Page 79 of The Beach Shack Artists 3
The narrator spoke about patience, about illusion, about the work it takes to hold a pose and the team it takes to paint that light.
Joey appeared in the third tableau—sitting at a late-night diner counter, coffee cup in hand, looking contemplative in the harsh fluorescent light. The famous Hopper scene, “Nighthawks,” brought to life with Joey as Coffee Drinker Number Two.
“There he is,” Bea whispered, gripping Stella’s arm.
Stella smiled at her courageous friend and wanted to hug him—and she would, later.
When the final curtain fell and the amphitheater filled with sound again—cheers, sighs, happy chatter.
“That,” Bea whispered, “is the only kind of stillness I understand.”
They made their way down the hillside with the crowd, but lingered near the amphitheater entrance, waiting.
“How long does it usually take?” Anna asked.
“Twenty minutes or so,” Margo said. “They have to remove all the makeup and costume pieces carefully.”
“And Joey probably wants to savor it,” Meg added. “His first Pageant.”
Bernie appeared beside them, grinning. “Outstanding performance. Joey held that pose for what, four minutes?”
“Four minutes and twelve seconds,” Tyler said. “I was counting.”
“Without moving a muscle. Kid’s got serious discipline.”
“Months of practice,” Stella said proudly. “He’s been rehearsing that pose forever.”
Finally, the backstage area emptied, and Joey emerged—hair slightly damp, traces of stage makeup still clinging to hishairline, wearing the biggest smile any of them had ever seen. He spotted them and broke into a run.
“Did you see?” he called while still twenty feet away. “Did you see me up there?”
“We saw everything,” Margo said, opening her arms for a hug. “You were magnificent.”
“I didn’t move,” Joey said, breathless and proud, accepting hugs from everyone. “Not once. Not even when that bee landed on my hand.”
“There was a bee?” Bea asked, horrified.
“Right in the middle of the tableau. I thought I was going to break character, but then I remembered what you said about stillness being a choice, and I just... chose to stay still.”
“When did I say that?” Stella asked.
“This morning. When you were talking about your photos. About choosing when to capture something and when to just experience it.”
Stella grinned. “You were listening to that?”
“I listen to everything you say about art. You see things differently than the rest of us.”
Luke clapped Joey on the shoulder. “So how does it feel? Being a living painting?”
“Incredible,” Joey said, still buzzing. “I mean, terrifying, but incredible. There’s something about all those people watching you be perfectly still that makes you feel... I don’t know. Important? Like you’re part of something bigger.”
“You are part of something bigger,” Anna said. “The Pageant’s been running for almost ninety years. You’re part of that history now.”
“Laguna Beach history,” Bea added. “Very cool.”
“Are you hungry?” Meg asked. “We could go somewhere and celebrate.”
“Everything’s closed,” Tyler pointed out.
