A Lost Art
*** This is my second 60-second story. It’s a quick read and comes with a satisfying twist. Follow my account for more weekly shorts! Happy reading. ***
“So, what exactly are the submission guidelines?” the man asked.
The museum curator stared blankly from across the table. “Well, that depends on what you’re looking to submit?”
“It’s all there in the proposal,” the man replied.
“I see,” the museum curator muttered, fingering the stack of papers before him. “It is quite an interesting proposal, Mr. …”
“Roberts,” the man answered.
“Right. Though I must be honest, Mr. Roberts. Nothing like this has ever come across my desk before. And to be frank, I’m not quite sure how to handle it. You know, the museum has certain… limitations.”
Mr. Roberts glanced around the room. “Yeah, that’s what everyone’s been telling me. So what can you do for me?”
“Well, Mr. Roberts, I can’t do much. We would be honored to display some of your… craftsmanship here at the museum, but I can’t make you a formal offer.”
“I don’t need a formal offer. I just want you to display the stuff. I’ve already written the text for the placards.” He pulled a stack of index cards from his bag.
The museum curator glanced down at them.
“We simply have no room.”
“Pick one of those glass cases and clear out the old crap.”
“Mr. Roberts, I appreciate your passion, but that is not how the museum works. We have boards, we have committees, we have donors. They will never approve of this. Again, I appreciate your generosity and recognize your ability, but we cannot entertain your offer at this time.”
Mr. Roberts spent another few minutes admonishing the museum curator for his spineless nature and poor taste. He eventually left. On his drive home, he ran over a possum but was so disheartened by the recent rejection that he didn’t even stop to pick it up.