Saige Paints the Sky Page #3

Everyone at school will know.

I'm talking, like,

the whole city.

How would

the whole city find out?

Hello! My mom's

a reporter for The Post!

I don't know

if we need to get...

Really? That's awesome.

I'll bet I can

get her to do, like,

a press conference

or something.

We'll get a ton of attention!

Now it's like a real protest.

Is that okay with you, Saige?

Um.

Sure. That does sound good.

Cool. So I'll talk

to my mom right away.

She knows so many reporters.

Okay, so what

we'll have to do is

we'll have to tell

everybody to wear beige.

And then we'll

have to talk about why

we love music

and art so much and why...

Rembrandt.

Hey, Saige! Wait up!

Hey.

I saw you from

the window walking your dog.

What's his name?

Rembrandt. And it's more like

Rembrandt was walking me.

He's been

freaking out ever since

he came to stay with

us after Mimi's fall.

It's just like

he wants to be home with her.

I'm sorry, Saige.

It's okay.

I just wish she could come

see the Day of Beige.

Even though Dylan took over the whole

thing and made it all about her.

Yeah, Dylan's pretty intense.

And a press conference?

The last thing I want to do is talk

in front of a bunch of reporters.

Yeah,

but it's still a good idea.

If Dylan's mom can get

us all the publicity,

it'll all be worth it, right?

Yeah. I guess so.

What's wrong? Are you okay?

Yeah, I'm fine.

We'd better get going.

We have a protest

to get ready for, right?

Right! Come on.

Help save the art program.

On Monday, wear only beige.

Help save the art program.

On Monday, wear only beige.

Help save the art program.

On Monday, wear only beige.

Wear beige and protest.

Wear beige on Monday.

Okay.

Almost everyone's

wearing beige now.

Great!

Good morning. What's this?

Okay. This is gonna be awesome.

Hey. Get rid of the green.

Oh.

Great.

Morning.

Come on.

Will the following students

please report

to Principal Laird's office?

Saige Copeland, Tessa Jablonsky,

Gabi Pea and Dylan Patterson.

I'm sure you all know

why you're here.

Are we in trouble?

That depends.

I'm hoping you can give

me some clarification.

Why are reporters

calling my office

asking me about an

after-school press conference?

Um.

And how does

this relate to the fact

that the majority of the student

body is wearing beige today?

I have to admit, the lack of

color is a little depressing.

So what gives?

Would you believe it's the

weirdest coincidence ever?

Go ahead. You can explain it.

Well, um, we kind of meant

for it to be depressing.

That's right. To show how the

world would be without art in it.

I guess you could

call it a protest.

I appreciate your enthusiasm,

and I agree with you that art

and music are important.

But I've fought

this battle before,

and I don't think a press

conference will help.

But we have to try, don't we?

Artists never give up.

The causes most

worth fighting for

are the ones you're

not sure you can win.

I just wish you girls had let

me know about this in advance.

We're really sorry. We

should have asked you first.

Yes, you should have.

And since you didn't, I really

should cancel that press conference.

But, I have to say,

I'm pretty impressed

with what you've done.

Really?

I am.

And if...

If I let this happen,

do you promise

never to do anything.

Like this again

without permission?

Mmm-hmm. Mmm-hmm.

Okay, then you can go ahead

with the press conference.

Okay! All right, girls!

Now, go. Get back to

class, all of you.

Thank you, Principal Laird.

I didn't think so many

people would show up.

Yeah. Isn't it great?

Maybe this protest

will really work.

Oh, look. My mom's gonna

ask the first question.

Hi, girls.

Pam Patterson from The Post.

Can you tell me, what is the

nature of this protest?

Our protest was about getting

art back in school this year.

We call it "A Day of Beige"!

Incredible!

Who came up with this?

Saige did.

Now, Saige, tell us

how you came up with the idea.

She asked

you a question, Saige.

It's okay. It's okay.

Saige, do you need a minute?

Saige, do you need a minute?

For most kids,

school is the only place

to learn about art

and music and dance.

What if right now, in school, there's

a future Picasso or Taylor Swift,

who will never get

the chance to shine

because they never get to

discover their love of the arts?

Not to mention, kids who

take art get better grades.

Now, that's

something worthwhile, huh?

There you are.

Are you all right?

Yes, I'm fine.

Did I ruin

the press conference?

Not at all.

Do you want to talk?

No. I just...

There were

a lot of people there,

and they were

all looking at me,

waiting for me

to say something,

and I didn't know what to say.

Saige! What happened?

Where'd you go?

Did you hear Dylan?

She did a great job.

What's wrong?

All of you girls

did a great job today.

I'm gonna do

what I can to help.

I can't promise anything,

but I'll try.

Really?

Don't be upset. We're gonna

get the art program back.

Girls, uh,

before you get too excited,

I called the school

board earlier today,

and they said

there's just no money

in the budget for

a full-time art teacher.

Well,

then what about a part-time?

Maybe like

an after-school thing.

You just might have

something there, Saige.

But we'd still need

to fund it ourselves.

Like, how much money?

My guess would be about

$5,000.

And we'd need to do

it by the second week

in October to get it

into this year's budget.

Wow. Let me just

check my piggy bank. Not.

How can we find all

that money in six weeks?

Well, I don't know.

But I do know you had quite

an artistic vision today.

And after pulling that off, I

have no doubt you'll find a way.

How can we possibly come up with

$5,000 in the next six weeks?

I mean, my allowance

is only $10 a week.

How about a fundraiser?

I mean, there must

be plenty of people in

your community who'd

support your cause.

A fundraiser. That could work.

And I know just

where to hold it.

The Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta.

The whole city shows up.

That's a great idea, Mimi.

The Fiesta's in a few

weeks and will give us

just enough time

to get everything ready.

And give you time to get better

so you can finish your mural and

lead the parade on Picasso.

I...

I don't think so, Saige.

But you always lead the parade.

Well, not this time.

But you could.

You could lead the parade.

Every year, all of Albuquerque

expects a Copeland

to lead the parade.

- This year it could be you.

- But...

You're a great rider.

You know Picasso.

And it would only

take you a few days

to learn how to do the parade

gait and the scarf trick.

But there'll be so many

people there watching me.

What if I totally freak out?

You're used to being in front

of an audience. I'm not.

If I can't even talk in

front of a few people,

how can I ride

and do those fancy

parade moves

in front of a huge crowd?

I'm sorry, Mimi.

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