Learning Something New

The females of the family have gone shopping. Daddy is working on his computer in the den. Bob is alone, wondering about the bungalow, bored. Looking outside, he sees Uncle Jack a short way up the beach. Bob walks over. Uncle Jack is sitting on a log of driftwood, cutting on a smaller piece of wood with his knife. Bob watches quietly. When Uncle Jack takes a break, Bob asks, “What are you doing?”

“I’m carving driftwood,” Uncle Jack says.

“Is it hard to do?” Bob asks next.

“No,” says Uncle Jack. “The carving part is easy with practice and patience. This wood is very hard, it takes a long time to carve.”

“Can you teach me?” Bob asks. “I have the pocket knife Daddy gave me for Christmas.”

“Yes,” Uncle Jack says. Bob runs into the bungalow, up to his room and grabs his knife from the dresser and runs back outside quickly.

Uncle Jack smiles at Bob’s excitement. Uncle Jack has Bob to sit down on the log beside him as he explains briefly the basics of wood carving which includes pushing the blade of the knife away from his body instead of towards it in case the blade slips. Picking up several different pieces of wood like the one he is working on, Uncle Jack explains, “once you gain experience, Bob, you’ll be able to ‘see’ a shape in the wood before you start cutting. Until then, I will draw lines for you to follow.”

Turning the piece of wood several times in his hand, Uncle Jack draws the shape of a dog sitting up. Handing it to Bob, Uncle Jack says, “Bob, slowly cut away the extra wood from around this shape. Take your time, this wood is very hard. I don’t want you to hurt yourself. There is plenty of time.”

Bob nods and starts cutting away the wood. Hours pass. The only sounds are of the seagulls overhead, the waves washing ashore and their knives pushing through the wood, it makes a slight squeaking noise. Uncle Jack gives Bob suggestions while working on his own piece. By the time Uncle Jack calls it a day, Bob’s hands are tired. He helps to clean up the area of the beach, wrapping his dog figurine in a damp towel to soften the wood like Uncle Jack’s piece. They go inside for lunch.

When done, Uncle Jack tells Daddy they are going out and will be back in time for dinner. Getting into Uncle Jack’s car, he drives them to see a friend of his who makes his living carving driftwood for tourists and locals alike. Uncle Jack drives about 20 minutes then pulls into the parking lot of a store with a number of both large (over 5 feet tall) and small (one foot or less) figurines of famous people, wild animals and flowers. Some of them have paint accents, to draw attention to certain areas, but most are plain with a shining surface to protect the wood from weather.

Uncle Jack introduces Bob to his friend, “Mac, meet my nephew Bob, he’s working on his first driftwood figurine.”

“Great! What is it?” Mac asks with a big grin.

“A dog sitting up,” Bob says, returning Mac’s grin.

“A perfect first piece. Congratulations!” Mac says. “Welcome to the world of carving. Some woods, like balsam wood, are easier to work than others, you might try one of those for your second piece. Until then, follow me and I’ll give you a tour of my shop!” As they walk around, Mac explains different techniques used on various pieces to create texture, like scales or fur or wrinkles. By the time Uncle Jack and Bob leave Mac’s shop, Bob is eager to work some more on his dog figurine and has a number of ideas rolling around his mind for his next piece. But, Uncle Jack says, “You’re done for today, tomorrow will be soon enough. Let your hands rest.” Reluctantly, Bob agrees.

Back at the bungalow, Mama, Alice and Aunt Evelyn are excitedly showing Daddy all the things they bought. Uncle Jack and Bob arrive half-way through and add what they did today, as well. By the end of the week, Bob finishes his figurine. Uncle Jack ‘paints’ it with a thin black paint that gets into the texture Bob cut into it to suggest fur and makes it more visible. Last of all, Bob covers it with a clear paint or varnish that will protect it from water – just like Mac’s pieces.

The End.