“A work of art!” Peter thought, wondering at the same time why he would so qualify the gigantic, mostly white, digitally rendered portrait of the Golden Gate Bridge. He reminded himself not to judge. Sam stood behind the print, laid out on the living room floor where they had moved the furniture aside, waiting for a word from the frame maker. Download: Chapter 2 – the framing.pdf About “A Work of Art”
Peter! You have been at the party long enough! It’s time for you to stand up and leave these so-called artists, because it’s you that I need, because you are my artist. You, the chosen one, will paint me, and I’m not sure all that free booze has helped you stay focused on your goal, our common goal, in fact, my life. It’s almost twelve hours since you drew the first sketches, and what have you achieved since? Have you attained clarity in your mind about what it is that you want to paint? You must be tired, and I’m almost sorry this will be our night. Download: Chapter 3 – POV the painting.pdf About “A Work of Art”
“Very well, Sir, your man will be there at 7:00pm. Have a good day.” Jeremy said to the phone before replacing it on its wired base. A difficult customer, this man, he thought, a guest at the hotel where Jeremy worked. It would be one for Max, he thought. Download: Chapter 4 – Tour Guides About “A Work of Art”
“A work of art!” Peter thought, waking up to a beautiful sunny Saturday morning in San Francisco, opening the window shades to let the warm light in. It was September, the month that gives locals their blue sky Summer, after two months of fog, something like a second Spring. He rushed to the living room to see if the painting was still there, or had only been a dream. Download: Chapter 5 – The Morning After About “A Work of Art”
Wonder for a while how to deal with a blind person. Once in a while, you come across one, on the sidewalk, sweeping the space ahead with a white cane, parting the flow of pedestrians like a boulder in a river. Download: Chapter 6 – at the hotel About “A Work of Art”
They drove in Sam’s little antique red MG, a gift from Gerald, driven by Gerald who, as Sam recognized, was more adept at driving it in town and parallel parking. They drove with the top off, enjoying the September sun and the warmth that those who had been in San Francisco only a few years called unusual. They had learned, anyway, that to enjoy the ride in a convertible car, you had to leave the heater at its highest setting. It made no difference on a hot day, and tempered the inevitable variations between shade, sun, and wind. Download: Chapter 7 – Convergence About “A Work of Art”
They had reserved a table for three at Chez Matthieu, one of the newest French Fusion restaurants in the neighborhood. Reservations had to be made at least a week in advance, and Matthieu didn’t care if you were the Queen of England or a fabulous queen of the neighborhood. Patrons were never pushed out to make space for others, and they could stay for as long as they wanted, until closing time. Matthieu’s fans who had been to France said it was like being in France. You couldn’t ask for substitutions in the menu, which was short enough to limit your indecision. Download: Chapter 8 – Critics and love About “A Work of Art”
This was not going to be an ordinary Sunday. Peter reached sleepily for the pen and spiral notebook that always sat on his nightstand to capture his dreams before they vanished. He wrote: Download: Chapter 9 – Painted state of mind About “A Work of Art”
Life went on. Max had returned to his regular cafe job on Monday morning, after a day wandering and wondering. How could his life make sense after Andrew’s departure? Andrew had called to announce that he had arrived to his regular life, and Max couldn’t ask if Andrew had envisioned that such regular life could include him some day. He couldn’t ask, because after all he had been the sex worker who had become the lover, and who knew if it meant they could envision being boyfriends next. He knew there was a roommate, who also was a helper, at Andrew’s home, but he didn’t know what kind of relationship they had, if any, beyond that. It would have been easier if the helper had been female, it would have cleared the ambiguity. Or perhaps worsened it, perhaps she would have been his wife. Download: Chapter 10 – The Descent to Hell About “A Work of Art”
Perhaps such events could be considered extraordinary, some would call them miraculous, others just fortunate. I like to think it was just a coincidence, but what would life be without a chance encounter that gives you a sense of awe and wonder? My art rescued my muse. Download: Chapter 11 – it all comes together About “A Work of Art”
Bibi Tiphane 