Nine

Sarah was attracted to “The Child’s Bath” from the moment Miss Benedict hung the painting on the wall. Never had she seen skin so smooth and glowing as that of the naked child sitting in her mother’s lap. It reminded her of Sammy when he was a baby getting a bath. She had been enchanted by the glowing roundness of his arms and legs, the dimples in his plump knees, the pink toes perfect as beads on a string.

Miss Benedict began to talk, “It was only when the American artist Mary Cassatt moved to France that she was given recognition as a fine artist. So I was particularly happy when she was one of two American women chosen to paint a mural for the grand entrance to the Woman’s Building at the World’s Columbian Exposition. If any of you are going to visit the Fair, I hope you will take the time to view the mural.”

Excitement light as butterfly wings made Sarah smile to herself. She might go to the Fair!

At the end of the class, Bianca had to rush away to take care of her little brother. Sarah stayed to look at the painting a while longer. Miss Benedict came and stood beside her. Sarah didn’t move. After a moment, she turned and smiled at her teacher. Miss Benedict returned the smile, and Sarah left for home feeling that they’d had a wonderful conversation about Mary Cassatt.