The Lady in Blue

Apartment 204B it’s been two months in an apartment where the walls are browned from water leakage. A block of the ceiling has fallen, it adds decor to the brown carpet that smells like mildew. I cough as the dust settles in the air, and something pokes out of the rubble. A gold intricate frame and painting of what looks to be blue fabric. I dust off the rubble and there she is, the Lady in Blue, the reason I bought this dump in the first place. A knock at the door distracts me, and so I turn around, and a sharp pain in my head, and everything goes black.

My head is fuzzy, and my vision is unclear. I try to open my eyes, but the glare of a light makes my head pound. Hello, a voice says. You’re finally awake, the voice says. Who the fuck are you I ask? My name is Daniel, but you can call me Daniel. Wow, I can call you by your name, what a privilege I mockingly say. A sharp pain of a palm slapping my cheek. The lady in blue is the only piece from the late 1800s of an African American woman, and do you know how rare it is to find a painting of a black woman from that time and have her in slave’s clothing but finery he says. Are you asking me as a Black woman or just a kidnapped side piece? Daniel chuckles, a side piece, no, this is not a rhetorical question. I wonder how you, Bethina Sanders of apartment 204B at 1200 West Marshall St.  I love how you think that’s cute knowing my address, I snark back. Daniel steps into the light and there's a scar over his eyes. Oh your white, I love that for you, what are you kkk I say before I’m interuppted with another slap. I am not part of the prejudiced half-brained KKK, you could do with a little less prejudice, racism isn’t just a white person thing, he says. Then what do you want with my ancestor's painting, I ask? I think you mean our Ancestor, he says with a smirk. Daniel unties my wrists, and apologizes for slapping me. Wait, why did you hit me if I were supposedly related? Mrs. Sanders Daniel starts, I interrupt him and say call me Beth and then I backhand him. You didn’t even try to duck I say to him? We are both standing and Daniel looks at me and I see him clearer, he’s biracial. I didn’t know you were black, I say to him. I’m black and white Daniel replies, and I’m your half brother. I squint and Daniel meets my eyes for an uncomfortable minute, neither of us are backing down. You look like her, I say? Who our mother Daniel replies. No, the lady in blue I say? I finally look around, I’m in an office. Wow, nice office. It looks like an old professor owns it, I say. You can say it, Daniel says. Ok thank you,it looks like a white professor who has tenure and grandkids. I look to my right and the paintings on the desk wrapped in tissue paper. Why’d you hit me, I ask? Daniel says nothing and walks around the big mahogany desk where the painting sits. Daniel unwraps the painting and a black woman 20’s unsmiling, wearing a fine blue dress. I hit you because someone was watching us, Daniel finally responds. Who I ask? No one for you to worry about. Do you know how much this painting sells for Daniel say’s? No, when are you going to answer any of my questions, I ask? The painting is worth practically nothing for it’s time Daniel says. Then why do you want it I ask? I don’t my family does Daniel replies. Don’t you mean our family? No, I mean my family on the other side he says. Your dad’s side, what do they want with it, I ask? Smart didn’t think you had brains. My father is white and racist, he say’s. Then how the fuck did he supposedly fuck my mom, he didn’t I say scared. No, he actually liked her and she fealt well the same Daniel sighs, but he never meant to make a mistake out of it Daniel says. Well, my mother used to say I was a mistake too, you know it happens, I say jokingly. Daniel chuckles, I need this painting.  Well so do I, I reply? Daniel says I’ll pay 1 million for it. I laugh and then start to choke on air, you’re being serious, I say. Daniel says yes his face stony and serious. I don’t want your money, I say, if you offered me a billion I still wouldn’t take it. Daniel asks Why? My mama wanted that painting and I’m getting get it so don’t diss me by offering your racist dad’s money I say disgusted. Fine I won't and I’m sorry for your loss, Daniel say’s. I’m happy you’re not willing to sell because I don’t want you to, before you interrupt. Daniel whispers in my ear and I smile. Are you sure I ask our faces not even a cm apart, he smiles and say’s hell yeah sister. He steps back and then walks out of the room. I take the painting, open the window, jump out, and land on a roof. A white angry man in his 70’s yells at a convertible hood down pulling out and I wait for the right moment and jump.  I look up at the sky and then look at Daniel, who's been doing your hair, it’s clean. He laughs and then I’m laughing and we're off into the proverbial sunset, Brother and Sister with a painting of our mother’s mother, our Lady in Blue and if you look close behind the lady is a child, hiding behind her skirts, I kiss the spot where the child hides and say your coming home mama.