Wishing for a Reason

It was funny to see Mona Lisa in Kate's cartoon character pajamas. The T-shirt she wore fitted her better. It read "Princess". Neither could match her fame but "princess" fitted her best.

Kate liked having Mona Lisa around. It was like having a big sister. She braided Mona Lisa's dark hair carefully. Kate sensed that she was deep in thought. "I just wondered," Mona Lisa said. "Why did you choose to paint me?"

Kate was finished braiding. She looked at the braid with a smile of satisfaction. Now, it was Kate's turn. Mona Lisa braided her blonde locks while Kate thought about the question.

"Well, it was an assignment," said Kate, slowly. "I hated the idea of imitating a painter's work. Why couldn't we make our own? Since I had to find one, the art teacher had some art books. I looked through them and your picture caught my eye. I just thought you looked happy with life."

Mona Lisa was still braiding. "Why did you paint me with a frown for the first painting?"

Kate was surprised that she noticed that about her painting. She was a little embarrassed. "I guess I got a little annoyed with the assignment. I think I was thinking more of it as work than something to learn from and put my heart into."

"I wonder what would have happened if Leonardo da Vinci thought that way," said Mona Lisa.

Kate said, "I wonder… Well, I have learned a lot since then."