Artist and Model make an appearance in prose! Have to get my head into serious study leave this week, so this may be my last post for a wee while... but I will be lookin in! :)) Kate xx

KARMA CHAMELEON


They sat together on the floor, backs pressed against the sofa, getting drunk on cheap South American red wine and munching Doritos. He braided her hair, painted her eyes cat-like, put his Stetson on her head and called her Boy George. Helpless with laughter, they raised their voices and sang out "Karma, karma, karma, karma, karma Cha-meee-leon".

But then, cutting her hair was a mistake; bubbles of mirth evaporated with each press of cold steel against the peachy flesh of her forehead. The plaits had been shaken out and the softly curling lengths of her hair fell to the floor like streams of moonlight.

The next day she was angular and edgy, tiredness circling her eyes and casting her whole face into shadow. He sketched her leaning heavily against the table; in silhouette against the frame of the window; and Plath-like, her long neck in a black polo sweater, arms folded across her chest. Hard, straight lines in monochrome. Distant and listless.

Her hair, still carpeting the floor, glowed warm in the evening light. He rescued a tiny lock and taped it to a very fine paintbrush. He dipped it into her favourite colour, carmine, and softly stoked it across her cheek.

Angles melted as they lay sinuous together, bathed in her waves. They journeyed to Rio, moving in overlapping circles and painting again a carnival canvas.