Chapter 20: Posing

On Monday afternoon, Anne was ready to leave the room. "Mary, you want to come to the figure class?'

"Watch you stand around bare ass for an hour? Sure, why not?'

At the Art School, the instructor, Henry, met them. "Ah, is this Mary Travis? Are you posing today? How are you, Anne?'

Mary laughed. "I hadn't planned to; I was going to watch Anne. But what the hell, why not?'

Mary went into the changing room, emerging shortly wearing the robe Anne had used. For Anne, it had been skimpy. For Mary, it looked silly.

"If you ask me, this robe is almost obscene. I'd feel better not wearing anything. If I do this again, should I bring my own?'

"Perhaps. I'm sorry, not many of our models are your size. That's why I'm glad you're willing to pose. We need practice with the extended form.'

"I think he means fantastic long legs, Mary. Sometimes he talks funny.'

"Well, I sure don't want to be accused of sexism, you know. Have to watch what you say.'

"Oh, I know I'm a long drink, and my legs are the reason. You know, when we sit down together, Anne and I are the same height.'

"You're right!' said Anne. "I hadn't really noticed, but you're right.'

"Another thing that's interesting about your legs is their strength. We don't often see such powerful legs.'

"I've been on a horse every day since I was six, Henry. That's where the muscles come from. I'll bet you like Anne's abs and shoulders, too.'

"You are both beautiful women. It's just that I like to give the students something challenging to draw. Yes, Anne, I admit I like your 'abs'. From the smooth but powerful musculature, I'd guess you are a swimmer.

"Everyone looks at you differently, ' Mary said. "Some people just see the breasts, some the legs or the ass. Interesting. Guess that, around here, Anne's Ms. Smooth. I'll be Ms. Legs.'

Anne laughed, "Speaking of smooth, have you noticed, Henry, that some of the students have given me pubic hair?'

Henry laughed. "Yes, I think some of them, the women particularly, are diffident about drawing the @mons#. I don't care about that, it's not important.'

The class was beginning and Henry set Mary a pose that focused on her legs and the balance between her legs and her strong, but more compact, upper body.

At the first break Mary walked around, looking at the work in process. In the corner, Anne spoke to Henry.

"Would it be all right if I asked the students to let me buy their work? I mean, maybe $10 a pop for the ones I like. And only ones of myself or Mary?'