Corky was immediately interested, because Art was his favourite lesson. Even his Mum had been impressed with his teacher's remarks on his last report - 'He shows real talent on this subject'. Sometimes as a treat she'd take the children to Trafalgar Square to feed the pigeons and he'd watch the pavement artists outside the National Gallery with their coloured chalks. He liked the ones who copied from old postcards of famous paintings and liked Barney's best, as his pictures came from his imagination. Corky had told him that one day and the old man had looked at him and smiled. 'S' right son. From inside 'ere' he'd said, pointing to his head.
On one occasion Corky remembered, it had begun to rain suddenly just when Barney was putting the finishing touches to his 'Castle of Dreams'. The old man had got up slowly and painfully from his knees and wrapped his chalks in a tattered woolly sock. Corky had known exactly how he must have felt and he cried with frustration and shook his fist at God. 'Why did you 'ave to do that? You've spoilt Barney's picture'.
Miss Wise read his thoughts. 'Nothing ever spoils pictures here' she said.
The children crowded round him, eager to show their efforts. Ming's was a landscape in pale colours. 'Makes me feel quiet that does' he said, 'like when I look at Gran's face'.
'Mine's funny' said Chubby. It was a portrait of a clown with a huge red nose and baggy trousers. 'It's Tumble and I'm going to give it to him as a present'.
Susan had painted a house and Corky's sharp eyes noticed that there were no curtains at the windows and, where the front door should have been, there was a space, 'Our windows are always open to the light' she explained 'and we don't need doors because everyone can come in any time just when they think they're wanted'
As Corky gazed at Bazu's painting of palm trees fringing a golden beach, he thought of the posters in the window of the travel agency which he used to stare at and imagine himself on Treasure Island eating coconuts and swimming in blue green water.
Tiny's wasn't a proper picture at all, he thought, with its muddled shapes. ' 'e must be barmy! Off 'is rockers! Wot's the point of a picture if no one can understand wot it's orl about? Better not tell 'im though or 'e might want 'is map back!'
'No I don't' said Tiny, and Corky jumped. He'd forgotten that his thoughts could be read. Miss Wise came to his rescue 'You're quite right Corky. When Tiny's been here longer, he'll put beauty into his pictures for his thoughts' will be different' she said.
Just then Chubby came towards Corky with a large sheet of stiff white paper. 'You draw something' he said, 'and use the rainbow pencils' suggested Bazu.
'But I don't know wot to draw' Corky protested.
'Anything that comes into your head' said Susan. 'Just close your eyes and think of something.'
Corky closed his eyes and thought hard. Suddenly an idea came to him and he took out the pencils. The others knelt round him on the smooth grass and watched in silence as the picture took shape. Corky didn't seem to have to make any effort at all and he knew exactly what colours to use.
'THERE!' he said after a few minutes. 'FINISHED!' He was as surprised as they were when he looked at it. 'Oh she's beautiful!' cried Susan. 'She looks like a queen', said Ming and the others joined in a chorus of praise.
He had painted a young woman with shiny auburn hair, dressed in a long velvet gown and she looked very happy.
'She's lovely' said Miss Wise, 'and d'you know why. Corky?'
'Cos she's my Mum of course'
'Not only that but you've seen her through the eyes of love and the power of love-thoughts is so strong it has made this picture'
'Cor! ' he replied and wondered what Barney would think of it and decided he'd be quite impressed.
'Perhaps you'd like to have it framed and to hang it on your wall' she suggested. 'Think about it.'
'But I 'aven't got no wall'
'Oh yes you have. You've four walls in your house'
'My 'OUSE?!' Corky exploded
At that moment Geraldine, who had been silently observing everything, suddenly said. 'Yes dear. You're a housekeeper, which means that you have a house for keeps. It hasn't a door but it's perfectly aDORable!' and she guff awed as she always did when she'd made a joke. 'Another surprise for you. Come on everybody. Let's show Corky where he lives!'
