The naked lady

Part 4: Zadok - one

There have been many warnings.

All of them land in the bin.

But today, Zadok knows he'll have to face them.

His debt is too much.

He'll have to go to the bank.

The bus will be the easiest way to go.

Zadok decides instead to walk.

There is nothing better than some exercise.

Moscow has good weather this time of the year.

The fresh air is inevitable.

Zadok suddenly comes upon a strange woman.

In her arms, she holds something big and significant.

Zadok watches her from afar.

The woman is struggling with a painting.

It is too large. It makes her walk slowly.

'You need help?' Zadok shouts.

It is only them in the street.

Coming closer, the woman puts down the large painting.

She smiles, 'I am Josephine.'

Zadok also introduces himself; they shake hands.

Josephine looks down at the painting. It is bare.

'It is by Penn Sabitov.'

Zadok nods; he has heard of Penn.

The painting is about two children fighting.

One cries, the other screams.

Between them, they have a broken doll.

It is magnificent, the light and darkness a mystery.

'It is beautiful,' Zadok says.

They stand looking at it in wonder.

Zadok can sense a sadness about Josephine, a hopelessness.

Josephine tries lifting the painting.

But it slides down her hands quickly.

'Don't worry, I will carry it,' Zadok tries helping.

The painting is uncomfortably big.

But Zadok is a very big man.

He follows Josephine all through the streets of Moscow.

They come to her house.

From the outside the house looks perfect.

It looks somewhat small but well-kept and very white.

Inside the house is dark.

Zadok puts the painting against a wall.

'Please stay for some tea,' Josephine asks, almost pleading.

Josephine goes into the kitchen.

Zadok can look around and see everything.

There are hundreds of ornaments. She is a collector.

She must have travelled well.

The tea is served in big cups.

'Your house is so unique. It truly is interesting.'

'It is all I have.

I have been all over the world.

But decided to settle here in this city: Moscow.'

'My wife would love this.'

Zadok is still looking all around him.

Everything has its place; it all fits in effortlessly.

'Those masks are from Africa.'

Josephine points to them hanging up above.

'And those hats come from Mexico, my favourite holiday.'

Zadok nods, looking all over.

Then Josephine becomes a new person altogether.

She does not speak. She looks at the painting.

'It is for my daughter.'

For the first time, Zadok feels uncomfortable.

'Let us take it to her room,' Josephine says.

She motions Zadok to follow.

There is no furniture in the room.

Only a little wooden chair sits in one corner.

Josephine puts on the light.

Every wall is covered in different paintings.

From the roof to the floor, they all hang.

It is a great collection.

All the paintings share one common theme.

They are about children. Some happy but most sad.

Zadok is taken by surprise.

The big room shows who Josephine is.

It is a deep loneliness that Zadok cannot ignore.

'Where is your daughter Josephine?'

'Oh! She is in Brazil... far away...

I haven't seen her in some time, it seems.'

Zadok leaves Josephine at noon.

Before he goes, she shakes his hand.

'Your visit has meant so much to me, Zadok.

You are a great man.

I haven't spoken to anyone in weeks.'

'It has been a small adventure,' Zadok leaves her.

Someone else was also there.

The angel Selaphiel looks on at Zadok.

His heart feels warm for the good Zadok did.

'Lord, bless Josephine,' Zadok prays.

'Make her loneliness less, give her joy.

You are God; bring her daughter back to her.'