A breeze lifted a corner of the paper. Ahe secured his wooden frame, and Tao moved her ink bowl farther onto the wide table. Each had a sheet of paper and a brush.

Grandpa Song set a wooden snake on its fixed stand between them. Its curved body ended in a slender tail. It had no feet at all. “Today, draw a snake.”

Tao studied its outline before dipping her brush. Ahe had already rolled up his cuffs. “I can do that!” The wooden snake stayed still. Two brushes were ready to begin.