June 2, 1876

The room stunk of moldy canvas. YY2789 was known as “The Collector” and became known for going to Museum Sales and buying dozens of the great masters (though we were not allowed to call them that anymore). Their apartment was full of da Vincis and Michelangelos piled up in the hallways. Of course, they only showed work by Friendly artists in the living room.

I never understand the fascination of our new Friends with the great masters. They collected them frivolously and thought they were wonderful, but they would only hang paintings by fellow Friends who imitated the great masters. It was as if the original material was a novelty and the reinterpretations were the true art. The Friends were all fascinated by humans but seemingly had to pretend they weren’t.

I had met YY2789 at a cafe when they saw me painting. They had been staring over my shoulder for five minutes when I looked up and said hello. It was a breach of decorum to speak first, but it was also a breach for YY2789 to be fascinated with me. Soon we were talking about the many great artists from “before,” and they offered to show me their collection. We couldn’t be called friends, but we weren’t enemies, and I enjoyed my afternoons in their apartment.

-CV