Worth

This story placed 2nd in the Springfield Writer’s Guild 2022 Spring Contest. The prompt was this photo.

            Marit stood in the bright lights of the art gallery, surrounded by people who sparkled. She felt old and out of place in her flat support shoes and flowered print dress that hung below her knees. The scent of shrimp and lemon tarts swirled around the hushed voices of the well-dressed patrons discussing the art with such knowing tones.

            She stared at one of the pictures her great-granddaughter had displayed. She was asking $400 for it. Who would pay such a price? Was it worth that?

            Marit felt someone glide up next to her. She was young, pretty, and blonde.

            “Has it sold yet?”

            “No,” Marit replied.

            “Oh good,” the young woman gushed, “I love it so much. You weren’t going to buy it were you?”

            “No. I already have it. Of all the pictures, I cannot believe that one will be on someone’s wall. Not the one on my wedding day when I had a waist, like you.”

            “That’s you? Wow! Is your husband here too?” she asked, looking around.

            “Oh no, he died some years ago.” 

            Marit missed him still. Looking at that picture, she could feel her arm slipped through his, putting a little weight on him as they walked up the hill. She missed his smile, his eyes, his laugh, and his support. It was a lonely life without him.

            “I’m so sorry. Tell me about him.”

            “He was a very good man, and very handsome when he was young. We met before the war, at the market. I was selling flowers and he was buying some for another girl, but he ended up giving them to me instead. We married and had our first baby not long after. When we saw the war was coming to the Netherlands, Peter got us to America, safe from all the death. We had three more childrens here.”

            “Ah, I was wondering where your accent was from. The wooden shoes should have been a clue.”

            “When we were home on the farm, we spoke Dutch and wore our Dutch clothes. I know you will not believe it, but wooden shoes are more practical and comfortable than American shoes. Now let me ask you something. Why do you want this picture of two old people?”

            The young woman grew silent, running her finger around the edge of her wineglass. She finally spoke, “My husband and I are going through a bit of a rough patch. We love each other, but sometimes it’s so hard. I’ve thought about divorce. We both have. This picture will remind me what the goal is and that it’s worth it.” She paused and glanced at the older woman. “It is worth it, right?”

            Marit paused as she considered her words. “Raising childrens in a strange country was also hard. And I miss my thin waist and how pretty I felt before the childrens. With each one my waist got thicker until it is what it is now. But I would not give up any of them to have that waist back. Well, maybe Levi, but then Anika would not have been born to take this photograph.” Her eyes twinkled with teasing and the young woman next to her laughed.

            The older woman continued. “Hard things change you, but they give you many blessings too. Is your husband kind to you?”

            “Very.”

            “Is he there for you when things go bad?”

            “Most of the time.”

            “And does he make you laugh?”

            Her eyes sparkled, “Yes he does. Almost every day.”

            Marit paused and asked her final question. “What nothings do you two do?”

            The young woman was puzzled, “Do you mean what do we do together?”

            “No. I mean all the best friendships are made from nothings. Remember your friends when you were young? Hours of nothings but talking, dreaming, and laughing. That is why they are your best friends. So, my question is, can you do nothings with your husband?”

            “Oh yes, my favorite days with him are when we’re home together doing nothing.”

            Marit smiled, took her hand and patted it. “Then yes, dear, it is worth it.”

            The young woman smiled and placed a red dot on the placard by the photo.