The judges of the contest praised my drawing. I laboriously managed to capture the ancient Romanesque church in all its essence. “The perspective is flawless. On top of the belfry the fine detail in every little branch entangled in the stork nest is outstanding,” they said. Nevertheless, their unanimous verdict was, “This isn’t the work of a twelve-year-old.” They were convinced that I was cheating. Between sobs I swore that nobody had helped me. They didn’t believe me. Defeated and humiliated, I came back home. “Don’t cry, darling. That’s the best prize they could ever give you” my dad said.
Miguel Ángel Calvo worked for an insurance company for nearly three decades. He is a retiree who dedicates part of his time to enjoying writing.