One Horn to Rule Them All: A Purple Unicorn Anthology by Lisa Mangum & Kristin Luna & Colette Black & Mark Ryan & Gama Ray Martinez & Nathan Barra & Robert J. McCarter & Nathan Dodge & Ezekiel James Boston & Lou J. Berger & Scott Eder & Peter S. Beagle & Mary Pletsch & Todd McCaffrey & Jody Lynn Nye & John D. Payne & Jeanette Gonzalez & Sharon Dodge & Quincy J. Allen & Megan Grey & James A. Owen

Author:Lisa Mangum & Kristin Luna & Colette Black & Mark Ryan & Gama Ray Martinez & Nathan Barra & Robert J. McCarter & Nathan Dodge & Ezekiel James Boston & Lou J. Berger & Scott Eder & Peter S. Beagle & Mary Pletsch & Todd McCaffrey & Jody Lynn Nye & John D. Payne & Jeanette Gonzalez & Sharon Dodge & Quincy J. Allen & Megan Grey & James A. Owen [Mangum, Lisa & Luna, Kristin & Black, Colette & Ryan, Mark & Martinez, Gama Ray & Barra, Nathan & McCarter, Robert J. & Dodge, Nathan & Boston, Ezekiel James & Berger, Lou J. & Eder, Scott & Beagle, Peter S. & Pletsch, Mary & McCaffrey, Todd & Nye, Jody Lynn & Payne, John D. & Gonzalez, Jeanette & Dodge, Sharon & Allen, Quincy J. & Grey, Megan & Owen, James A.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781614751922
Amazon: 1614751927
Publisher: WordFire Press
Published: 2014-08-11T04:00:00+00:00

The Girl with the Artist’s Eyes

Nathan Barra

I had given up on subtly glancing at my watch an hour before, about the same time I’d sweat through my red-and-white Comic-Con staffer’s shirt. ¿Dónde estás, George? I thought, as I paced across the washed-out carpet that marked the entrance of the Olympia Convention Center’s basement Exhibitor’s Hall. Please, make good on your promise.

Having bolstered myself with thoughts of Papi, I had braved the labyrinth of the black-cottoned souk, searching through books and buttons, crafts and comics, collector’s pieces and geeky paraphernalia until I found a Makoto Shinkai art print. Papi loved his work, and Shinkai was a guest at the Con. If I could get away fifteen minutes early and haul some serious tail, I could, in theory, catch the legend himself after a panel and beg an autograph.

Elbow-to-eyebrow crowds were a tradition for the Saturday of Olympia Comic-Con. Though record-breaking attendance was good for the Con, all wasn’t so bueno for the chica too broke to buy a full Con pass. Papi had offered to cover my convention pass in apology for not being able to make it this year, but I had refused. Being the door guard for the Exhibitor’s Hall on Con Saturday was a rough gig, but I had grown out of being his geeky little princess who drew her own comic books for fun. I wanted to work for my own way, even if that meant keeping the crowds from congealing and blocking the flow of the convention’s financial heart’s blood.

Truth was, he needed the money as badly as I did. Yeah, I had double jobs as a barista and at the art store, but Papi had the new baby my stepmother had given him. Perhaps, in hindsight, I should have caved and let Papi, or my oldest friend, George, pay my way.

When I heard the sound of a large, angry dog barking behind me, I nearly wet myself. As I spun to face the beast, I threw a hook kick where I estimated its head should be, but only managed to stagger George. He was tall, with the mesh of unwieldy limbs and budding muscle that signaled an end to his growth spurt. He was a ginger, except for his pale amber eyes, which glistened with mixed amusement, and to my pride, pain. “What was that for, Catalina?”

“For being a jerk,” I said, punching his shoulder for good measure. “You know how I feel about dogs.”

He grinned and straightened, rubbing his hip. “For sure, but that’s what makes it fun, chica.” He dodged my next smack and bent to pick up his phone.

It had only been a sound clip. My heart still raced though. “I hope you broke your screen.”

“Hey, no need to be hateful.” Standing, he pocketed the phone and held out his fist. “No hard feelings, eh? Especially since I am relieving you early and all.”

Rolling my eyes, I obliged him, bumping fists. “Of course not, mi hermano gringo.”

“If you would pardon me, Citizens,” an unfamiliar voice interrupted, “but I am seeking Stan Lee.