What days is the flea market open?
Only on weekends on Saturday and Sunday until four oclock. I was going to go in the morning, but my heart just stopped, the director put his hand to the left side of his chest. Now hell let me go, and Ill get ready. Will you join me?
Its already three oclock and you dont look good today, Julie said worriedly. Your face is red, your blood pressure has probably jumped. You rest, but today I have a day off and have nothing to do with myself. Ill go get the mugs and antique candlesticks myself, and you, please, try to stay in bed.
The director shared Julies fears that if his condition actually worsened, Mr. Drayson would postpone the premiere indefinitely. He decided to heed the request not to leave the house.
Fine! I might actually better lie down. Ill now write you a list of the necessary props for the performance, and it is advisable to buy it all today, since tomorrow I plan to hold another rehearsal.
Tomorrow is a day off!
Ill ask Chuck to call the sound engineer, lighting engineer and other workers, I want to go through all the material.
Fine. I hope that by tomorrow you will feel much better, and if your condition remains the same, then you should remain in bed for a few more days.
I assure you that I will be completely fine, Mr. Gould said smiling and added: There is money on the nightstand. Take as much as you need.
I have. Let me buy everything I need, and then you give it to me.
I dont understand how you still have anything left from the meager salary you receive in the theater.
This is art. We are artists and must be good at our craft, Julie joked.
So, take the money and dont argue with your director! Mr. Gould pointed to a low old cabinet by the door. Otherwise, my stress may cause my blood pressure to rise even higher, although, in my opinion, it cant go any further.
You always knew how to work with actors and make them do it the way you wanted.
They laughed.
Miss Blunt went to the flea market, located four blocks from Mr. Goulds house, admiring the old streets and squares along the way. Approaching the place, Julie saw only two rows where merchants were offering old things, coins and other goods of the same kind. Having purchased everything she needed, she was about to leave the market, but, passing by an elderly woman selling paintings, she stopped. Julies attention was drawn to three unrolled, unframed canvases.
She was interested in painting and had long been planning to decorate the walls of her apartment with it. Why not start making your dreams come true now? Julie moved closer to get a better look at the canvases. The woman noticed her interest:
Hello, miss. Which one did you like? If you take all three, Ill give you a discount.
But Julie was looking at the canvases so intently that she didnt even hear her. She slowly looked from one picture to another, studying them. The first, entitled Bear, dated 1929, depicts a clear morning in the forest and a bear chasing someone. The second painting, called Pisces, captured the day and the suns rays passing through the water. Two fish frolicked in the transparent waves. This painting was dated 1932. The third, from 1939, called Owl, depicted a sunset. The sun was gradually setting behind the horizon, the dense forest was green, and an owl was sitting on a tree branch
Having once again carefully examined the paintings, without listening to what their owner was saying, Julie asked:
Who is author?
Unfolding the picture and squinting, the woman read syllable by syllable: Josef Schwarz, Mainz.
You sell paintings and dont even know whose they are? the actress was surprised.
Im far from painting, Im a simple milkmaid the woman answered, as if justifying herself. My father died last month, and when I was sorting out old things in the attic, I saw these pictures. He hid them from the authorities.
Which authorities?
Ignoring the question, the saleswoman continued:
He brought them from Germany after the war. There was also a watch and a German officers flask. Take these three paintings, the watch and the flask, all for a hundred pounds
I dont need a watch and a flask, especially a German officer, Julie answered. I only want these paintings. How much are you asking?
After thinking, the elderly woman said:
Sixty pounds.
Miss Blunt did not bargain. Having paid the required amount, she rolled up the canvases and carefully placed them in a bag along with her other purchases.
At home after dinner, she repeated the role, and then took out the purchased paintings from the closet. Laying them out on the table and pressing the edges with books to prevent them from curling up again, Julie began to look at the painting with even greater attention. She could not understand why she liked these pictures so much. The earliest one had the inscription: Mainz, Germany, 1929. Carefully folding the other two, Julie moved the bear canvas to the center of the table, pressed the books into the corners, and began studying again. The clock showed midnight when Julie, impressed by the picture, went to bed.
MAINZ, GERMANY, NOVEMBER 13, 1929
Josef, why dont you dance, but sit and be sad on such an important day for me? Your best friend is getting married today! said a man of about thirty, patting a friend on the back sitting at one of the tables in a luxurious restaurant.
Klaus, Im not in the mood for dancing right now. I must have fallen in love, the thin young man answered thoughtfully.
What got into you? asked the groom, dressed in an expensive white suit with a red bow tie. Lets go have fun!
Im quite serious. Tell me please, who is this beautiful girl?
Which? not understanding who exactly we were talking about, Klaus asked.
A slender brunette with big eyes, sitting alone over there, Josef nodded towards the table against the wall.
Looking in the indicated direction, Klaus saw his young wifes childhood friend.
This is Leah. She works as a teacher at school. By the way, shes Jewish, like you but youd better forget about her, since shes not alone here.
And with whom?
With Paul. He must have gone out somewhere. Although he usually doesnt leave her side for a second. A terrible bore By the way, they are going to get married soon, so look for other girls to meet. Do you see how many of them there are?
Tell me about Leah, Josef asked.
Sitting down next to him, Klaus Nolde poured a glass of water to quench his thirst and at least take a little break from dancing, and said:
She moved to Mainz with her parents in early childhood, I can also say that she does not like noisy companies and prefers a quiet pastime.
Who is this Paul?
I met him at Leahs twenty-fifth birthday, where Tilda and I were invited back in the spring, and since then Ive been avoiding him. Looking around and making sure that none of the guests of the celebration could hear him, Klaus continued: Paul is a mathematics teacher at the school where Leah works. It is simply impossible to be in his company: he constantly lectures her, finds fault with everything, even the little things. It comes to the point that he teaches how to behave, how to stand, how to sit, even how to pour water into a glass But since Leah endures all this, it means he suits her. So find yourself another girl. You are unlikely to meet another Leah at a German wedding, but there are plenty of beautiful girls here
I want to meet her. I will never forgive myself if I dont do this Klaus, my friend, you understand: this girl is exactly my type. Calm, beautiful, gentle, with good manners and also a teacher. She will be a wonderful wife and mother. Do you agree?
Josef, I now understand why you and I have been friends for so many years. The thing is, we like different girls, Klaus smiled. Even at the university, we always chose different ones and never conflicted on this issue. Ill tell you straight, Leah is not my type: I like more relaxed girls, like Tilda, slender blondes with blue eyes. Well, you understand me
No, I dont understand, Josef interrupted his friend. I dont understand anything now and I cant think about anything. All my thoughts are only about her.
And mine are only about how this will all end as soon as possible, and Tilda and I will be left alone. And if she sees that I have approached another You know what this could threaten me with.
Thats what youll definitely be in danger of if Tilda finds out about the affair with that blonde in Hamburg last summer. What was her name? Martha, right? And if you do not fulfill my request right now, then this night you will definitely be left alone, but with yourself.
Stop blackmailing me with that story! Klaus muttered dissatisfied. You know that I was drunk and if Tilda finds out anything about this, Ill be in trouble.
I give you my word that I will stop from the very minute you introduce me to Leah. Please, Klaus, do this for me, I beg you.
Have you decided to get married? the friend grinned.
I dont know yet, but nothing like this has ever happened to me before. I feel like I met the girl from my dreams. Josef rolled his eyes dreamily. I need to get to know her, and you can help me with this.
How?
You know her! You come up and introduce: This is Joseph Schwartz, my friend and colleague, also a doctor, he wants to meet you.
What if this bore appears? Klaus asked.
Then lets walk by and just say hello. Do it for the sake of our friendship.
You always knew how to find compelling arguments, Klaus sighed, getting up from his chair and gathering his resolve.
Thank you, friend, Josef said, stood up, buttoned the top button of his jacket and smoothed his hair.
Just let me think about how to do it without ruining my relationship with the bore. Klaus wrinkled his brow. If they get married and we become friends as families, then Paul will remind me until hes old that I introduced you to his fiancée.
Dont worry in advance, Josef chuckled. She can change her mind at any moment.
Lets go before I change my mind. Ill try to help you, but remember that Im doing this only for your sake, since you are my best friend, and not because of your vile blackmail, Klaus emphasized.
They approached Leah and Klaus introduced them to each other. Joseph looked at the girl carefully and, hearing a gentle voice, thought: Up close, she is even more beautiful, gentle and graceful She is exactly the one I always dreamed of meeting.
* * *
Having woken up early, Julie thought for a long time about what she had seen in her dream. She rolled up the canvas and put it on the cabinet in the hallway, deciding that today she would take the canvases to the framing workshop. For this she is ready to part with even the thirty pounds remaining in her wallet.
CHAPTER THREE
SUNDAY
Despite the day off, the actors and other theater workers, at Mr. Goulds request, unquestioningly agreed to hold an extraordinary rehearsal on Sunday afternoon. Mr. Gould, who began calling everyone on Saturday afternoon about the urgency of moving the rehearsal from Monday to Sunday, referred to his improved health, but Ms. Blunt guessed that it was due to her departure.
On this Sunday afternoon, Julie, as usual, was a little late for the rehearsal, but the first thing she did was run into a framing workshop not far from the theater. Laying out the canvases in front of James Clark, the owner of the workshop, the actress said:
Good afternoon, Mr. Clark. Its good that you are open despite the weekend.
Hello, Miss Blunt, the older man answered politely. We are a family business, and extra orders wont hurt. How can I help you?
Can you frame these three paintings?
Certainly. What color do you prefer?
Unfortunately, I dont know anything about painting design. I would like to completely trust your taste. What are your rates?
Based on the size of this canvas, one frame can cost from seven pounds.
What do they look like?
Ill now bring you several samples that, in my opinion, will harmoniously combine with the colors on these canvases. And you will choose the ones that you like the most.
Having rolled up the canvases, James Clark headed deeper into the studio and within a minute laid out several samples in front of the actress. Miss Blunt chose the baguette she liked and asked how much it would cost.
Forty-five pounds to decorate three paintings exactly like this, Mr. Clarke replied. You chose one of the most expensive options, it will fit perfectly with these paintings. If its expensive, you can choose, for example, these white ones only seven pounds per painting
No, I liked these ones, and the price is not the main thing. I have thirty pounds with me, I can give it to you now, and I will bring the remaining fifteen tomorrow.
You can pay after finishing the work, said the master, rolling up the canvases. Miss Blunt, we have known each other for several years. Although you do not often spoil us with your presence, your posters are always before our eyes.
Mr. Clark pointed to the glass door. Through it, Julie saw a billboard with her and Chuck. In large letters it read: Akiva and Rachel, and a little lower, in a smaller font, A love story that will not leave anyone indifferent.
My family and I will definitely come to see you and all the action, Mr. Clark smiled.
Come! I promise: you wont regret it.
Thank you, we will definitely come.
How long will it take to complete all the paintings?
I have other orders. It will take at least two to three days.
Miss Blunt urgently asked the master to finish work on at least one painting by tomorrow evening. Out of respect for the actress, James agreed, and promised to complete work on the other two on Tuesday.
Having thanked the master and handed him thirty pounds, Julie hurried to the exit, but then Mr. Clark asked:
Which painting should be completed first?
After weighing the pros and cons, the actress chose the oldest one, signed Mainz, Germany, 1929.
Julie decided to take a taxi because she was late for rehearsal. Sitting in the back seat, she gave the address and, lulled by the steady movement, fell asleep.
MAINZ, GERMANY, NOVEMBER 13, 1929
Thank you for agreeing to dance with me, said Joseph Schwartz, holding the girls tender hand in his palm.
Klaus really asked, and on his wedding day I couldnt refuse, answered Leah, who barely reached his shoulders.
I told Klaus that you are incredibly beautiful and that I wont be able to sleep tonight if I dont dance with you.
Leah was embarrassed and, to change the subject, asked:
What a beautiful melody, do you know who its author is?
This is Fryderyk Chopin, Waltz in C sharp minor. This work is sometimes called Waltz number seven, C sharp minor, since it is considered the seventh waltz composed by Chopin.
Are you that good at music? the girl looked at Joseph in surprise.
This is all my mother. She dreamed of me becoming a famous pianist, and even as a child she enrolled me in piano. I had some success, but I quit music school after studying for about five years, which I sometimes regret very much. Of course, I would not become a famous musician, but I could spend long evenings performing such beautiful works for my beloved woman and my children.
Who is your favorite composer?
Beethoven. But from now on, Chopins seventh waltz will take a special place in my heart, Josef replied. Which composer do you prefer, beautiful Leah?
I really like Johann Strauss. In my opinion, his music is light and airy.
You have excellent taste, the young man said, continuing to waltz, and after a pause he continued: Leah, let me note, you dance beautifully.
I did ballet as a child, but then I had to quit.
After a pause, Leah asked:
Joseph isnt that a Jewish name?