Everyone he knows thinks this is strange, even his own family.

Don't you want to play a sport, or be in the play with all of your friends?

I will sign you up for something, his mother offers.

Theo does not tell his the museum.

They are on every wall, in brilliant colors and oil paints and pastels.

The paintings are Theo's friends.

Today, Theo rushes to get to the museum after school, because he will be meeting some new friends.

An exhibition is opening, The Mountain Landscapes of Zion Khan.

Inside the brightly lit gallery, there are ten new paintings, each in a wooden frame.

Each painting features a different mountain.

Some of the mountains are covered in snow, while others are green or rocky.

Theo sits on a bench and looks at one painting for a very long time.

He likes the contrast of the heavy black lines of the mountain and the pale blue sky.

Theo takes out his notebook and his pencil and begins to make a sketch.

People come and go from the small gallery, but Theo sits for a long time, making sketch after sketch.

After a while, there is only one other person left in the gallery.

He is sitting on a bench on the other side of the little room.

Theo decides to ignore the man.

I don't want to talk to him, Theo thinks.

The man stands and walks toward the exit, but he stops next to Theo.

Theo's sketch is of a mountain from very far away.

The mountain is small and surrounded by space.

That's an interesting perspective, the man comments.

Theo is shocked.

He never shows his artwork to anyone because he worries that it isn't any good.

Shall I show you some more sketches?

he asks.

The man smiles and nods.

Theo hands the man his notebook and sits quietly as the man turns the pages.

I like the way you create texture with shading, the man remarks.

I like to do that, too.

Theo notices the man's hands and fingers are stained with paint.

In his jacket pocket, there are several colored pencils and a paintbrush.

He is holding an old tattered sketchbook with his name written on the front.

You are Zion Kahn, Theo exclaims, astounded that he is talking to the famous artist.

Zion Kahn looks so much younger than Theo imagined, and he is so kind and friendly.

That's right, Zion Kahn replies.

I'm Theo.

One day, I want to be an artist like you, Theo tells him.

Zion Kahn shakes his head.

No, don't say that, he says.

Theo looks down.

Oh, he says.

Zion Kahn points to Theo's notebook.

You are already an artist, Theo, he says.

Theo is speechless with happiness.

He does not say anything else, and neither does Zion Kahn.

They just sit quietly in the room, sketching, two artists surrounded by friends.