What is that?
A painting
I can see that
Don’t you like it?
I hate it
Why?
Because it exploits the subject
I bet you do not even know its title
I do
Then tell me
It is called The Death of Minnehaha by William Dodge
How did you know that?
I came across it when I was studying the Longfellow poem
Why do you hate it?
Because it is so unreal
The poem is unreal
In the poem she has died terribly in the winter during a famine I believe
And?
There she is stretched out on the bed as it she is taking an afternoon nap after a hard day on the plains
It is her nudity that bothers you
It does not bother me but the artist is exploiting the subject
She has perfect breasts and beautiful olive coloured skin and raven hair to die for
She is there to be admired
Her defences are down
They usually are when one is dead
And Hiawatha has brought a friend along to have a look at her tits
That is why you liked the painting
Fuck off Scheherazade
Would you have brought it if it had showed Minnehaha covered in vomit and wearing a stinking cow skin garment much stained?
No you would not have purchased the painting
You are jealous of the painting you really are
Why should I be?
Because you are ginger
I like being ginger
And you have big breasts covered in freckles
If you do not like seeing them then do not come into the bathroom when I am in there
Nature calls we only have one toilet as you may have noticed
Hold yourself
Does it bother you?
No
Then why say it?
Because you are jealous of the painting
Fuck you Daniel you will not make me cry
I like the painting and it is going to stay there above the fireplace whether you like it or not
You may not have noticed but I own this flat
Do you want me to leave?
No
You have never really got over it have you?
Got over what?
That Sheba and I inherited Daddy’s dark complexion and you poor you inherited Mummy’s pale complexion
Mummy is beautiful
I am not saying that she is not beautiful
That is a cruel thing to say
What you would give for Sheba’s olive skin and raven eyes
Do you know something Daniel you can be a real shit sometimes
Are you are a bitch
You attack things without reason
I do not like the painting
Tough
So when I am in here I am going to have to stare at her tits all the time
Sheba will not like it
She likes it
She was here earlier on
She loves the subject and the romantic interpretation of the painting
Balls
She loves beautiful things
Sheba is beautiful
Unlike me
I did not say that
When you see me naked in the bath do you desire me?
You are my sister
If I was not your sister but just a random flat mate would you desire me?
I have never thought of it
Liar
Well you are beautiful in a Celtic type of way
Pale is beautiful you know
But you prefer Minnehaha and her perky olive tits
It’s a fucking painting that’s all
Then take it down
Fuck off Scheherazade and get your head in order
Don’t cry
You made me cry you bastard
You can cry as much as you like but I am not going to take the painting down
You can have my Matisse you know how much you like it
It looks better in your bedroom the colours work well
What are you doing?
I am taking my top off
Why?
I am going to stretch out on the settee with the throw half covering me so every time you come in here to eat or watch television you will see me in exactly the same pose as the dead Minnehaha
And when mummy and daddy visit
They will understand
And Sheba
I will ask her to join me
What happens if I have problems with the gas?
We are all electric
Ok you win I will take the painting down
Put your top back on
Can I replace it with the Matisse?
If you like
And what will happen to poor naked Minnehaha
She will have to share my bedroom with me
You and all your girlfriends
I am sure they will object
That will most likely be the last thing on their minds
May I get the Matisse now?
Go ahead I will remove the Minnehaha painting
It was short but painful stay
See that looks better
I think it looked better in your bedroom
And I think that your painting looks better where it is
I disagree
Sheba will not like it
Sheba does not live here
Sheba liked the painting
Then Sheba can sit at your desk and admire the painting and you can drink coffee together and discuss its merits or lack of them
Why are you smiling?
It’s nothing
Don’t sulk
I am not sulking
I was just thinking what Richard Burton said of you
Scheherazade had perused the works of the poets and knew them by heart she had studied philosophy and the sciences the arts and other accomplishments and she was pleasant and polite wise and witty well read and well bred
Fuck off Daniel