Mark
and Deena
by
Per Jespersen
One morning Mark and Deena biked to
Dolphia’s house, because they had nothing else to do. It was a lovely summer
morning, and it was already warm.
“I wonder what all these people are doing right now,”
Mark said.
“Shopping, rushing to work and so on.”
“Imagine how it was a hundred years ago,” Mark
answered. “You would see no cars, no rushing people, but a lot of horses and
relaxed citizens.”
“How do you know that?”
“Just a feeling. That’s the way I imagine older times.
Here you see nothing but stressed people. Everybody seems to be too late.”
“You’re right. I feel the same. It’s a challenge to
grow up in these times. It kills our souls.”
“Right. When you have time enough your soul is
nourished through the tranquillity of the human mind. There’s no time for
anything anymore.”
“Hey Mark – we are not modern children when we think
like that.”
“See the boys and girls in our class. They are members
of all kinds of clubs. They are top-scheduled. In older times kids had time for
playing.”
“But everybody says, that the conditions for people
have never been better.”
“That’s political words. They have to say so. Just to
comfort us.” Mark frowned. “I don’t like that. I miss some honesty here. As
soon as we say anything critical about our times, we get mobbed.”
They were close to Dolphia’s house and could already
hear her sing in the apartment.
“So she’s painting,” Deena said. “She’s not a child of
our modern times.”
“Yes and no,” Mark answered. “But I think she should
try to sell some of her marvellous paintings.”
“She won’t. And I know the reason. She has money
enough, as she has inherited a lot of money. I never realized.”
“Money is not everything,” Mark said laconically.
“And those words should come from you.”
“Yeah, of course. I like money, but I know that there
are things you cannot buy for money.”
“Such as?”
“My love for you.”
Deena laughed, although she knew that he meant it.
None of them could do without the other.
They could still Dolphia sing. All her windows were
open, so the whole neighbourhood had the pleasure of her singing. But strangely
enough: the windows in all the other houses were shut!
They knocked the door to Dolphia’s apartment. “Just a moment,” she sang.
And then: Dolphia were standing in her night gown with
ten brushes in each hand. “My peanuts, welcome! I had a dream about the sun, so
I had to get up and paint what I dreamt.”
“Of course,” Deena said. “But maybe you should put on
some other clothes.”
“What’s wrong with my clothes. I’m not in the street –
I’m in my own apartment. So what’s the problem?”
“That you are going up with us. We intend to invite
you for dinner at the burger bar.”
“How nice of you. Now come in and take a look at my
painting.”
They stepped in, and Mark said, “Well, the normal
sunset.”
“No, my banana --- for the first time I have painted a
sunrise. Artists have to renew themselves. I’ve been working on it for years.
But this morning I succeeded.”
“But,” said Mark. “How can one see the difference
between a sunrise and a sunset?”
“I’m very disappointed,” Dolphia said, weeping. “It’s
clear, isn’t it, Deena?”
“Well, yes – sure – the colours. This one is more
reddish.”
“Congratulations. You’re an expert.”
“Dolphia, do you long for the older times,” Mark
asked.
“I can’t. I’ve never been there.”
“Neither have I, but I long for the calmness of those
times, when there were no cars and stressed people.”
“Well,” Dolphia said. “You have to live in the time
you are born into!”
“Exactly,” Deena said. “That’s why we want you to
bring a painting with you, when we go to the bar.”
“Are you crazy?”
“Yes, we know that. But do it anyway.”
“I won’t sell the sunrise. I’ll take one of the
sunsets, then.”
“Yes, but do get dressed first.”
“Do I have to wash, too?”
“No, you only wash yourself on Wednesdays. So it’s
OK.”
An hour later they were sitting at the burger-bar
eating burgers and sausages.
”Listen,” Dolphia said. “My Mark, you long for older
times. They had no burgers at that time.”
“I know. But anyway. These modern times kill peoples’
souls. A soul needs some calmness and tranquillity.”
“You’re right. So do mine. But I spend the nights
contemplating.”
“What?”
“Yes, you didn’t know that. I sit down close to
midnight in the middle of the floor and think about wonderful sunsets, but I
guess you dream about burgers and all that.”
A well dressed gentleman sat down at their table.
“Good day,” he said
“Hi,” Mark said.
“Do be polite,” Dolphia said.
“I am – Good day is something you say in old British films.”
“Yes, but you long for those times, don’t you.”
“I’m sorry to disturb you,” the gentleman said. But I
have for a long time been an admirer of Mrs. Dolphia’s paintings. I’m the mayor
of the neighbouring town, and we have decided to buy one of them. Oh, I see you
have one here. How much?”
Dolphia fell to the floor, and Deena took over. “Seven
hundred.”
“That’s splendid,” the mayor said. “Can I take it
now?”
“Money first,” Mark said, while Deena stamped his
feet.
“Very well.” He took to his wallet. Seven hundred –
and fifty to you nice kids.”
Now Dolphia came crawling up the table’s leg. “My
beloved children – have you sold one of my paintings?”
“Sure,” Deena said.
“And we are happy, too,” Mark added.
The gentleman took the painting and went happily out.
He did not hear Dolphia shout: “Ten burgers for each of us, please. And we want
them brought here by three servants!”
Mark and Deena laughed. What a day!
Questions to discuss:
Why is Mark longing for older times?
Is he right that everything was more quiet at that
time?
Is he right that stress disturbs our soul?
How?
Is modern life too complicated for people?
Do modern rushing lifestyle kill the nerve of life?
What can we do to calm a little bit down?
Have you felt stress?
What did you do against it?
Write an essay about modern life.