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…" 347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAfo5AAaBHR
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.”347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMs6PlktG6g
“Of course, dear.." 347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjvs3I6iJ0I
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." 347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxD7xLhQbDY
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?" 347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJMYQ6Ex3Ga
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." 347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmwF0rwcxvD
"Do you remember MoMA?" Birdie said with a light chuckle. 347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9CxFoQhNFq
"How could I forget! That’s where you lost your wedding rings."347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxj7KKwc9OQ
She shrugs, "Too bad, I do believe that self portrait would’ve looked rather good in the sitting room.." 347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBwHvogPrej
"You’ve always been a fan of Picasso, my dear.." 347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡht4Y2zAEFP
The two sigh in unison as they remember that balmy, summer evening in 1980...347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpbzGzuKC4r
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.347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaRKVFvXFt0
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?" 347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQnijQkX29I
"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.347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhTqDZMPVaj
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."347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHBJId1OpHy
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."347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyC4S4c5xtx
"Then I’ll take my ring back, thank you very much," He said as he stretched out a gloved hand.347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxKq6IJBOdM
"You aren’t serious," she mused as she reached for her wedding rings. Upon feeling nothing, she let out a hitched breath. 347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrvh5EwEXRK
"What? What is it?"347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN0fgSLt00L
"My rings! My wedding rings! They’re gone!" She exclaimed in a hushed whisper.347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡENFYsBVGzk
"Surely, you didn’t bring them." 347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSgsQ807uD9
Her face flushed with anger as she hissed, "I never take them off! You should know that!" 347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0JSxS1vlHS
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."347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw3y4P4G4pq
"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?"347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUKkGoJLdi4
"Mr. Picasso?! My wedding rings, Archie, they’re missing!"347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCm8pkc0wqx
Rubbing the back of his neck, he asks, "So…no more…Mr. Picasso?"347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4RgQTISYMZ
"ARCHIE!"347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHT3TIG5QO0
"Archie.."347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjqMRiKWFKT
"Archie, darling? Are you alright?"347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSoSm8PqUfQ
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." 347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXNpyQ2QvoU
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. 347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZzDbJNtyiK
"Oh Archie, she's beautiful.."
Archie clears his throat, before giving his wife a cunning side-eye.347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmVOKiDHhxa
"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.347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdAyYtZtaxA
"How?"
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