The Coat Hanger's Masterpiece

I have recently been thinking about some memories of Russia and thought I would share one with you.

While we were living in Moscow, my family and I went on a Holiday to St. Petersburg. One day, we went to the Hermitage, one of the most beautiful and varied art museums in the world. It is a huge, rich building with marble staircases and long halls full of art work. The architecture and grandeur of the building is itself a work of art. We stood in front of it, gazing up at the men carved into marble who hold up the entrance. We walked into a huge room and to the left where a small, white haired man was taking coats. He looked as though he was 110 years old, with a line on his face for every year of his live. But, his eyes were the brightest, clearest blue I have ever seen. He had a sparkle in them that is not often found in a man ruled by communist oppression his entire life.

He motioned to my sister and I to come closer and we gave him our coats. He set them on the counter, and beckoned us closer. My sister and I looked at each other then back at this wild haired old man.... "what could it hurt?" we both thought. As we leaned in, the old man pulled out the last thing we expected- a piece of paper and some red handled scissors. Again, my sister and I exchanged a questioning glance. Before we knew it, the man had folded up the paper into a small square and had begun cutting the paper- little pits flying everywhere- like falling snow. The whole time, this curious little man's eyes grew brighter with excitement. Soon, he was done and with pride, he opened the paper to reveal his masterpiece: 3 beautifully intricate butterflies all connected. He handed them to me and then gave a little bow. He had given me an amazing gift. I placed them in my bag and my parents called us just then and off we went to see some of the greatest art work ever created.

We walked the long hallways and huge rooms and winding staircases and saw paintings by Rembrandt, Monet, VanGogh, and the like. These should have captured my complete attention, but I could not get the butterflies out of my head.

Looking back, I don't remember any of the paintings I saw, but I will never forget the masterpiece of the coat hanger.