ARROW - 69. Chapter 69

Arriving at the gallery I noticed a car was parked in the car park at the rear of the building. Walking into the gallery, I went to the office.

“I’m glad you are here. There is a gentleman in the village with the professor. I believe he may have a project for you. Here are applications for apartment rentals. You need to set a price.”

I briefly looked through the applications, most were from students. One was from a student working on his doctorate and one was from an older professor of history. I remember him as he and the Professor use to have a debate over new age artists and artists of the past.

Mom was right I needed to determine rental fees.

Walking into the village, “Here is the artist now.”

“Armand, this is Dr. Kevin Chase. He’s planning on opening a children's clinic here. I’ve convinced him he should paint his walls with children in mind. I’m showing him the village as an example.”

“It’s nice to meet you Dr. Chase. The Professor is a devout fan of mine.”

“This village is quite extraordinary. Edward tells me this is a copy of the village in Italy where you stayed when you visited Europe.”

“Yes, I spent my summer breaks when I was a student working toward my Bachelors degree. Since then I have spent several weeks there. I stayed at that home and have come to consider them family.”

“Would you consider painting a mural that would appeal to children?”

“Do you have an idea of what you would like to have on the mural?”

“My clients would be children from a 2 years old to 14 years old. There may be an occasional new born and a child older than 14. I would need something that would have a broad appeal.”

“Give me your card and I’ll give you a call. I need to think about this.”

We discussed the village, the lightening which simulates the time of a day. As we were discussing the village, I heard Grandmother. Then Dad, where are you?

“This is my son,” as I had two arms wrapped around me.

“We are going to look around the gallery. I wanted to show him one of my students statue.”

Saying goodbye, Tommy and I headed to the office. Colin had bought a small refrigerator for the office. Mom had complained that she couldn’t go to lunch some times. She didn’t want to leave the gallery when the gallery was opened.

That evening, I told Colin about the request by the doctor for a mural in his office.

“Do you want to do it?”

“I don’t know? How would I protect something like a mural? I could understand a mural in a museum or gallery, there would be systems that would protect the mural. But a doctors office where the mural would be open to anyone.”

“Unless someone took the wall, they couldn’t remove it.”

“No, but they could destroy it. A child with a crayon could write on it, or a child could smear it with their dirty hand.”

“Could you paint a mural on the top half of the wall so small kids couldn’t reach it. Could you cover the painting with glass or several coats of a clear lacquer.”

“You know, the more I think about it, the more I don’t think I’ll do it.”

“Sleep on it.”

I brought Colin up to date on my visit with the police.

“You going to call that man?”

“Yes, when Tommy is in school, I’ll go and see him.”

In the morning I made my decision about the mural for the doctor. I’ll call the Professor today and suggest he asks one of his students to do the mural. It would be good publicity and they would probably do it for less than I would charge.

Over breakfast I told Colin my decision. He agreed with me, “You’ll build some good will with the art department at Yale.”

I felt good about my decision. Now to concentrate on security for the gallery.

I was in a good mood for some reason. Leaving the apartment for school, I tossed Tommy over my shoulder and headed for the club’s kitchen. Tommy was giggling of course me tickling him a little helped.

Getting to the car, I dumped Tommy in the front seat. He was still laughing when I got in. “Dad, that was fun.” I just reached across, hugged him, kissed him on the top of his head. He was smiling all the way to school.

I called the security company the chief of police gave me. They agreed to send someone to the gallery this afternoon. Now I need to check with the Professor to discuss the doctor’s mural.