Hans lived in a comfortable cottage with his wife Julia. He was an artist and she was a potter. They had a studio and another building that was actually a big camera. My father said it was a new invention called a Camera Obscura. The camera building was a big box with no windows and a narrow door.
When we arrived, my brother and I changed our clothes and headed to the pond for a swim. It was heavenly! The water was cool and the sun was warm. We splashed and played for hours. Then, we had lunch at a long table in the shade of a huge old tree. Usually, when we visited Hans and Julia, all of their children and grand children were there and the table was crowded and noisy. That day it was peaceful. We ate fresh tomatoes, cheese and crusty bread that my mother had baked that morning.
My father asked Hans if we could see the big camera. We walked to the small building and when we got inside, it was dark except for a small hole on one wall where light streamed in. When I turned to the opposite wall, I saw something amazing. There was a picture of the hills outside glowing on the wall. It was upside down, but they were clearly the same hills and trees. Hans told me to go outside and sit in the grass and to stay very still. I sat quietly. After what seemed like a long time, my father and Hans came out holding a drawing. It was me! Hans had copied my image using the camera! Magic!
We spent the afternoon picking raspberries from the wild bushes near at the edge of the woods. As the sun was getting low in the sky, we all sat in the soft tall grass and ate bowls of the sweet red fruit with fresh cream. Then we said our goodbyes, and I thanked Hans for my portrait. It was a wonderful summer day. Now where is that sweater? There is a chill in the air.
