Arm-in-arm, an older couple walked into the museum gala. The man wore a black evening coat and his wife, an elegant black dress, evening gloves, and a white fur stole. The two strode in influential gait. Gazing at one particular painting, the woman turns to her husband raising a thin eyebrow, she utters, "Song Dynasty, dear…" 351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfUlxXeJiDh
The man nods in agreement, "I’d have never guessed that, by the looks of those signs," he said, gesturing to the Song Dynasty exhibit banners. His wife smiles and playfully bumps her hip into his. "You know Archie, art is not just pretty paintings. Every work of art has its history. It wouldn’t hurt you to know some of it, especially on a night like tonight.”351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrokXcVJNrf
“Of course, dear.." 351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPdUd59qM0A
The old man said dismissively as he steps away from his wife, grabbing two champagne flutes from a passing waiter with a serving tray. "Oh, my dear Birdie, tonight is a night for celebration—not for matriculation." 351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwUTzOMQgtV
Birdie plucks a glass of champagne from her husband’s hand and takes a small sip, sighing nostalgically. "Do you ever think about those days?" 351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYrN0dBEpr5
He stares into his glass as in deep thought. "Darling?" He looks up longingly, "My dear, I can’t walk through any room of our home, or look at any wall without remembering." 351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj2TaZprVGO
"Do you remember MoMA?" Birdie said with a light chuckle. 351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZe9Fue6jJE
"How could I forget! That’s where you lost your wedding rings."351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7VcHaAnxep
She shrugs, "Too bad, I do believe that self portrait would’ve looked rather good in the sitting room.." 351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVFGkgXDyeZ
"You’ve always been a fan of Picasso, my dear.." 351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLaAan1dhLY
The two sigh in unison as they remember that balmy, summer evening in 1980...351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW4AXvELi9c
There the young couple stood, in front of the blue portrait of a young Pablo Picasso, stoic but with a small smirk playing at his pallid lips, his dark eyes staring back at them. Almost daring them to whisk him away.351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGI30Oqn2WK
Birdie watched as her husband stood in front of the large painting, his strong chin tilted upwards, his dark brows furrowed in concentration. His fists on his hips, as he glared at the painting. "Birdie, honestly, this painting is so utterly depressing.." He says in a hushed yet, urgent whisper, "Why is it, again that we decided on this one?" 351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbQyAaYLoZS
"Well, for you, darling it's always been the thrill of acquisition, while for me…its’ always been about the art." Archie pauses, turning to look at his young bride. Her doe-like eyes brimmed with tears that threatened to fall as she looked up at the portrait.351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy8OjKSzg6Q
In this moment, Archie felt his walls crumble as her delicate hands reached for the canvas. He shakes his head, giving a wry chuckle, "You’ve never looked at me like that before."351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSDFZd6Ytr9
She turns to him as she wipes the stray tears away, laughing. "Well, I'm sure this painting is a better listener than you, Mr. Delacroix."351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCSAiJTXckk
"Then I’ll take my ring back, thank you very much," He said as he stretched out a gloved hand.351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlB4mJA61D4
"You aren’t serious," she mused as she reached for her wedding rings. Upon feeling nothing, she let out a hitched breath. 351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD88PfarsnF
"What? What is it?"351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8BAQx3iuvX
"My rings! My wedding rings! They’re gone!" She exclaimed in a hushed whisper.351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡINiBL1GBxl
"Surely, you didn’t bring them." 351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4hqDPRpMuK
Her face flushed with anger as she hissed, "I never take them off! You should know that!" 351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2FMx9a0sae
He raised his hands up defensively. "Alright, alright, where’d you put them last?" Slowly she turns to her husband in obvious annoyance, "If I knew that, they wouldn’t be lost."351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1EsvUDf13L
"Okay, well, the guards will be circling back in about," the young man pushes up his sleeve to look at his watch. "twenty or so minutes. So, how do you want to do this, Mr. Picasso?"351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡldwquzx1Q6
"Mr. Picasso?! My wedding rings, Archie, they’re missing!"351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqvbvC1JBqt
Rubbing the back of his neck, he asks, "So…no more…Mr. Picasso?"351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUxmDYnU9fN
"ARCHIE!"351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlunvW04kVS
"Archie.."351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8VGPcIlwJi
"Archie, darling? Are you alright?"351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfpUMIKyFin
Pulled back into the present, Archie looks to his wife. Her pale blue eyes were fixated on him, her eyebrows knitted together in concern. Archie looks past his wife and up at the centerpiece of the gallery.
"It seems that the Empress has finally graced us with her presence." 351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpHFaOjvxyw
Birdie turns around, following his gaze up to the portraiture of a young Chinese empress, adorned in red and orange robes, her moonlike face turned away from the audience, her black hair hidden by the intricate bejeweled headpiece. Her tiny lips curled in the slightest of smiles. 351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9n020mBYXD
"Oh Archie, she's beautiful.."
Archie clears his throat, before giving his wife a cunning side-eye.351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsBURPCZ7yT
"I do believe that Her Majesty would look amazing over the fireplace in the study."
The old woman whips her head towards her husband with a look of shock, her eyes shone with anticipation and excitement.351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡstZzHW4f4Q
"How?"
ns3.139.72.238da2
