An Immortal Error: a story in 60 seconds
Some mistakes last a lifetime...others last longer
“And now, without further ado,” the mayor announced to the crowd gathered around him. “Scottsville is proud to dedicate this monument to our native daughter, the tremendously gifted and world-renowned writer—Katheleen Anne Rice!”
With a ceremonial bow, the mayor yanked off the white cotton sheet covering the amorphous shape behind him. Underneath was a bronze statue of a woman at her writing desk, pen in her right hand, scribbling vigorously at a manuscript splayed across the tabletop. A small corgi sat coiled at her feet in quiet repose.
The fifty or so spectators applauded generously.
The mayor gave everyone a minute to appreciate the intricacies of the casting. Outwardly, he presented calm and stately, but inside, he was riddled with nerves. This was the first statue he had ever commissioned, and he knew it would be a town fixture for decades. He reviewed every detail personally and recruited one of the finest sculptors in the region to do the casting. In his eyes, it would be one of the high points of his career.
But he had withheld the biggest surprise of all.
“To accept this honor,” he began again, “I’m thrilled to welcome Kathleen Anne Rice’s granddaughter, Amy Rice.”
A young woman with glasses and a mop of frizzy brown hair stepped forward. The mayor looked at her warmly and ushered her closer with a wave of his hand. She walked over cautiously and forced a tepid smile.
“What do you think?” the mayor asked. “Would grandma approve?”
He lowered the mic to her mouth.
“Um,” the young woman mumbled nervously. “Yes, I think she would.”
The mayor wasn’t entirely satisfied.
“Does it capture her passion? Her spirit? Her immense devotion to her craft?”
The young woman kept staring at the statue. “Yeah, I guess you could say all that. She loved to write, after all.”
The mayor sensed the crowd’s attention slipping away.
“Okay, Amy,” he said, his tone slightly peeved. “Is there anything else you’d like to add before we conclude the ceremony?”
“Well, the statue is very nice,” she said, turning to it and then back to the crowd. “The only problem is that my grandma was a lefty.”