EDUCATION & STATEWIDE PARTNERSHIPS     |     FOR ADULTS     |     FOR TEENS     |     FOR FAMILIES & KIDS
FOR TEACHERS & STUDENTS     |     FOR STUDENT & PROFESSIONAL ARTISTS

The Honeymooner

Amaka Anikwe

Gabriella Washington sat at a table at the far end of the park as she waited for her husband of three weeks to show up. Late again, she thought; well that was just another thing they were going to have to work on. She sat upright in her chair with one hand folded over the other as if the eyes of the world were watching her every move. So concentrated on appearing perfect was she that she was oblivious to the ease of the scene around her. While the park was crowded it still appeared to be a sea of tranquility. Most were seated enjoying light afternoon conversations while others stood and swayed back and forth to music. As they moved, the light and the tree leaves danced together, creating a canopy above them. Finally, Richard appeared from the crowd. He sat next to Gabriella, while taking her hand is his and giving her a quick kiss.

“Gabbie, honey,” Richard said softly while letting go of her hand, “I’m leaving you. I’ve fallen in love, you see… with a French girl, and I think she and I are a better fit.” Richard paused for a reaction, but when her face showed no sign that she heard what he was saying he continued. “It’s just one of those things, I guess.”

“Just one of those things?” she spat the words back at him as she came back to life. “You are ending our marriage. You do not get to treat this as carelessly as you do everything else.”

“Well, I figured you might get upset,” he said more to himself than to her. “Look, you can keep the ring if you want.”

“Well I should hope so. After all, my father did pay for it and the rest of the wedding. What will people say? They all thought I was foolish to marry a painter. Why didn’t I listen?” Gabbie sat in her chair, half laughing to herself. “Everyone laughs at your work. They say it would never make it into any of the galleries—how could it?”

“Including you.” He gave a strained smile. “That’s our problem: there is no winning with you. I don’t work hard enough, I don’t dress well enough, we can’t even get through a meal without there being something wrong. I married you because I knew that was what you wanted. I thought it would make you happy, but all I’ve done is given you more reasons to find fault in me.”

“So after thinking this through carefully, and I’m sure you did, your solution is to give up and run?” “Oh, come on, Gabbie,” Richard said impatiently. “You never married me. You married an idea and hoped I would fit the concept. But if this is what our live together is going to be like, I don’t want any part of it.” With that Richard set his wedding ring on the table and disappeared back into the crowd of people.

Gabriella sat there for a few more moments to take in all that had happened. No one around her seemed to notice their conversation; the others were all filled with life and happy to be among the good company of others. Finally, Gabriella took a deep breath, gathered the ring and left.

Based on Pierre-Auguste Renoir's Dance at the Moulin de la Galette, 1876
Musée d'Orsay

Beyond the First Impression Main Page