Tag: Conversations

You look like the pitiful kitten from “Shrek”

I am bearing a heavy burden.
I saw the trailer, and
I don’t think the rest of the Avengers
Are going to make it, either

Oh, come on, everyone knows the ending
Of the original

I don’t.
Besides, movies and their source material
Often vary

I think the Avengers will end up winning

You think.
I think.
We all think stuff, but
What about Thanos?
That first movie like to have killed me

It has to follow a dramatic arc

You know what?
Screw drama.
I want good people winning and
Bad pople losing

Oy. Never watch sports, then.
Why is this just coming up now?
You barely said a word after “Infinity Wars”

I was traumatized!
You, you heartless thing,
Munching on malted milk balls like
Nothing had just happened

I did cry during like five different parts

Yeah, well.
Tears 5,
Malted Milk Balls 100.
You lost the
“Has a heart” contest

Well on April 26th, or thereabouts,
You can test it again

I don’t think I’m up for opening night.
But the first week I should be able to avoid spoilers.
But you better be fully engaged.
I can’t carry this load by myself

I’ll bring my wheelbarrow.

Just don’t fill it with
Malted milk balls

Deal.
To mildly change the subject,
Who is your favorite Avenger?

Pshh.
Black Widow, obviously.
Russians with ballet training.
These are my people.
What about you?

Oh, Captain America.
Chemically altered anachronism.
These are my people.
Do you ever miss ballet?

Not really.
Like modeling, I recognize it as
Having been part of my life.
But I’m happier now.
Does that make sense?

It does

Do you ever miss talking to
Sane women?

You are sane.
Just — singular

Sanity is overrated.
Many of the true greats of history
Were truly mad

Like Thanos

Bad example

I can do a lot with this place.
Can’t you just picture it?

You know I am incapable of picturing anything.
That’s why I married an artist, so
She could do that for me.

At least try.

How about… some Klieg lights?

Did you know that Klieg lights were invented by
People whose last names were Kliegl?

What?

They should be Kliegl lights.
That’s all I’m saying.
It would be like if all historically accurate
Murals in the future were called
“Servan” paintings.
Just leaving off the last letter.
That’s just wrong.

Very wrong, I would say.
Should we get back to talking about
The gallery?

Oh, of course, sorry.
I want to put some of the smaller sketches here…

Maybe you could have one of those kind of rope things.
You know, Leibniz never got enough credit, either.

What? What are… what?

Calculus. Newton gets all the credit, and his
System isn’t even used.

I thought calculus was like a dental condition.
That’s why I married a mathematician, so he could
Do all of thinking about calculus for both of us.

So, Klieg lights, rope, and sketches. Got it.
What else can you envision?

I wish we could do more with natural light.
I mean, during daytime, obviously.
Can you picture skylights, or…

… high windows?

Yes, exactly.
See — you can picture stuff.
Not just talk about how the impressionist composers
Hated being compared to the impressionist painters,
Or whatever.

That’s right, they did. I forgot.
They preferred symbolist literature.

I am thinking about doing a painting
About the history of this gallery itself.

How old is this building?

Built in 1929

No way

Way.
The men who actually built this
Were almost all South American immigrants.
There was a community here of people
Who had come from Peru.
They had been displaced by European immigrants
After the war, who had moved down
There and taken all the jobs.
There are elements of the construction
That are unique because of it.

How do you know all this stuff?

I’ve been reading these things called
“Books” for years.
I used to read
Leibniz under Klieg lights, in fact.

Skylights and high windows are good for that, too

Now, you’re beginning to think like an artist

Okay, I’ve done all the figures.
You can contribute a few dollars to my new business,
And have your money back in no time, plus interest.

Um. We’re married. My money is your money.

I am never going to get a business started right
With that kind of talk. We are going to do this properly.

How much do you need?

I’ve written the figure down right… here.

Alright, I’ll transfer the money over.
What name have you settled on?

Nothing terribly imaginative.
Janey Servant Galleries.

I love it, go with the strongest part of your business model.
Where will you be taking premises?

I decided to use the old Heinmann Gallery.

Not the Uptown place?

That place is too big and too expensive.
Heinman’s place still holds up well, with a little work.
I also have another investor interested in buying in.

You do?! Who?

My Uncle Lenny.

How would that work?

He also contributes some to our initial capital.
He only wants a 5% stake.

I mean, that’s great. Love Lenny. But why?

You never knew Aunt Patsy did you?

No. Hardly ever heard anyone talk about her.

She wanted to start a catering business.
He wouldn’t help her, because the dealership was
Having hard times. After she died, it was one
Of his biggest regrets.

So he’s paying it… forward? Sideways?

He’s making amends, after his fashion.
Alright, I go to see the lawyer Thursday.

I’m really proud of you. This is amazing.

And I’m mortally terrified this will be a failure.
But thank you.

Has it ever occurred to you
That maybe you are a really good artist?
That people are already lining up to buy paintings?

Yeah, well. Artists are subject to the whims of fashion.

Speaking of fashion, can I change the subject
To how fantastic you look in your business suit?

You may. But flattery will not get you a better interest rate.

I’d settle for just getting some interest

How do I look?
Do you think this will work
For my interview?

I think it looks great,
And you look great, so, yes.

Really?
The buttoned-up collar doesn’t look
To pilgrimy?

Pilgrimy?
Is that a word?

You know what I mean.
Do I look too Mayflowery?

No, you don’t.
You look very elegant.
Are you nervous about it?

Yes!
It’s public radio.
They are liable to ask me about
The political situation in the Asteroid belt, or something.

That would throw me, I admit.
Don’t they mostly want to talk about the exhibit?

Supposedly.
But, it could all be a trap.

Well, since it’s radio,
I think your outfit choice has fewer risks
Than you might be thinking.
I think they are more likely to ask you questions
About the historical events your paintings
Refer to than about events elsewhere in
The solar system. Just my two cents.

Oh, well those I can answer.

I know you can.
You’ll be great.

Will you be listening?

No, I thought I’d see if
Amazon Prime has old episodes of
“Dusty’s Trail”.
OF COURSE I’LL BE LISTENING.

Okay, okay, don’t get worked up.
I’m just nervous.

Okay, then, try this.
When you get to the studio,
Take a few deep breaths,
And remember how hard you had it
On the Mayflower.

I hate you right now.
Actually, I love you right now.

And I love you.
Good luck!

We pilgrims never shrink from a challenge