5th January 1967
My life changed the moment I met Izzy, on that cold and windy day. I was walking on a wet and intensely green grass when I laid my eyes on a girl, who I thought has the same age as mine. She was solving a Rubick's triangle . I was very impressed at how easy it lokked like for her as she was playing with it. I walked to her and introduced myself. Her name is Izzy Rennert, she has the same age as mine. Her dream is to become a very famous magician, that is why she's been practicing whit her Rubick's triangle a lot. She showed me a magic trick with cards, but I didn't understand anything about it. Nevertheless, I know that she is going to be famous one day.
During the card trick, she said something that made me a little embarrassed. She said "Hey Jacob don't worry! This trick is easy to do and understand if you practice hard. I can teach you if you like...
Ten years later, 2th January 1976
Being a forger is tough but painting is my passion. I have to be careful all the time, and not get caught. I must hide my identity, and keep a low profile. It's frustrating to live in an apartment under the roofs, in a very expensive city. I struggle to find money to pay my rent on time, to avoid being evicted.
I decided to take a walk in London. I was hoping to find better and newer ways of earning money in a busy London district.I didn't realize how amazing it was to walk around the city, because I haven't done it before.
I kept walking down the road, until I saw a small shop with a poster that says « WE ARE LOOKING FOR AN EXCELLLENT ARTIST ». I took my chances, and entered the small dingy shop.
As confused as I was, I stayed.I asked « Hello! Is anybody here? », but no one answered. After a few minutes, I decided to leave the shop.
When all of a sudden, I heard a man's voice saying, "Wait! Please hold on "the young women continued talking:
« Can I help you? », she asked.
« Yes, I saw your poster outside, and got very interested in it. »
The shop owner continued
« That's great! Can you show me some of your pieces? Perhaps you've got a portfolio with you?
« Certainly! » I replied,« I have been painting ever since I could remember. It's a real passion of mine. Please have a look at my sketchbook. Perhaps you'll get an idea of my style and preferences in painting and by the way, my name is Jacob Mucho. What's yours miss? ».
To my surprise, I saw the shop owner staring at me. She looked as if she saw a ghost: « Jacob Mucho, you said? »
I replied shockingly:
« Yes, miss. My name is Jacob Mucho. Have we met? You sounded like you recognized me from somewhere ».
She said:
« Yes. Hi Jacob! It's me, Izzy. We met each other's, about nine years ago. Until one day, we just lost contact. Do you still remember me?
"Yes, of course! Oh my god it has been a while since we met each other! »
After recognizing each other, we then talked about our lives. On the other hand, I just kept quiet about my career, about being a forger; but she didn't seem to mind.
Izzy went on talking about his biggesttrick, and how she was preparing it. She said this trick will change the face of Magic, all around the world. I just stood there and listened, until she said:
"My last magic trick is to replace authentic paintings from a museum with fakes ones. I want to trick people that those paintings have disappeared, when in fact, I'm going to steal it from them."
I gasped in disbelief.
She went on, and said "That's where you'll come in. I needyou to paint me exact replicas of the pieces that we will be stealing at the museum. Are you up for it?"
Forging paintings is a crime, but stealing actual art pieces from a museum is just beyondcrazy !
But I wasdesperate. I needed the money to survive, so I agreed to it.
We are in Paris. Izzy's show begin, it is time for me to join the game
I creep in the Louvre,finally find the picture that I am looking for : « The Raft of the Medusa ». I take the picture and replace the real one by a false that I paint. A drop of sweat roll on my tempe. After Izzy's performance I join her in her lodge. She enters and looks very proud.
8th January 1982.
Izzy and I had agreat time for six years since we started our life as forgers. Nevertheless the police opened an investigation and discovered our life as forgers. We had a process and we went in jail for two months. We are really lucky, we didn't stay in jail for a long time.
When we got out of prison, someone from the Smithonian Museum from Washington D.C.proposed me to work for them, I accepted. For Izzy, a very famous producer asked her to work with him she agreed and like I said, we became famous. We stayed friends forever.
