Merzan, the Destiny of an Artist Page 12

  “Merzan?” Geneviève stares into his eyes insisting on an honest response.

  Merzan is defeated when he tells her again, “She is gone.”

  “You love her!” she tempts him.

  Merzan can only repeat, “She is gone.”

  Geneviève boldly tells him, “Then go to her.”

  Geneviève begins to play act like they did as younger children. Merzan willingly plays along.

  Geneviève uses the familiar dialogue from their childhood, “Take sail. Away on your ship! Search every land, across every ocean until you find her Merzan!”

  Merzan orders, “Man the oars sailors! There is a fire on the horizon that calls upon us to unfold our destiny!”

  Merzan’s father, Vincent, picks up the tail end of their routine. Vincent asks, “What is this Mama! Another princess perhaps?”

  He rolls his eyes.

  37 Tough Hands Soft Heart

  Life on the farm is familiar and normal for Merzan. A few weeks go by. The family is gathered for suppertime. Merzan’s mother and father are very conscious of Merzan’s quiet, often depressed, demeanor even though Merzan does try to hide it.

  Vincent points out, “So, Merzan your hands are not so soft now!”

  Lily adds, “He has been very busy doing your work Vincent.”

  Vincent makes it clear that, “He is doing the work that every young, strong, farm man must do.”

  He turns to Merzan, “And doing a fine, fine job. You have helped me tremendously Merzan. Fine job.”

  Merzan unenthusiastically replies, “Merci, Father.”

  “Merzan! S’il vous plaît, plus le pain de la vache.”

  TRANSLATION: Please, more bread from the cow.

  Vincent laughs to lighten the mood.

  “Oui Father.”

  Geneviève tries to keep her head down. She knows why Merzan displays such emptiness, but feels compelled to keep out of his personal business.

  While they continue to eat their meal Geneviève, playing with the food on her plate, begins to quietly hum a simple romantic melody. Merzan hears the melody. In his ears it turns into the sound of Matahina’s Lullaby.

  On Mo’ore’a, Matahina is in a room at their home on the Island. Matahina is singing her lullaby as she seals an envelope obviously destined to be mailed. She stamps it across the seam with the Royal seal. There’s no way to know what it is or where it is being sent.

  About two weeks more pass by. On this day Merzan is busy with the farm’s daily chores while Geneviève is fussing around with the beautifully colored wild flowers.

  An officially dressed delivery person arrives at the farm. This stops everyone in their tracks to see what this is about.

  He calls out in full voice, “Bonjour monsieurs y madame y mademoiselle. I have a livraison special addressed for Merzan L’Granaré.”

  Geneviève and Merzan know the delivery man and being local along with regularly serving the area, the delivery man knows who Merzan is... he playfully continues.

  “Is there anyone on this farm with this name? Merzan L’Granaré! I believe this is how this name is pronounced.”

  Geneviève runs to the deliveryman and plucks the letter from his hand before Merzan can make full sense of the commotion. Geneviève smells it, but shrugs to indicate that it has no special odor about it and runs towards the house.

  Merzan acknowledges now that this letter being delivered for him deserves a bit of attention and and runs to the house, after Geneviève. He waves a gesture of thanks the deliveryman and thanks him.

  “Merci Monsieur Jean-Paul. Merci.”

  Under his breath Merzan knows, “It’s the Sorbonne. I suppose now then want me to take over the entire art department as the head of their faculty.” Merzan is stubborn and insistent, “I won’t go. My place is here with my family.”

  Merzan laughs at the very thought of it, “Bedsides, I can not draw!” Merzan enjoys his own self-directed sarcasm.

  Merzan gets into the house just behind Geneviève.

  Inside, Geneviève hands the letter to her Mother. Their father, who remained outdoors, leans on the open windowsill looking in.

  Geneviève is dying of curiosity, “Mama what is it?”

  “Geneviève. How can I say? This special delivery is for Merzan.”

  Without much more investigation, Merzan becomes deflated and is resolved to return outdoors.

  “You can throw it away Mother. It’s from the Sorbonne and I do not care what they are offering me this time.”

  “But Merzan... The Sorbonne...” Lily exclaims!

  Merzan will not hear it, “I will not go Mother. Put the letter into the garbage.”

  Father is unsure how to react, knowing his son is turning away such a rare opportunity to attend the University of Paris on a full scholarship.

  Geneviève’s excitement becomes deflated and she heads to the door to go back outside. But something is up! Geneviève turns to her mother and draws a circle on her hand indicating that the letter has a special seal that you would not normally find. Lily looks closer than nods to Geneviève and winks. Mother knows better than to argue with stubborn-minded Merzan. She will throw the letter away, but has a plan.

  While doing so, she sees that it has been sealed in a most official way as Geneviève has alerted. There are fancy markings from the Ministry of Culture, Mo’ore’a, Tahiti, French Polynesia. Realizing this letter has nothing to do with business from the Sorbonne, she cleverly places it in the garbage so that anyone passing by would see its unique nature.

  Geneviève runs back to look closer. Merzan is heading outside, disinterested. Geneviève keys in on the letter perfectly placed on the trash. Her and her mother know that it is assuredly not from the Sorbonne.

  “Mama?”

  “Shh!” Lily warns.

  She gestures that it will sit here in place, carefully on top of the garbage, until Merzan will find it.

  The two of them shrug their shoulders and chuckle at what has just become their little secret plan.

  Geneviève looks at the letter atop the garbage once again and senses how special this must be. She smiles with a deep excitement that speaks, “oh my gosh!” She returns outside and stands by Merzan.

  Outdoors, Geneviève tries to bait Merzan.

  “Merzan?”

  “Oui, mon petit marin.”

  TRANSLATION: Yes, my little sailor.

  “I’m glad you are not going to go to Paris again.”

  “You want to keep me here on the farm to get old with you Geneviève, no?”

  “Oh no Merzan. Besides I will go away to school one day just like you did. Mama and Papa have told me that I will.”

  “Then why is it so important to you if I go to the Sorbonne or not silly girl?”

  “Do you believe in destiny Merzan?”

  Merzan is taken back by the question when he hears the word, “destiny!” Even though the word has had its place in their childhood games, somehow this strikes a nerve today.

  Merzan reacts, “Do I what?”

  Geneviève is furthering her manipulative scheme, “Do you believe in destiny?”

  Merzan wants this to end and says, “I believe in finishing this work today before Father finds time to become upset with both of us.”

  Geneviève is not done, “Merzan!”

  Growing frustrated, “Oui, what is it now?”

  “Monsieur Sopoko says that you are a great artiste with a great destiny.”

  Merzan drops his tools, shocked at how could she know this.

  “Geneviève, what do you know about this? I have said nothing to you.”

  Geneviève knows and tells him, “But I have read the note he gave you.”

  Merzan lets out a breath and accepts that anything left laying around will be found by (her) prying eyes.

  “Geneviève. You have been going through my things, no?”

  Geneviève is innocent, “Not really. I only wanted to look at you...” she’s careful to continue, “... with her
.”

  Merzan holds back his anger and outrage caused by his emotional emptiness.

  Merzan strongly reminds Geneviève, “She is gone.”

  “Monsieur Sopoko says that you are a great artiste Merzan.”

  Geneviève acts sassy, “And besides you have a destiny. He wrote it down...” More sassy, “... and he is much wiser than you!”

  She sashays away turning her nose to the air proving to her brother that she has won the argument.

  Under her breath Geneviève adds, “And you love her!”

  Merzan’s searching expression tells us that he does love the Princess.

  38 Do You Believe in Destiny

  The afternoon has arrived. Merzan comes in from his day’s activities. Geneviève is sitting inside, reading a book by the window. Her and Mama exchange “secret glances.”

  Lily begins her to act out their secret plot, “Merzan.”

  “Oui Mother.”

  “Please empty the garbage.”

  “Of course Mother.”

  Merzan picks up the container and heads out the door.

  Geneviève and Mama tighten up with excitement expecting Merzan to see the carefully placed letter. A moment later, Merzan bursts back through the door – overreacting.

  Nearly screaming, “Mother what have you done?”

  Geneviève holds back her chuckles.

  Lily answers with contrived innocence, “Why Merzan. What are you talking about?”

  “The letter, Mother, the letter.”

  “The letter?” she unknowingly asks.

  Merzan is holding up the letter.

  “Mother this is not from the Sorbonne. How could you put this in the garbage.”

  “But Merzan...”

  “It is addressed to...” Merzan emphasizes, “me!”

  Merzan sits at the table and opens it. Geneviève and his mother watch over his shoulder a safe distance away.

  Merzan begins by breaking the seal. There are no outward signs providing any information about the content or specifically who the letter is from.

  Merzan reaches inside and pulls out what appears to be its only content. It’s an airline ticket from Paris to Fa’a’a International Airport (Pape’ete, Tahiti) with a ferry pass (ticket) to the outer island of Mo’ore’a.

  Merzan looks at the ticket in silence. By now, Mother and Geneviève are just about on top of him looking over his shoulder.

  The three exchange glances – glances that are more of mystery than anything else.

  Geneviève cautiously grabs the empty envelope from Merzan to get a closer look at the unusual markings.

  When she does she discovers another piece of content inside and takes it out. She just stares at it, then, slowly hands it to Merzan who was sitting there in suspended animation.

  Merzan looks to see what his sister has found in the letter. It’s a torn portion of a photograph. All that is discernible is a familiar café in Paris where Merzan would often enjoy café au lait with Matahina before or after their photo sessions.

  On the photograph is part of a sentence written in Matahina’s handwriting. It is in Tahitian. The first part of the sentence is obviously torn away. All they can see is, “ma mi mai motu, Tauarii.”

  Geneviève looks at this torn photo closely while Merzan and his Mother sit there somewhat amazed by the airline ticket’s implications.

  Geneviève eyes get big – obviously she’s having a major revelation.

  Geneviève runs out of the room. Merzan and his Mother barely notice her excitement and departure.

  Geneviève returns to the room in no time with the brochure from the camera shop.

  Merzan sees her with the brochure and asks, “How did you find...”

  He doesn’t want to bother to learn the answer and gives in, “Oh never mind.”

  Geneviève says, “Merzan! Look.”

  She opens the brochure and places the torn section of photograph aligned with the words on the brochure.

  It’s a perfect match. Even the ink is the same. Aligned next to each other they read: “Ho’e mahana ’oe haere ma mi mai motu, Tauarii.”

  They all look at each other as if they have unraveled a very great mystery. None of them know what to think. Furthermore, and even more important none of them have a clue what it means.

  They forget Papa was watching all of this from the window.

  The mystery prevails.

  The cottage door opens and Father comes in. He looks at the three of them and reacts somewhat frightened by the look on their faces.

  Vincent is acting oddly as this seems to be affecting him as well. He nervously asks, “What is happened here?”

  Geneviève, with a full-on hyper explanation stutters as she tells him, “Papa, Merzan got a letter from French Polynesia and it has a stamp on it from the government and it has a ticket with Merzan’s name to swim on the plane and fly on a boat, to swim, and to go to an island,”

  She’s running out of breath, “to fly on the plane and to go on a boat to an island very far away.”

  Geneviève is panting at this point.

  Father interrupts her, “Swim on what?”

  “No! Papa! Merzan has a ticket to go to Tahiti.”

  Vincent casually has a completely uncharacteristic non-reaction, “Tahiti? Hmm… Well, is your work done outside Merzan?”

  Merzan’s jaw drops. He looks at his father, stunned, “What?”

  Vincent repeats himself a word at a time to ensure no mistake is made understanding what he is asking, “Is-your-work-done-outside-Merzan?”

  “But Father?”

  Geneviève jumps in, “There is more Papa.”

  Vincent begins acting out his words from head to toe as he responds choreographing his next comments.

  “Let me guess! Would any of this craziness have anything to do with storms on the sea throwing a boat into the wind and, perhaps,” Papa holds his hand to his head, “a princess?”

  Father bows, his arms out, then folds his arms across his chest, puts on a face with VERY BIG EYES awaiting a response. His animated behavior is very unusual. The family is very confused.

  Geneviève is not done explaining, “But Papa there is a torn photograph of a café in Paris with a secret message.”

  Vincent, at this point, is not at all surprised, “Of course, a secret message!”

  Geneviève elaborates, “It’s in a foreign language. It must be in Tahitian and we don’t know what it means.”

  Vincent finally gets serious, “Hmm, hmm. Show me this secret message.”

  “It is here Papa. It’s here on the table. If you take the brochure from Monsieur Sopoko and put the torn photograph next to the message inside they are a perfect match. It’s a very great secret Papa. And a ticket for Merzan to go to Tahiti.”

  Vincent has had enough of this chaos. He insists, “Let me see this.”

  Father moves in close to the table to see the secret message.

  “Yes, it is a perfect match,” Papa agrees.

  “You see Papa I was right,” Geneviève confirms.

  However, very deflated, she adds, “But we don’t know what it means Papa.”

  Geneviève’s face is just pained with anguish.

  Vincent demands control, “Give me a moment. Now! Quiet. Everyone be very quiet.”

  Father looks at the message as if he is going to see something that nobody else has seen.

  He reaches down and adjusts the lined up objects by turning them one way, then the other. He even turns them upside down.

  Vincent yells out, “Ah ha!”

  Everyone perks up with excitement.

  Merzan, who is still stunned by everything asks, “What is it father?”

  Geneviève chimes in, “What do you see?

  Vincent lets on, “Hmm, no that’s not it.”

  Everyone sighs with disappointment.

  He turns the brochure back to a normal orientation.

  Vincent continues, “Shhh! Very quiet now... please.”

/>   Papa leans in closer and closer and everyone leans in closer and closer.

  Vincent finally yells and jumps up throwing out his hands, “I’ve got it!”

  Everyone jumps back with their faces frozen scared.

  Vincent leans back in, very softly, slowly, “I’ve... got... it...”

  There is dead silence.

  Each person’s face is drenched with mystery in the absolute dead silence that prevails for the longest time.

  Geneviève cautiously, quietly, asks, unable to wait another moment, “What have you got Papa?”

  Vincent tells them, “I know what this says.”

  Geneviève gasps, “Huh!”

  Again, there is dead silence.

  Geneviève is mystified, “How can you know Papa?”

  Vincent turns his face directly to Geneviève and speaks to her in the most controlled manner, “Do you think this farm can operate without me knowing everything that is going on?”

  They all hide their faces and twitch with nervous energy embarrassed by the realization that there are no secrets on the farm safe from Papa.

  Geneviève is ready to explode, “What does it mean Papa?”

  He confirms, “It’s written in Tahitian.”

  Geneviève needs more, “We know that Papa.”

  Vincent adds, “And this dialect is spoken only on the outer islands of French Polynesia.”

  Everyone is stunned by his apparent wisdom on the topic.

  Geneviève can’t handle any more of this tension, “What does it mean Papa?

  Vincent calmly says, “It means,” everyone leans in, “I will need a paper and pen to translate this.”

  They all react fighting each other to get to the counter first to grab Papa a pen and paper.

  Geneviève has nearly lost her voice, “What does it mean Papa?”

  Papa begins scribbling words and scratching out some, then adding more. The family is glued to his face – which is in the most serious state of concentration they have ever seen of him.

  Vincent throws down the pen, “That’s it then!”