Page 104 of Grown-Up Second Chance

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“It looks like you took my assignment seriously,” Jane said with a smile. “I bet you turned your homework in on time, too.”

I blushed. I’d been a model student, even if I never achieved straight As.

“Based on what you’ve told me, I’m going to recommend this camera body and lens to begin with. She pulled a camera out from under the counter. “It’s a Nikon, one of the newer models. It will take lots of different kinds of lenses, including some of those huge ones you’ll see people toting around in Yellowstone.”

I nodded. I’d seen the two-foot-long monstrosities propped on tripods. The photographs must be amazing, but I wasn’t ready to lug around the weight.

“Try it out,” Jane suggested, handing me the camera. “I’ve set it to automatic, so you don’t have to worry about settings. The camera does the work for you. As you become more comfortable, you’ll be able to switch to manual settings so you’re the one in control.”

If only life came with automatic and manual settings.

“Take it outside,” Jane encouraged me.

“Really?”

“Sure.”

I’d forgotten how trusting people could be.

I walked outside and tried a close-up of the pink and purple petunias hanging from a basket. Then I took a shot of a young boy running down the sidewalk on the opposite side of the street. A crow balanced on a street sign gave me a chance at wildlife of a sort.

After a few more shots, I brought the camera back to Jane.

She punched a few buttons, then turned the camera so I could see the small screen. Then she flipped through the photos. “You have a good eye.”

“Thanks,” I said, a bit in awe of the pictures I’d taken. Even on a tiny screen, they approximated what I’d seen in my mind’s eye.

“So how much is it?” I asked.

She told me.

I held in my gasp. I’d expected something around the figure she’d quoted, but to hear it said out loud made it real.

The last time I’d spent that kind of money on a splurge, I’d bought a new stove. Somehow the sheer size of it had made the price palatable. Besides, stoves were practical.

Jane put down the camera.

“I have some others I can show you that are less pricy, but for what you want to do, this is the right choice.”

The postwoman came in and handed Jane a stack of mail and had her sign for a box.

I stared at the camera.

“Buy the damn camera.”

“Well?” Jane asked.

“I’ll take it,” I said. Then I repeated more firmly. “Yes, I’ll take it.”

Jane held up a finger. “I have one more thing for you to consider.”

“What’s that?”

“A person I know recently bought a professional lens for that camera body,” she said. “He’s given me the old one to sell on consignment. It’s a really good price. I think you should consider it for the type of photography you are looking to do. Let me get it.”

She disappeared into the back.

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