Andy's lesson

Andy paused and stepped back to look at his painting. He wanted to depict a cluster of mountains at the eve of a sunset. 

“So far so good .”He thought. 

Anyone could tell what it was but it still had not come out the way he wanted. Frustrated, he decided a break was necessary. He went outside and took a seat. As he inhaled the fresh air, the beautiful scenery as well as the chirping of birds echoing through the air he reflected back. 

He had just come from a long trip. It had been a rollercoaster. Andy had always wanted to be an artist. He fantasized being as renowned as Pablo Picasso or Leonardo da Vinci. Making tonnes of money in the process .So rich he could have anything he wanted Lamborghini, mansion, clothes and travel to exotic places he heard about. 

His talent was obvious to everyone ever since he was a boy. Among his peers his art always stood out like a sore thumb. All this praise might have gotten to his head a little because he believed that he was the best. However, he had a rude awakening when he discovered the real world. The competition was stiff other artists to him were on another level. Their paintings were so incredible that some seemed beyond human! 

The shock was so sudden that it had a negative impact on him. All around him he felt he was too amateur while almost everyone had mastered it. Was he too late? He doubted if he could ever reach such feats. Ideas did rush to his head time and again. This had him begin with vigor only for the flame of desire to fizzle out before he could get the final result. 

Soon he lost all enthusiasm for it. With life's problems and needs beckoning him he shelved all his dreams and focused on other things like his job. One evening his friend Anthony called. 

“Hey Andy long time no see. “He chuckled. 

“Wow Anthony its been quite a long time! “Andy remarked. 

After chatting a little Anthony told him to come and visit him. The news could not have come at a better time. Andy was excited, he had fond memories of them when they were younger. Every time they met it was nothing but fun. 

Anthony came from a family whom with one glance you could tell they were full of opulence. Anthony was a little envious of his friend because he had the best clothes, toys and was among the popular guys in school. Andy’s story was a bit different, even though he technically didn’t come from a poor background he sort of felt like it when compared to other kids. Anthony was unique, he wasn't arrogant due to his family’s riches. He was actually the one who befriended Andy. Besides both their names beginning with letter A they soon realised they had a lot in common and became inseparable. 

After a while Anthony relocated to another country. That’s where they lost touch. 

Andy landed at the airport. His six hour flight felt like centuries. He wasn’t a huge fan of flying but when his back was against the wall he had to suck it up and just do it. 

He got a cab and instructed the driver to go to his friend's address. Off they went. Andy took in the scenery. It was very different from where he came from. The larger than life buildings that formed the concrete jungle, the a thousand and one shops, malls, cafe’s… all enticing people to purchase something from their stores. In every corner people were bombarded with advertisements! He wondered how one could live in such a city. 

They soon arrived ;boy was the house huge! It felt majestic as though he was entering a palace fit for a King! Surrounded by a nice emerald carpet grass dotted with trees here and there. 

Anthony came to welcome him. Andy received a bear hug. Anthony took some of his bags to the house. They had a lot to catch up to. Anthony told him everything that had transpired in his life and talked for hours he didn't realize that time had gone by. When he did, he turned his attention to his friend. 

“So how had life been? “Anthony asked gleefully. 

“I’ve been good. Can’t complain. “Andy replied. In reality his life was uneventful some could say boring. He always feared letting others know that there wasn’t any worthwhile stories he could narrate. 

“What about Sarah?” Anthony teased .

“What about her? “Andy tried to brush it off. 

“Dude, you had eyes for her since highschool. Please tell me you took your shot!”

“Well … “ Andy was lost for words.

“Oh no, don't tell me you haven't!“Anthony let out. He reminded him how awkward he always got whenever she was around. Andy never thought it was that obvious and they both burst into laughter.  

Anthony told him that he had organized a nice adventure for them with his other friends. 

“What do you mean other friends? You didn’t tell me that!” Andy said. 

“Even if I did, would you have not come? “Anthony shot back. 

Andy fell silent. It was true. That night the others arrived. There was Tim, he was black American with piercing brown eyes. He seemed a really cool guy, there was Maxwell but he preferred to be called Max the real party animal and the twins Renee and Nadia. For a while, Andy was dumbstruck by their beauty. He couldn’t believe that it was happening to him again! 

“No not this time! “He reassured himself but when his gaze fell on Anthony he saw him grinning ear to ear. 

“Damn he can tell!”he thought. 

They went on a yacht ;drunk wine, swum in the sea and partied like there was no tomorrow. The following morning they woke with a hangover and saw it best to relax for a while. 

They then went horse riding. Where Tim and Max acted like the sheriffs while Andy and Anthony acted like they were outlaws kidnapping the damsels .They did a "cowboy dance "and even tried to see who could stay on the bucking bronco the longest. Renee won the contest surprisingly. They took some shooting lessons and Tim had the most accurate shots. They felt he cheated because hit wasn't his first time. 

The group later went for bungee jumping. Anthony came up with the idea they make a video pretending that they were saying goodbye to everyone in their lives and committing "suicide". 

Everyone made their video but Maxwell's was the most memorable. 

“Goodbye cruel world! He pretended to sob. To Sarah (his ex)I hope you get dumped like you dumped me, to my dad, jokes on you! You said I wouldn’t be anything in life! Well I made it! To dear Anthony you still owe me five bucks! ...” They let out some laughter. Andy had tears of laughter. The guy was really comical and should've tried comedy. 

Andy faced his fear that day. His heart was pumping and for a second regretted making that video. It felt so real that maybe he could have died! He didn't want to show his fear though. They went on a hiking trip and camped out in the wild. Nadia was finding it difficult to cope with no cell phone and internet but Renee was enjoying every second of it. She was an outdoor person. 

Tim was into Nadia. From Andy's observation there was something going on with those two. Later he mustered the courage went and asked Tim how he did it. 

Tim told him that in life he has to take a chance and see the outcome. 

“You may never know until you get a spine and say something !”he told him. “Either it will work out or not but I would rather try than not at all! ”

After their camping trip they decided to try a certain club. It had recently come to the area. They had a blast. The music was loud ,everyone was dancing to the beat. Tim danced with Nadia, Maxwell was in his element. He was way crazier than normal. Renee was with Anthony and Andy was struggling to blend in. He wasn't used to this. They drunk engaged in silly thing ands and dares until they decided to call it a night. 

In the morning they had to come back.

“Can’t we just stay a little longer? ” Max pleaded. 

“Sorry but it’s over we have to go back home. “Anthony said. 

“Dude, there will be a next time don’t sweat it. “Tim interjected. 

“I don’t know if there will be a next time. ” Anthony said grimly. 

“Why not? ” Andy asked. 

It was then that Anthony disclosed that he had cancer. The news hit them with a shock.. 

“So this is like your last farewell? ” Renee asked .“Why didn’t you tell us? ”

Anthony told them he didn’t want a pity party but to spend time with his close friends should it be his last. If he told them from the onset the trip wouldn't have been as fun as it was. Anthony was right. They came back from the trip though with a sombre mood. They vowed to support him in any way they could. 

Weeks later they were visiting him in hospital. Anthony was a shadow of a man he used to be. He looked so weak and was holding on to dear life. They wanted to help him in any way possible but alas they were powerless against the illness. 

“Hey Max I still owe you five bucks! ” Anthony said. 

They giggled amidst the sobbing. He appreciated everyone for their support and told them that he wished he had more time. He deeply regrets not what he did, rather everything he never did. He had wasted his life doing meaningless things and postponed some of his plans. 

Andy found himself in his friend’s funeral. It was a dark gloomy day, the weather reflected their mood as it drizzled. Mirroring the tears being shed that day. They threw the soil onto the coffin as his body was laid to rest. They wept  Tim, Max the twins as well as Andy consoled Anthony's family and reminisced about their trip together. 

On his return Andy watched the video from the trip with tears running down his cheek. It dawned on him how precious life is and  how it can slip at our hands. We are never guaranteed tomorrow. All we have is today, that's why it's the present. Andy made a promise to himself that day to be bold in life. He would pursue his dreams while he still could. 

He finished the painting and applied for a competition. He didn’t win but Andy decided that that wouldn’t be the end of him. He would work on bettering himself day by day.