QUESTIONS
1. How old do you think kids should be when they stop going trick or treating?
2. Why do you think some people can draw better than other people?
3. Have you ever touched a real sheep?
4. How do you feel about being late to class?
5. What season is your birthday in?
ANSWERS By: Austin Smith
1. Whenever they want to stop.
2. Some people have better dexterity, or practice more.
3. No, I have not.
4. I used to feel bad, but I usually didn’t care.
5. It is in summer.
QUESTIONS
1. What are you going to do on your next birthday?
2. Is (Did) you school track team winning (win) a lot of meets this year?
3. Do you think you will ever get married?
4. If a monkey in a zoo could talk, what do you think she would say?
5. Are you going to go trick or treating next halloween?
ANSWERS By: Austin Smith
1. Hopefully live, and not much else.
2. I don’t know since I don’t go to school.
3. If someone can stand me yes.
4. She would ask if she could have more things to do, more food to eat etc, same things she asks for without talking, and then she would probably talk to the visitors casually to prevent herself from getting bored.
5. No, it’s not as enjoyable now.
The man pictured above in both photograph and cartoon form is Bruce Colvin. He recently passed away in April and this July would have been his 70th birthday. I’m not posting this on his exact birthday because I’m not exactly hurting to share that information.
Bruce was a friend of my family since before I can remember; I can’t remember very long, but still. He stayed at our motel before moving out here and working on a project house of his. From what I understand, previously he was a professor in New York City before his move. He never discussed this with me, but I’m glad that he was. He seemed to me one of the best possible people to have as a teacher.
He never did talk to me directly about much, likely because I was never the only one talking to him, and because I was a kid, and talking wasn’t my forte. We did have several very interesting conversations about my cartoons as those progressed and came into book form. He was fascinating to talk to and just as fascinating to listen to. I wish I was able to recall more of the conversations for which I was present.
He drew an indescribably wonderful picture for my mother’s birthday, spurred my brother’s interest in motorcycles, and always thought of everyone wherever he went. If he saw anything that reminded him of you he would either get it, or, being unable to, inform you in great detail of its existence.
Like I said I didn’t converse with him much, but I will back the sentiment of everyone whom I have talked to about him posthumously; that he was not ‘a very kind person’ or ‘one of the most thoughtful people’ but that he was ‘the most kind and thoughtful person I knew”.
My drawing is not that great but I drew it because I wanted it drawn. Happy late birthday, Bruce.
QUESTIONS
1. What did you do on your last birthday?
2. Is (Did) your school swim team winning (win) a lot of meets this year?
3. Did you ride the bus to school this mornings?
4. How do you think a teacher feels when a student is well behaved?
5. Why do you think children like to listen to stories?
ANSWERS By: Austin Smith
1. I got presents, and set off fireworks.
2. My school has never had a swim team.
3. I haven’t gone to school in almost a year.
4. Probably pretty good, I bet they like the student more.
5. The same reason most people like stories. To escape and be entertained.
QUESTIONS
1. Do you chew your fingernails?
2. If you had a birthday party this year, how may people would you like to invite?
3. Do you like to wear rings?
4. What states have you been to?
5. Do you think it is important for a girl to learn how to cook?
ANSWERS By: Austin Smith
1. No, I tear them.
2. No more than ten, but somewhere around 5.
3. No, not really.
4. Texas, Colorado, Ohio, California, and New Mexico.
5. I think it is important for everyone to learn to cook.