The surprising innuendo

An excerpt of the novel "A post impressionistic career", to be published soon. You may find more short stories on art in my page at Amazon.com www.amazon.com/Haim-Kadman/e/B009Z7XL8C

The surprising innuendo

"A post impressionistic career"

An excerpt

The Tel Aviv museum's general manager, Doctor Yon Erstein arrived rather early to his museum's office on Sunday morning. He and his wife passed a pleasing weekend visiting their grandchildren in his son's abode in Kfar Shamriahou, not far from his own home in Herzelia Pituach; and yesterday evening on their way back home Gal Fine his loyal deputy called him, and asked to meet him urgently the next day at eight am. Thus instead of arriving at ten am as usual to his office he had to reach it that early, as a result to Fine's wish to discuss a critical problem between just the two of them.

Fine was already sitting in one of the chairs next to Erstein's desk, when Erstein entered his office.

'Good Morning Gal how was your weekend?' He greeted Fine while approaching his desk.

'Not bad at all Yon, listen I've came upon a very disturbing problem…'

'Alright I'll listen to it in a moment, on a cup of coffee. I haven't slept well tonight, and I need a clear head.' He told his deputy and went over to the espresso machine on the small cupboard, at the office's left corner. The rapid change from the peaceful weekend to management problems at his age, dejected him he needed a cup of strong black coffee.

Fine knew too well his boss's weakness, and waited patiently till Erstein came back with two cups of coffee in his hands.

'Drink up first of all,' Erstein said after he put the cups on his desk and sat down. They drank their coffee a few seconds in silence, and after emptying his cup Erstein turned to his deputy.

'Well what's the matter Gal?'

'I travelled to Haifa with my wife yesterday morning. She wished for sometime already, to visit the Shrine of the Ba'b on Mount Carmel; it took some forty five to fifty minutes, and I decided use the rest of the time up to midday to visit the Haifa museum...'

'Get to the point Gal, will you.' Erstein remarked with a note of impatience.

'I'm getting to it Yon I simply want to let you understand how it all came about. I knew that Adam has a running exhibition there so I took Rina to see his paintings, and we met him there. He got very excited when he saw us, and said that he must have a word with in private.' Fine made a short and drank the last drops of coffee in his cup.

'There were just three more visitors except us at that hour, so while Rina watched his paintings he took the one corner and told me a rather interesting news our young and industrious curator.'

'Is he supposed to be here today, or is he abroad on some mysterious errand?' Erstein wondered clearing his throat. He did not like that arrogant young man, who seemed to be quite a promising one when they hired his services.

'No he's on leave in Eilat if I'm wrong, and he won't be back till next Sunday.'

'But what did that humdrum character tell you?'

'He said that he'd a visit of one of his ex students, who's has a studio of his own by now, and that ex student of his bragged that he's planned to have an exhibition in our museum next July this year…'

'While we don't know a thing about it, that's the interesting point isn't it?' Erstein noted with a sudden fit of anger.

'That's it, Otsar our dear curator is supposed to submit a list of a dozen recommended painters as candidates for our next year exhibitions, in our management meeting next week…' 

'And how do we know if that ex student of his didn't tell Adam a lie, which he invented to tease his ex teacher?'

'He said he tried to pump his ex student up, but he didn't answer Adam's questions; he just smiled to him arrogantly, and promised to send Adam an invitation…' Fine added with a cynical short laugh/ 'Anyway on coming home I've called Otsar in Eilat and asked him if he promised a certain Danieli an exhibition in our museum. He said he has a Danieli on his list, and he'll show it to us next week…

'He didn't deny that he's promised that Danieli a fixed date?'

'That's right Yon he skipped my question, and I asked again if he promised Danieli an exhibition opening next July, guess what was his answer You?'

'Don't talk to me in riddles Gal, did he deny it or not?'

'He skipped my question again and said that he visited Danieli's studio and was extremely impressed by Danieli's talent, and that painter is the first one on his list.' Fine made another short pause waiting for Erstein's comment, but his boss was looking down into his empty coffee cup, buried in his thoughts.

'Adam suspects that our curator turned into a salesman, if that Danieli isn't a relative of his…

'What, would you suggest to hire a private eye?' Erstein retorted straightening up in his seat.

'I'm sick and tired of that mediocre of a curator, and I don't intend to investigate, question or hire someone that would check what he's doing… How long is he with us six or seven months, and he acts as he runs alone our museum. Erstein coughed several times, before he announced his solution to their problem.

'We'll fire him next week and appoint Zvili that has very little restoration work lately, to replace Otsar temporarily…'

'What about our next year exhibitions plan Yon?' Fine asked him alarmed.

'Call the Painters & Sculptors association and ask them to prepare us a list of candidates, okay? '

© Haim Kadman November 2014 " all rights reserved.