Between The Lines

Between The Lines

Juvenile biography
We think of football players as rough and tumble gridiron
giants, tackling opponents in a quest for victory. We think of
artists as quieter, more gentle souls, plying paints or pastels to
share their feelings and visions. How can one person be both? Read
Sandra Neil Wallace's Between The Lines and see.
Ernest Barnes grew up in the segregated south. He loved to
draw. As a child he used sticks to create pictures in the mud. Later
he carried a sketch book around capturing scenes from his neighborhood.
"He drew the junkman peddling hubcaps.
Families walking home from church.
The old man snoring on the green sofa in the vacant lot while
the kids played football."
Blacks were not welcome in museums. Ernest's mother inspired
him by showing him the paintings in the house where she worked as a
maid.
Ernest was growing up in a neighborhood where most of his peers
dreamed of becoming professional athletes. He had no desire to be on
a high school team. However, when he hit 6'3" the football coach made
a visit to his home with a donation for his mother's church.
Ernest had a talent for football. He became captain of his
team. He graduated high school with 26 scholarship offers. He went
right from college to the pros. It was a Cinderella story with one
flaw...
...Ernest still wanted to draw in a profession that wasn't
receptive to artistic expression. He was fined every time his coach
caught him sketching. One day his notepad was torn up. His coach said
if he could forget art he could be a great player.
Quitting football was a scary Mdecision for Ernest. How would
he support himself?
Read the book and find out.
On a personal note, I am learning how awesome and amazing my adult
kids are. When I learned that Joey cat has cancer one of my biggest
worries was how to tell them. They grew up with him. They love him
so much! When they found out they amazed me. They are being so
loving and generous and honest. Together we're figuring out how best
to tend to Joey. We're all supporting each other. It's like we've
gone from the days where Eugene and I took care of them to a new space
where we take care of each other. It feels like a miracle.
A great big shout out goes out to my amazing kids.
jules hathaway


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