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…" 386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡywqHqnBliy
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.”386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2R0hr3VK5v
“Of course, dear.." 386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Lfu2IuJzY
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." 386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVUviZkgOAG
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?" 386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ47Mm8jCSCT
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." 386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ54i5biE0gx
"Do you remember MoMA?" Birdie said with a light chuckle. 386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiDCJBN1MdD
"How could I forget! That’s where you lost your wedding rings."386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkLRA2l5R5x
She shrugs, "Too bad, I do believe that self portrait would’ve looked rather good in the sitting room.." 386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7rWILMHFwf
"You’ve always been a fan of Picasso, my dear.." 386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcnQKPb1iVe
The two sigh in unison as they remember that balmy, summer evening in 1980...386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVmhAv1ceJm
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.386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNRW27ghhPl
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?" 386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHSD7vvZwfW
"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.386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2KMYzJcCVs
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."386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwbZ7eeJU1O
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."386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5makCDcYcN
"Then I’ll take my ring back, thank you very much," He said as he stretched out a gloved hand.386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKuO3oogdro
"You aren’t serious," she mused as she reached for her wedding rings. Upon feeling nothing, she let out a hitched breath. 386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAKC9H8P3Zz
"What? What is it?"386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhKjj9nAeF6
"My rings! My wedding rings! They’re gone!" She exclaimed in a hushed whisper.386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl496tVIKhr
"Surely, you didn’t bring them." 386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3nR9xpLA6v
Her face flushed with anger as she hissed, "I never take them off! You should know that!" 386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqKdDExdoet
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."386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtyBktx7a8R
"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?"386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeoMcgwc6mm
"Mr. Picasso?! My wedding rings, Archie, they’re missing!"386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3rRNLynN7A
Rubbing the back of his neck, he asks, "So…no more…Mr. Picasso?"386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcOitq1Ofp0
"ARCHIE!"386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVoar2u6qNG
"Archie.."386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPymmWwC2AA
"Archie, darling? Are you alright?"386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL6QvcM5VW1
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." 386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgxptxp0FTj
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. 386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTGR32sSy9j
"Oh Archie, she's beautiful.."
Archie clears his throat, before giving his wife a cunning side-eye.386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4NEyScPrr2
"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.386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDIsXgK159y
"How?"
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