The Installation of a new security system
Mary had her hair pulled back in a loose bun. She had just finished hanging the last picture. The gallery would open tomorrow and she had just one thing left to do – install the security system.
She stepped back from the picture. It was hanging straight, neither tilting left nor right. She looked around her art gallery. This had been her life long dream – thirty pictures and four statues. In front of each of the works of art was a small, empty bowl.
Mary looked around one more time.
Tomorrow was going to be a big day. She had timed the opening of her gallery with the first Friday of the month. She still had to install the security system, but first she needed to go to the store.
She turned out the lights, walked out of the gallery, and headed to the store. At the store, she bought twenty pounds of smoked salmon – just enough she thought. Then she went home. Sleep wrestled with the excitement of the coming day and finally won out.
She got to the gallery at about 10 am. She opened the door, prepared the salmon by slicing it thinly, and portioned the fish into the bowls.
The guests began to pour into the gallery just after 5 pm. The art seemed to be popular, but there was just as much curiosity about the salmon in the bowls. Some thought it was an interesting way to serve hors d’oeuvres until they realized that there were no utensils and nothing to put the fish on.
One of the guests asked Mary where the crackers were to go with the salmon.
Mary crinkled her forehead and looked at the guest a little puzzled. Realizing what the guest was referring to, Mary shook her head and laughed. “The salmon isn’t to eat. It’s my security system.”
The guest gave Mary a puzzled look rivaling the one Mary had had on her face a moment ago.
“Lox keep honest people honest.”
She stepped back from the picture. It was hanging straight, neither tilting left nor right. She looked around her art gallery. This had been her life long dream – thirty pictures and four statues. In front of each of the works of art was a small, empty bowl.
Mary looked around one more time.
Tomorrow was going to be a big day. She had timed the opening of her gallery with the first Friday of the month. She still had to install the security system, but first she needed to go to the store.
She turned out the lights, walked out of the gallery, and headed to the store. At the store, she bought twenty pounds of smoked salmon – just enough she thought. Then she went home. Sleep wrestled with the excitement of the coming day and finally won out.
She got to the gallery at about 10 am. She opened the door, prepared the salmon by slicing it thinly, and portioned the fish into the bowls.
The guests began to pour into the gallery just after 5 pm. The art seemed to be popular, but there was just as much curiosity about the salmon in the bowls. Some thought it was an interesting way to serve hors d’oeuvres until they realized that there were no utensils and nothing to put the fish on.
One of the guests asked Mary where the crackers were to go with the salmon.
Mary crinkled her forehead and looked at the guest a little puzzled. Realizing what the guest was referring to, Mary shook her head and laughed. “The salmon isn’t to eat. It’s my security system.”
The guest gave Mary a puzzled look rivaling the one Mary had had on her face a moment ago.
“Lox keep honest people honest.”