Heartsong (Logan 2)

remark.

"How he conducts himself is his business, not

mine," Kenneth replied. "Let's not talk about him. It

puts me into a bad mood," he said and then turned to

me. "Just as you've been told, digging up the past is

only going to revive unhappiness and we have enough

to contend with in the present.

"Besides,"- he added, "you're my special model

now. I don't want you co

ming around with a long, sad

look on your face. I want you fresh, lovely, and

curious about yourself, not others. Concentrate on our

concept when you're with me," he added as we drew

closer to his house and studio.

"You're the one who asked me about the

weekend," I shot back.

He thought on that and then nodded.

"You're right." He held up his hand. "I'm guilty,

which shows you, even I can be tempted into the wrong frame of mind. I'll make a pact with you," he said as he pulled into the driveway. "I won't ask you any questions about your private life and you won't ask me any about mine. We'll just be in the world of

art, okay?"

"Art isn't a world separate from the real world,"

I said, my eyes narrow, my gaze fixed and

determined. "Ideas, images, colors all come from your

experiences, don't they?"

He stared silently at me, a friendly, almost

loving glint coming into his eyes before he smiled. "You're quite a kid," he said. He said it with

such admiration and pride, I had to blush. "Okay,

you're right. But we'll do our best. Deal?" He

extended his hand. I stared at it a moment. He wanted

me to swear to be silent, to lock up my thoughts and