I Just Read About That…

SOUNDTRACK:

[READ: December 6, 2024] “For John”

This year my wife ordered me The Short Story Advent Calendar.  This is my seventh time reading the Calendar–it’s a holiday tradition!  Here’s what H&O says about the calendar this year.

Ten years of stories! Yikes, where does the time go?
When the first Short Story Advent Calendar launched, in 2015, we frankly had no clue we’d still be sitting here today, continuing to offer up batches of tasty stories fresh from the oven. To celebrate this milestone, we’ve packed the 10th SSAC with a mix of new and familiar names—ideal company for those chilly winter nights ahead.

The author of this story was Kim Fu.  Each day has an online component with the author with a brief interview.  And this one opens:

It’s December 6. Kim Fu, author of Lesser Known Monsters of the 21st Century, is building up an impressive collection of landscapes.

This was a weird little story that I quite liked.

On one of their early dates, John and Erin went to an art gallery.  John immediately fell for a painting  of nudes that he found irresistible.  But Erin hated it and found it disturbing.  However, the next day, John went back to the gallery and bought the painting (which was called For John).

But he knew he couldn’t let Erin see it, so he kept it hidden, taking it out from time to time to admire it.

But what happens if they wind up together for years?  How can he keep it hidden and what will he say if she finds it?

The ending was pretty enjoyable, too.