The Mosaic
Her practiced knife carved away the small blue tile in her hands until it was a perfect curve. Paula smiled. When she was just starting out, cutting away a piece felt dangerous. She wasted so many.
Now she could do this blind.
The little piece slotted into the eye of the dolphin perfectly, completing the section. She sat up and admired it. This was their biggest piece yet…and the last.
Paula looked over to the other side where Joanne built large seaweed columns. Paula had to admit that she was an incredible artist.
A clatter erupted behind her. Joan looked up, her eyes catching Paula’s then looking away. Paula turned to see Steve extricating himself from a ladder and buck that he had knocked over. He carried a big box of material in his arms.
He blushed when he saw the two of them looking at him. “Sorry, ladies.”
“What do you have?” Paula asked him, getting off her knees. She walked over to help him out. He gave her the box, which made her sag a little, then stepped out of the mess he had made.
“Caulk and some reds.”
Paula looked over her shoulder to the vast mosaic stretched out from under her feel. An ocean scene. Well, the caulk was helpful at least. She walked back to her place.
“I’m glad that you ladies aren’t fighting,” Steve said, tactlessly. “Isn’t it nice to just get back at it.”
It was. But that wasn’t something that Paula could say out loud. Not anymore. Too much had been said already. She caught Joan’s eye.
Funny. Spead ten years on the job with someone and you know what a they are thinking with just a look. Joan felt the way she did.
Neither had told Steve that this was their last job together.
The hours blended into one another as Paula built out the mosaic. They had been working here for weeks. Tonight was then end.
The end. Then she could walk away and do whatever she wanted for the rest of her life. Probably more of this, only with someone who respected her. Or by herself.
Joan and Paula both stood at the same time, finished just as dusk was setting in. As was their tradition, they stood side by side at the base of the peace and looked for any mistakes. Flawless.
“Well…” Paula said.
Joan grunted.
Paula offered a hand. Joan hesitated and for a moment Paula thought she wouldn’t take it. But she did. The pair shared a brief handshake and walked away to their own cars. Their masterpiece left behind them.
Michael Frutig 