STORY STAR
Congratulations !
You have been awarded points.
Thank you for !
- Story Listed as: Fiction For Adults
- Theme: Inspirational
- Subject: History / Historical
- Published: 12/03/2021
Two Faces
Born 1975, F, from Colombo, Sri Lanka.jpeg)
Author's Note- This piece was written using a story narrated by our Parish Priest several years ago. He used this story as a starting point for his sermon one Sunday.
I mentioned this on Shirley Smothers story thread. She encouraged me to write my own piece using this story. This is probably the shortest short story I have ever written. I hope you enjoy it.
*****
He made his way stealthily through the streets trying to avoid bumping into people. He was on a mission of great importance. He had made up his mind to create his next masterpiece several months ago, it was almost finished.
He only had to paint two more characters in, the two most important characters of the story that he is going to tell through his painting.
He was in search of that perfect face. The most important face of all. He needed to find the right...no, the perfect character with the right demeanour.
As he made his way up the crowded street scrutinising every face, he was beginning to get disheartened. None of them had the features he was looking for.
He was about to turn back to head home when he spotted a young man emerging from the Church. He stood there rooted to the spot, practically staring at him.
That’s him...that’s the face I am looking for! He told himself, gleefully. He approached the young man and introduced himself.
“Excuse me, Senor, could I have a moment of your time? My name is DaVinci...Leonardo DaVinci, he said, bowing graciously.
“The young man smiled and said, “I know who you are! What can I do for you Senor DaVinci?"
“Ahh! It’s funny you should ask” said he, grinning and continued, “I am at present painting a depiction of ‘The Last Supper.’ I am almost finished, but I haven’t been able to find the right face to represent our Lord. That is, until I saw you. I must say, you are just the man I am looking for. Kind eyes, the most angelic face! Would you permit me to sketch you?”
The young man replied happily, “Senor, first of all, thank you ever so much for that compliment. I am humbled and honoured at the same time, that you think me suitable to be the face of our Lord. Of course you can sketch me!”
A year later...
He found himself prowling the streets again. This time in search of a different face for a different character, altogether. He had been searching for months but so far he had been unlucky. As usual he was becoming frustrated, impatient. His masterpiece is nearly finished. But that face, the second most important face of all, has thus far eluded him.
Once again he walked searching hoping and yes...even praying that he would happen upon the right face. Suddenly an idea popped into his head. He told himself. “Maybe I am searching in the wrong place. I should search somewhere different. Having decided he made his way in the opposite direction towards that dreaded building.
Several minutes later he found himself being escorted by a guard down a dark and filthy corridor. The guard upon reaching the end of the corridor stopped and pointed at an individual behind the cell.
“Will he do?” the guard inquired still pointing.
He drew near and peered inside as the man in the cell stood up and stepped forward almost reluctantly. He gazed at him for quite sometime as the guard drew the lamp he was carrying towards the prisoner.
“Good Lord! Yes he will do quite nicely” he replied triumphantly, relieved that he has found the perfect visage at last with a pair of cruel almost deceptive eyes. The face of a manipulator!
Once the guard left them alone he drew even closer and introduced himself to the prisoner and told him the reason why he is there. The prisoner nodded consent almost embarrassed at the prospect of being sketched for a painting of such great importance.
A few moments later as he was halfway into his sketch, he heard a whimpering sound coming from behind the cell. He lifted his head and saw that his subject was crying. He put the charcoal down and slowly approached the cell.
“My dear fellow, whatever is the matter?” he inquired somewhat concerned. The prisoner, wiping his tears with his dirty palms replied.
“Forgive me Senor, I didn’t mean to disturb your sketching.”
“That’s alright, I could do with a little break. Now tell me, why are you upset? He inquired.
“You don’t remember me, do you?” asked the prisoner looking at the artist.
He, scratching his head, replied, “I don’t think I do, forgive me, but I meet so many people. It’s hard to remember all their faces. Where have I seen you before? Please enlighten me.”
The prisoner looked straight at the artist and said with a sad far-away look in his eyes.
“One year ago, it was me whom you painted as our Lord!”
The artist stared at the man in the cell, in total shock and disbelief.
.png)
.jpeg)
.jpeg)
.jpeg)
.jpeg)
.jpeg)
.jpeg)
COMMENTS (6)