Man with a Quilted Sleeve

By Viv Smith

SECOND PLACE in March Competition

Titian 1510

My Mum loved you.

You caught her eye as we sat in the gallery. She’d only come in to escape the rain and bustle of Trafalgar Square and have a sit. I was allowed to wander in the large room and look at the huge pictures, and you were just nestled, quietly in the corner. Not very big, but you had presence. Your beautiful blue quilted sleeve hangs over the shelf, your arm casually draped. You’ve half turned to look at us, to make sure we’ve noticed you and your posh sleeve. You have style, confidence, a bit of swagger and you know it. You’re a poser. You know your value whether it’s the boys’ eyes you’re out to catch or the ladies. You’ve certainly hooked my Mum. She came in just to soak up the calm vibe of the place whilst taking the weight off her London weary feet for free. But you made her get up, go closer, read your label.

“I like him. Bit of a lad that one, those eyes follow you, and look at that sleeve, beautiful bit of silk.”

She seemed to have recovered slightly, no longer just building up to the crowded underground battle home.

“Come on, let’s go”.

She led me off meaningfully towards the busy gallery shop. Didn’t expect that. My Mum didn’t waste money, every penny was accounted for, but that day she bought an A4 reproduction of our “Man in a Quilted Sleeve”.

“Dad’ll have a frame for that somewhere”. He did. We had it on the sitting room wall for years, and now our Man is here again, staring straight at me from the cardboard box full of her effects.

Judge’s Comments: Simple, but surprisingly moving. A measured, poignant pay off, brilliantly underplayed.