Page 91 of Yellow
“That’s a long story. I won’t bore you with it, but it might amuse you to hear that when I first met Gabriel I was a Goth with piercings, black hair, and black make-up.”
I widened my eyes. Cia was wearing a long and very feminine dress. “I have a hard time imagining you as a Goth chic,” I said.
“It’s true. I was very badass.”
“A nose ring doesn't make you look badass… it makes you look like a fish that got away,” I said with a wry smile.
She laughed. “Well, I thought I looked really badass.”
We walked down a corridor and entered a nice office with a large painting on the wall.
“Wow. You did that?” I asked and stepped closer to the massive frame that was at least six feet tall and two feet wide.
“Uh-huh.” She nodded next to me.
“I’m impressed.”
It was a painting of Melody and Christian standing on each side of a picket fence smiling at each other.
On Melody’s side of the fence she stood in a field of wildflowers, holding a braided basket full of vegetables. Her long red hair and summer dress were fluttering in the wind and she had no shoes on.
Christian on the other hand stood in front of a farmhouse with pigs, cows, and hens around him. There was even a rooster on the roof. He had a rolled-up shirt and jeans on. They looked happy and were reaching out to hold hands.
“Very symbolic,” I said while my eyes took in all the beautiful details of the painting.
“I like my pictures to hold a deeper meaning.”
I turned my head to look at her. “And what meaning would a portrait of me hold?”
She tilted her head and nibbled on her lip. “I don’t know yet. I just had a feeling when you and Cleo walked in.”
“And what feeling would that be?”
“Just that there was a story to tell.”
I pointed to the painting. “Like the vegan and the carnivore meeting in the middle?”
“I like contrasts – it makes for dramatic paintings – and you two represent fire and water to me.”
“How so?”
“Cleo represents the all-consuming fire of the American dream.”
I narrowed my eyes, signaling for her to elaborate.
“Fire needs material to sustain its flames. It can give you warmth and be fascinating to watch, but ultimately it’ll suck the oxygen out of a room and potentially kill you. Fire leaves behind a trail of darkened and crippled land.”
“And what about water?” I said slowly.
“You represent water because the Native Americans have a tradition of nurturing the land and protecting it. From water comes life.”
“True,” I said. “But people also drown in water and I think you judge the fire too harshly.”
“And why is that?”
“Because a good fire can benefit nature. Many plant and animal species are dependent on periodic fire for their growth and reproduction.”
“For real?”
