Page 27 of Fe
“How did kintsugi start? Who came up with the idea of using gold?”
“The story goes that a 15thcentury ruler, Ashikaga Yoshimasa, broke one of his favourite tea bowls and sent it back to China for repair. When it was returned, he wasn’t happy with it and asked a local craftsman to find a more pleasing way to repair it. I guess, gold always pleases. But then there was no super glue in those days.”
Ripley followed Fen round enjoying his enthusiasm.Is he taking pictures of me too?Maybe.
A waiter held out a tray of smoked salmon blinis. Ripley took one, Fen didn’t. The waiter moved on.
“Have you eaten?” Ripley asked.
Fen nodded.
“Do you want to go round again or have you seen enough?”
“I wouldn’t mind going round again. If that’s okay.”
“Take as much time as you like.” Ripley enjoyed looking at him.
“Excuse me.”
They both turned to see a tall slender woman in a red dress smiling at them. Well, smiling at Fen.
“You have the look,” she said to Fen.
Fen frowned. “Excuse me?”
She offered a card. Ripley read it before Fen took it.Alicia Dupont.Her email and phone number below.
“I’m a scout for Elite Models.”
Fen let out a snort of laughter.
“I’m not joking. There’s something about you…”
“My just-got-out-of-bed look?” Fen was still smiling.
“Exactly. Is the crutch temporary or permanent?”
“Does it matter?”
“Not really. It’s kind of sweet. Different. And yet irrelevant. Sorry.”
Ripley was desperate to intervene but he kept quiet.
“You’re the sort of face we’re looking for. Give me a call. You can come in and see if the camera loves you as much as I do. What do you think? No obligation. We’ll even pay travel expenses.”
“What’s the catch?” Ripley couldn’t keep quiet any longer.
She turned to him. “I’m not asking for any money.”
“Not now maybe, but somewhere down the line there’ll be a request for payment for professional photographs, training courses.”
She shook her head. “No, there won’t. We’re not that sort of agency. If the camera loves you, then we can talk. If…what’s your name?”
“Fen.”
“If you make the cut, Fen, you make money. Our agency puts together a portfolio we present to clients. We take a commission for any jobs you’d get. No upfront fee. What do you say?”
“No thanks.” Fen held out the card.
