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THIRTEEN

The day had been slow I had been hoping for more overflow fro to happen Only a few looky-loos had wandered in, and all of them had left soon after I spoke with the at sohtest rustle sent the away toward the sky

Nore today I couldn’t get the ie of Rafiq’s sad eyes out ofthat I had rand day out

“Excuse hts A short ed lady with a smart brunette bob and an expensive red pea coat stood in front of the counter where I was sitting

“Hi, how can I help you?”

“Are you the artist?” she asked

“I certainly am Can I answer any questions for you?”

I got up from the stool, ready to coer sparkling with a huge e full of pinks that was called Anastasia

“I just love this one Is it one of a kind?”

“Much like the artist, yes, all of her works are one of a kind”

Rafiq’s voice sounded before I could answer He had been walking toward us, a big smile on his face as he approached The woman whirled around to face him

“Rafiq, what are you doing here?” I asked, my eyebrows raised

“I’ up next to the woman in the red coat She had to crane her neck back to look up at hiht difference, but she clearly enjoyed his s woht”

The woled and wrapped her hand around the elbow Rafiq offered to her “By allman, convince away”

He led her back toward the painting, spinning a web as he did

“Miss Pryce is a self-taught A, supportive home, and thus she was allowed room to find her vision and let it flourish It’s all in the colors, you see That’s what you first noticed, isn’t it?”

“You’re exactly right, it is,” said the woman

“Tell me the way the colors of this make you feel Why do you like it?” Rafiq asked her

“I like the way it reain It reminds me of the dollhouse my father and brother built forat it I can still taste the pastries my mother baked us”

“You see?” said Rafiq “None of that is here in the painting, and yet all of it is This painting had the power to take you back to your childhood and fill your tongue with the taste of forgotten sweetness This is the power of color that Miss Pryce has mastered To have one of her works in your hothat happy sensation every time you walk by it from now on”

Whether he knew it or not, Rafiq had drawn a crowd of gallery custo intently to his bold delivery He was an i eable dissect art Rafiq had the out of the palm of his hand

The woman in the red coat waved her hands atwas hers

“I asked first!” she said “Create an invoice for enuinely concerned that one of the other patrons would swipe it out from under her

Rafiq looked up at me from over the top of her head with a wink and a smile

I didn’t have any strength to resist him at thathim advocate for my craft and my livelihood with all the passion of an artist himself

He wasit very, very difficult not to fall in love with him

“The art is priceless, friends,” said Rafiq to the crowd “And you would be truly foolish to pass up the chance to own a Pryce In fact, this et” The crowd laughed and a few clapped

Rafiq turned toward , a little stunned, behind my white counter He took careful steps toward me as he spoke The crowd h crystal clear water