The first one from January when Calla was three. The second from July at four. This one from October. A record of a child growing into her fluency. Each drawing more detailed. Each one shows the web with greater clarity. Each one is evidence of the native generation becoming what they were. Kael looked at the new drawing that evening. He stood at the desk for a long time. Then he said, “She drew every node.”