The Blue Vase.(Kevin Hughes) It was stunning. Elegant. Wonderful.
It was also simple.
A Blue Vase.

The woman who made it: Sylvia Monet DePleasance, never lived long enough to see it grow in value. She just thought it was her best work. So she kept it in her studio in a place of Honor, right next to the two most important people in the world to her. Her two Children: Sophia, and Hudges . They are fraternal twins, but seemed to share the same soul. Hudges got his name because of a typo on the Birth Certificate…it was supposed to be Hodge. Hudges didn’t care, he loved his name and wouldn’t change it for anything. Of course, his friends and Sister call him: Hu. His acquaintances called him Hudge: “Rhymes with “fudge” -he would laugh and tell them.

Now, more than two decades after their Mother’s Death, the Twins were hosting the Foundation Dinner …a Foundation built and financed by leasing the Blue Vase to the Chinese. Not sold. Leased. To a Westerner... the sum paid to keep the Blue Vase on display in China…was beyond ridiculous. A Billion Dollars…a year? Mind boggling. Yet it was considered a bargain for anyone who ever saw it.

When asked how they ever got this rich, rich enough to finance Art Education in over one hundred and seventy Countries around the world. The Twins would laugh.

“A single blue vase.”

“That can’t be. I mean it is just a vase.”

Their eyes would twinkle as they laughed at: “oh…just a vase.”

“Have you seen it? I mean…in person?”

“No.”

“Perhaps you should. Then you tell us what it is worth.”

The Reporter (who was just looking for a way to write a story to show how foolish the Chinese were…and how gullible) spouted back:

“Fine. I will do just that.”

Afer eighteen hours in the air, and almost two days staggering around airports the Reporter finally got to Beijing. She was given a unique privilege by the Chinese Government (due to the “heads up” from the Twin children of Sylvia herself); she was allowed to see the Blue Vase at night, when the Museum was closed. She could look at it all she wanted. Only a few Guards and some privileged Officials would be there with her.

She entered the room. The Blue Vase was just sitting in the open, on a table about chest high. It was right out in the open. If there was some kind of high tech security around it…well she couldn’t spot it. There was just a taped line on the floor with a polite card in more than ten languages that read:

“Please, admire the Blue Vase from behind the tape.”

So she did.

Someone tapped her shoulder. Gently. Softly. Hesitantly. She snapped out of her admiration of the Blue Vase. She almost fell, but a strong arm caught her as she spun towards the touch. She was weak…thirsty…and had to go to the bathroom. She wondered if she was coming down with something. The strong gripped increased, pulling her towards an alcove that had several fruit juices and some healthy snacks.

“You must eat. And rest. You have been staring at the Blue Vase for more than nine hours. Don’t worry, that happens to all of us. And it isn’t even close to the record for folks who get lost in their admiration of the Blue Vase either.”

She stumbled a bit at his off handed remark: “You have been staring at the Blue Vase for more than nine hours.” Nine hours! Was I in a trance, she thought to herself. She found she was terribly thirsty and drank almost a liter of juice, and ate five of the little sausage pastries before hustling to the nearest bathroom. She relieved herself and then splashed ice cold water on her face.

“Nine Hours! Nine hours. It has to be some kind of spell!”

A soft chuckle made her aware she was talking out loud. She turned to see another woman smiling at her.

“The record is a little over forty eight hours…for one viewing.”

“What?”

“Yes. Most folks forget to eat, move, and sometimes …even breath. The Blue Vase kind of sucks you into its perfection.”

The Reporter nodded.

“I know, it was like staring into perfection. I didn’t want to leave.”

“None of us do.”

With a little pat on her shoulder, a delicate pat, one filled with a shared experience and understanding, the other woman left the bathroom.

Later, after filing her report, her Boss said:

“Kelsie, what in the world were you thinking when you wrote that piece? I mean sure, it is the most popular and quote article this magazine has ever put out…and it will win you the Pulitzer Prize too, but my God Kelsie, what made you say it was worth every penny…and more.”

Kelsie smiled up at her slightly taller Boss.

“What made me write it that way? The Blue Vase did.”

“Oh, come on, it is just a vase. A blue vase.”

“Have you seen it…I mean in person?”

“No. Just pictures.”

“Then I suggest you go see it for yourself.”

Two days, twenty hours in the air…and the Editor showed up to see the Blue Vase. Filled with skepticism, cynicism, and a bit of jet lag. They showed her the blue vase.

She stumbled into the bathroom almost ten hours later. Having downed a liter and a half of juice, six sausage rolls, and a banana. She washed her face with cold water…took out her phone and texted just two words to Kelsie. Letting her know what she thought the Blue Vase was worth.

“Every Penny.”

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