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“Alright class! Time to clean up and put away your supplies. The field trip bus leaves in 20 minutes!”

Pat the Bunny was excited. Not only was art their favourite subject in school today, the class was going on a trip to the PnF Civic Art Gallery to see the season’s special exhibit.

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“I can barely sit still Dan Marino! I am so hoppy! What do you think this year’s exhibit will be? Do you think they managed to get DaPetsi in?” asked Pat.

“I highly doubt it will be anything that fancy but if you do not sit, the driver won’t leave Pat. Do you not feel that glare coming back in the mirror?”

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“Look! There is Bob getting in the Easter spirit decorating for the season! It looks so fancy at this place. I really hope he has his party again, he always makes the best treats!”

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“And there! There are Scaredy Cat and JJ tending to their garden. To think after such a rough winter such beauty. And guess what? I think this means we are getting close to the Art Gallery!!!

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“I see it! I see it!” exclaimed Pat.

The bus pulled in front of the PnF Civic Art Gallery.

“Gee Pat, why do you think there are all these eggs around here?” pondered Dan Marino.

“I have no idea.”

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“OK class, off the bus! This year’s theme is Easter eggs!” called out the art teacher.

All the students filed into the lobby of the Art Gallery and gasped as it was filled with eggs of all sorts.

“Can you believe what we are seeing Dan Marino? Eggs as an art medium? WOW!” exclaimed Pat.

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“Look at that display! That egg there is painted with such exquisite detail of a flower! I so wish I could do that”

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“Oh my gosh! Can you believe it Dan Marino? The detail in that one and it is rendered in black and white? The artist is so creative! I wonder if I could do that?”

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“Is that a fractal pattern or…? Goodness, that it is! I must try this!” Pat was determined they were going to become an egg artist too.

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Later that evening Pat called their friend Dan Marino.

“I need you to come over this weekend. We are going to gather up supplies and try our paws at egg painting!”

“Are you sure about this? It looks like it took those artists quite a bit of time and skill to make those. It doesn’t look easy.”

“ACK! How hard can it be?” replied Pat.

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“Thanks for coming Dan Marino.” said Pat as they met. “So I have this planned out. We need a few supplies but mum is busy right now watching her favourite soap Pets of Our Lives so we can sneak around the house gathering the supplies and meet back here in my studio.”

“Ummm, isn’t this your bedroom?”

“Bedroom, studio, c’est la meme chose! Now let’s get to it! While mum is watching her show I will sneak into the kitchen for the eggs and you can hunt around for the paints, brushes and anything we can use to display our masterpieces!”

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With the television blasting in the background Pat hopped into the kitchen thinking it was too easy to grab the eggs. Mum is distracted by the last season of her show, so I can readily get these, thought Pat, with no care as to what they would have for breakfast the next day. Meanwhile, Dan Marino scoured closets trying to find paints and other supplies they could use for Pat’s harebrained idea of egg decorating.

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“Alrighty then! I think we have everything!” cried Pat with glee. “We have the eggs and the paints and some brushes. Even some baskets and nests to displays our completed masterpieces in! I can see it now Dan Marino! Next year our names will be in lights at the Art Gallery as WE are the featured artists! So what should we paint first?”

“ummm, I dunno, an egg?”

“Why don’t we try to paint the Easter bunny?”

So down to business they got.

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With paint flying every which way, Pat and Dan Marino got down to business painting their respective eggs.

“There! I think I am done.” stated Dan Marino.

“Me too!” cried Pat. “Let’s see yours!”

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With hesitation Dan Marino displayed an exquisitely painted egg displaying the Easter Bunny.

“WOW! That is amazing Dan Marino! You have real talent.”

“Shucks, it just happened…so can I see yours?”

Pat meekly pulled out an egg. “It looks like a potato!” Pat cried. “There is more paint on me and the floor than it! I ruined it!”

“It’s ok. It was your first try. Why don’t we try something easier like a flower?”

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Paint started flying again as both Pat and Dan Marino were deep in concentration. Would Dan Marino create another show stopper? Would Pat be successful at creating a stunning Easter egg? Only time would tell.

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“It’s perfect!”

Dan Marino displayed yet another stunning, perfectly painted egg.

“I think I am getting the hang of this. It is quite fun. Maybe I will be a featured artist at the Art gallery.”

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“A potato. No, a rock! Ugh, there is no point Dan Marino! I am a failure! Both my attempts are hideous and look at me! I’m covered in paint! *I* am the Easter egg!”

Dan Marino giggled at that thought of tucking Pat into a basket and hiding them away for a child to find on Easter morning.

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“It’s ok Pat. Maybe eggs aren’t your medium. You are an excellent painter.” said Dan Marino. “Look at all the canvases you have at school. Eggs are totally different. Not exactly easy to hold in the paws and navigate with a paintbrush. Why don’t we call it a night and I will see you at school on Monday?”

“Sure, if you say so. I still feel like a failure.”

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Sure enough for breakfast on Sunday morning Pat’s mom served up a big plateful of eggs.

“Hmm,” she pondered. “I thought we had more eggs in the fridge than this but I guess I need to go shopping again. Oh well. Eat up and have some veggies on the side.”

“Sure mum…” muttered Pat.

“Are you ok? You look a little colourful today? Are you coming down with something?”

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“Welcome back class! I heard some of you had a busy weekend.” The art teacher appeared to be looking at both Pat and Dan Marino. “So I thought after our field trip last week, and some ambitious students this week, a little show and tell was in order.”

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“Here we have some stunning eggs carefully crafted by our very own Dan Marino!”

“How did you get those?!?!”

“I have my ways.” The teacher replied with a wink. “You can see how well done these are with the fine attention to detail in every line. These are quite worthy of display.”

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“And here, while they may not be eggs, we have some stunning canvas works by Pat who looks a little colourful today.”

Pat blushed. “Please take those down. I did not succeed at what I tried to do. I wanted to make gorgeous eggs like Dan Marino, and I ended up with more paint all over myself and my bedroom than on the egg. They were more like potatoes and rocks when I was finished. I do not deserve any recognition.”

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“Nonsense!” replied the art teacher. “You and Dan Marino both did some amazing work that deserves to be on display. While I cannot guarantee we will get it to the Art Gallery we will have it here at the school. Art is all about finding your joy and expressing your creativity. It is not about perfection. If everything was about perfection nothing would ever get accomplished.”

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“Now take this honorarium and go buy yourselves something special. Or perhaps replace those eggs from you mum’s fridge.”

Dan Marino has enjoyed an Easter Story, but it is time to go home. Please select another pet as visitor, so they can also enjoy this event!