Art is supposed to be beautiful, right? Then, why is it so painful to admire?
A large crowd formed at the entrance of the new Modern Art Museum. Mappy stood with them, waiting for the ribbon cutting ceremony. Such an event was once in a lifetime, especially in his small city. Yet, he stared at his watch and tapped his foot. The crowd's noise irritated Mappy's comically huge and very sensitive ears. He dug his fingers into his furry forearm.
Thankfully, the noise was cut short by the arrival of the mayor. In their hands was a titanic pair of bronze scissors. They were accompanied by two members of the Time Crisis unit of the police force.
"Long ago, the appreciation of art was hindered. Pieces pilfered by the fearsome Meowkies Gang left, right, and center!"
Mappy groaned.
"But, thanks to the work of the police force, the city is a much safer place, and private owners have felt safe enough to donate many of their returned artworks to help create this new museum. Now, I present to you, the Modern Art Museum!"
The mayor cut the ribbon, and the crowd applauded. Mappy clapped too. Despite his bitterness towards the Meowkies Gang affair, he could still appreciate the museum opening. Everyone was united in their love of art.
As visitors poured through the museum's main entrance, Mappy waited. Surely, it wouldn't be long.
As he leaned on one of the marble pillars, Mappy began to reminisce. He hadn't taken the time to do this sort of thing in ages. The hostility of the current employment landscape meant hours spent job hunting. Being a disgraced cop certainly didn't help his chances. The last time he'd been to one of these things was back in the 80s. Back before Goro ruined everything, that sly cat!
Dig Dug waved to Mappy. He walked over to his best bud.
"Hey, Mappy, wasn't the ribbon cutting cool?"
"Aside from the part when they brought up the Meowkies Gang. I don't want to think about that whole thing right now."
"Sorry for bringing that up. I know that was hard on you."
"If anything, let's blame the mayor. Ready to head in?"
"You bet! It's time to cut loose!"
"Yeah, cut loose!"
They went inside to the admissions counter. Mappy opened up his wallet and looked through for enough money. He scraped up some coins and bills to just barely total the fee. Dig Dug put some money on the counter before Mappy was ready.
"Two tickets, please," Dig Dug said.
Mappy pulled his friend aside.
"I have enough for the fee," Mappy whispered. "You don't need to pay if you don't want to."
"Please, I insist. Think of it as repayment for all the times you treated me, if that helps."
Mappy's expression softened. He smiled warmly.
"Thank you. Thank you so much."
The two friends walked into the first room. The walls were plain, and the lights overhead were warm and bright. MoArMu wasn't as fancy as the museums in massive cities, but its art was equally stunning. Paintings were displayed across the white walls. Small pedestals held up statues and sculptures in the middle of the room. A painting of a night landscape caught Mappy's attention. The background was black, and the street depicted was lit eerily in red. Even the moon was a glowing scarlet. The feelings that the piece inflicted upon Mappy reminded him of the old days. The police chases where time both seemed to slow to a crawl yet sped by into the past. It invoked the imagery of the blood spilled on the job. Policing was frustrating, dangerous, and often cruel, but that time in his life was the best he had experienced. The warm yet alienating glow reflected the uncanny state of a city in the dead of night, a city as the backdrop for crime.
"Hey," Dig Dug chimed in quietly. "What's that painting got you thinking about?"
"Oh, the way it looks reminds me of the 80s, you know, driving through the city on duty, I guess."
Dig Dug paused, though for less time than Mappy, to contemplate the painting.
"I can definitely see that, or it could be a reflection of a blood moon."
"It could."
"Now, to see who's right…" Dig Dug looked over at the placard under the painting's frame.
"Dig Dug, it's art," Mappy chuckled to himself. "Isn't the whole point that it's up to interpretation?"
"Yeah, but isn't hearing the artist's interpretation meaningful too? Get a better understanding of something's context?"
"I hear you, Duggers. I'll read it, too, then."
Mappy read the placard. Taking in the history of this artwork next to his best friend silently was an experience he never knew he needed. It was serene. By the time he finished, Mappy learned of the war that inspired the creation of this painting and how it impacted the painter. The new insight may have changed his perspective on the art's intended meaning, but it didn't lessen his connection to and appreciation for it.
"Hmm, interesting," Dig Dug mumbled to himself.
"Yeah. Soooo… did anything in the room catch your fancy?" Mappy whispered, trying not to disturb the other visitors.
Dig Dug led Mappy over to a painting of a cavern. Its colors were bright, and the stalactites looked almost bronze the way that the artist colored them. The composition made Mappy wonder what else was in this imaginary cave.
"It really captures the feeling that digging gives me, that curiosity and sense of adventure, don't you think?"
Mappy nodded. They read the placards and looked at a few other art pieces in the room. The skill with color, shape, and composition in these pieces was a sight to behold.
No wonder the Meowkies Gang wanted the artwork of the wealthy if it was anything like this. That thought triggered something inside Mappy. Like clockwork, the mansion incident replayed in his head. The smell of smoke in front of him, gunshots ringing in his large ears, and Goro's booming voice haunted him. It was still as vivid in his mind's eye as the instant it happened. So too, like always, Mappy tried to shove his spiraling regret out of his thoughts. He gently grabbed Dig Dug's arm and tugged lightly.
"Heyyyyy," Mappy said. "I heard the exhibit on the second floor was a real showstopper, so wanna work our way there?"
"You seem antsy, did something happen?"
"What? Pff, no! Come on, we only have so much time to admire art, so why not head for the main event first?"
"Are you sure you're good? You can tell me if not."
"Absolutely, especially getting to see all this great art with my best bud!"
"Okay. Which way do you wanna take?"
Mappy pointed towards the room to the left of the one they were in. Dig Dug nodded and followed him. This exhibit focused on Impressionist paintings. The variation in lighting looked like a snapshot of reality in a way that the classics could not compare to. Each short stroke coalesced into an ethereal yet grounded depiction of light's strange properties. The plain exhibit room only made the art stand out more. Mappy sat down next to his friend and spent time contemplating on and reading the placards for the artworks.
"Some of these almost look like photos," Dig Dug said.
"Yeah…" Mappy replied.
The situation had him at a loss for words. Being surrounded by beautiful art, sitting inside one of an extravagant building, and indulging in an activity so closely with high society was something that Mappy, for the longest time, only dreamed of. This experience certainly felt like a distant dream. For just a moment, he could forget about the endless stream of job interviews, the leaky pipe in his ceiling he couldn't fix, the beat up sidewalk leading home, and his nearly empty wallet.
"I wish we could have gone out to events like this more often back in the 80s," Mappy commented.
"What are you talking about? We can do fun stuff now, too."
"It was more affordable. Policing paid well enough."
"Hey man, I know your situation's rough right now, but I know you'll find a gig soon. You've got tons of desirable qualities. I'm sure an employer'll hire you soon."
Of course, Mappy could think of one thing after Dig Dug said. Emptiness flowed over him. He picked at his short fur on his arm. He tried to admire the art once again, but thinking deeply is hard when one is focused on survival. The pieces that fit together neatly minutes before now fell apart. The feeling of dreaming was stronger, but even plucking out small tufts of fur could not ground him entirely. He swallowed down the heaviness in his chest.
"Yeah, I'm sure," Mappy spoke softly.
He gazed absentmindedly. The discordance between the fanciful artwork on pristine walls and the flickering streetlights that followed him home was huge. Mappy took some deep breaths while staring at a painting of an afternoon picnic. After a few silent minutes, the words on its placard were no longer meaningless splotches of black. Mappy finally read them and contemplated the piece. Still, the twisting feeling in his gut had not fully left.
"Hey, ready to move on?" Dig Dug asked as Mappy was lost in his thoughts. "To see the upstairs gallery?"
"Oh, right. Sorry for taking so long."
"That's fine, but you were the one who was in a rush to see it."
"I got distracted."
"I get it, Map. This stuff's real pretty. You sure you don't wanna spend more time here?"
"Yeah, let's go."
The two of them stood up. Stairs to the second floor were in the next room. Glass railing lined the gently curving stairs. A chandelier full of differently colored glass shards, presumably another art piece, illuminated the room. The railing continued on the landing of the second floor.
Mappy followed Dig Dug up the stairs. He took in the room as he ascended. He looked around.
"Which way's the exhibit?" Dig Dug asked. "Could we check the map?"
"I forgot to get one at the ticket counter."
"Mappy without a map, truly, a sad sight."
"Ok, well…" Mappy trailed off.
Chattering noises filtered into the landing area from ahead of Mappy. His ears had the finest sense of direction he'd ever observed; their size lent to that.
"I think it's that way," Mappy pointed towards the hallway in front of him.
Dig Dug and Mappy walked into the room. A small crowd gathered around a huge statue in the center of the room. Scarlet guard poles separated the imposing figure from its admirers. The people seemed so small in comparison. The shape was abstract, and so too was its shadow that was plastered against the left wall. Mappy and Dig Dug found a good spot to admire the statue, but Dig Dug's drill smacked someone as he turned around.
"Sorry! You know how drills can be…" Dig Dug said.
"No worries," replied a familiar, gruff voice.
His pounding heart drowned out the chattering crowd. It couldn't be him, not here! Not now!
"You sure? That thing can hit ya pretty hard."
"I'm fine, Dig Dug," Goro replied.
Goro, one of the most prolific museum thieves ever, was attending the grand opening.
The cat chuckled. His laugh sounded as smug as it did years ago.
"It's been a long time since I last saw you," Goro mentioned. "How's your drilling going?"
"Same as always, inflate a few Pookas here, collect a few treasures there. Nothing too special. I got an interview on Digger's Monthly recently, though."
Mappy slunk into the crowd. His ears pinned against his head. If he turned around for even a second, like a starving cat, Goro would surely ambush him. Even if the fear was irrational, Mappy could not turn away.
"Digger's Monthly, hmm? Congratulations. I, myself, have been planning this amazing business venture. I've had plenty of time to think in prison, and I do think it's resulted in a fantastic idea that's sure to turn this city around. I think you, in particular, are going to love it."
"I hope things start turning around. The past year's been rough."
As Mappy almost escaped the crowd, Goro's eyes locked with his. He froze. The memories returned. Goro's footsteps overpowered the sound of his own thoughts. Instantly, his worst enemy stood in front of him, wearing his most condescending smile.
"Mappy, is that you?" Goro asked.
"Yes!" Mappy blurted. He wiped his palms off on his pants furiously.
"Crazy seeing you here. When's the last time we talked? Oh right, it's the night you shot that painting. You know, with a track record like that, I'm surprised they let you in here."
Mappy swallowed down his budding tears. "Y-you know, Goro, I could say the same about you."
"Excuse me, but I'm a principled entrepreneur now that I have reformed from my stay in prison. I have all the right to be at this museum, and I will enjoy myself here."
Dig Dug soaked in Mappy's expression, then turned towards Goro.
"Yeah, so, this statue, it's pretty cool, right?" Dig Dug stepped in. "What caught your attention about this one?"
Goro's appreciation for the fine arts must have been greater than his love of insulting Mappy, for his ears perked up. He began describing the composition of the statue. Dig Dug winked, and Mappy continued exiting the room. The figure of the sculpture looked a lot sharper than when Mappy first laid eyes on it. Dig Dug chatted while Mappy walked out.
For several minutes, he tried to straighten out the fur on his arm, but it would spring up as soon as he let it go. He brushed his fur out fruitlessly.
"Why did he have to be here? Of all the places in the city, why did he have to show up in that exact room at that exact time?" Mappy whispered to himself. Fate was heartless. "Dig Dug's gonna be pissed at me for ruining thi-"
Dig Dug put his hand on Mappy's shoulder.
"Ruining what?" Dig Dug asked. His voice was deep and soft. "It's not your fault that all this triggered some nasty emotions. I knew something was wrong, and I should have known why earlier. I'm sorry, bud. I just wish you had let me know what's bothering you."
"Dig Dug, don't… It's not your fault. I didn't want to ruin our night out, but it seems I couldn't help myself."
"Nah, I should have realized before buying the tickets that this could've been upsetting. And there's nothing wrong with being honest with how you feel! That's what friends are for! So…"
Dig Dug paused and searched for his words. He took a deep breath in, then exhaled slowly.
"…is this about the painting incident?"
"Yeah," Mappy sighed.
"Are you really still blaming yourself for that?"
"What do you mean! Of course I'm to blame! I pulled the trigger!" Mappy's voice cracked.
"But Goro lured you into it. You thought you were in danger. Can you really be so mad at yourself for trying to defend your own life?"
"If I thought for even a second, I could have avoided that whole ordeal! Why was I so rash?"
"You were scared. That's totally normal in that situation."
Dig Dug sighed.
"Besides, don't you think that Goro wants to you to be upset about this? I bet he's savoring every bit of misery he caused you. He sure looked happy mocking you about it."
Mappy stroked his arm for a moment.
"I guess?"
All those fallen tears, sleepless nights, and recurring nightmares would surely put a grin on Goro's face if he ever knew. The happiest he'd ever seen that crook was tonight, and the happiest he'd ever heard him was through that tinny cassette player. Cats were predators, and they took great joy in playing with their prey. With how much Goro milked the death of his career, he wondered if cats liked to play with their prey after shredding them too. Mappy was no cat toy, and he did not want to be treated like one.
"You know what? It is Goro's fault!" Mappy said. "And I should stop letting him get under my skin!"
"I'm glad you can finally stop blaming yourself. You've been salting that wound for so long."
"I'm glad too."
Mappy nodded to himself. He could not wait to get the opportunity to wipe that smug look off Goro's face. If only Goro could taste even the smallest sample of Mappy's misery. Things would finally be right. Mappy's moping over his defeat only stalled the hand of justice. For the time being, however, Mappy won this small fight by denying Goro the suffering as beautiful to him as any artwork in the museum.
"So, is there anything else that you wanna take a look at?" Dig Dug asked.
Mappy turned his head back towards the room that once reeked of the phantom smoke of a gun barrel.
"I didn't get a good look at that statue."
"You sure? Goro might still be there."
"And miss the star exhibit? Really, that'd be a shame."
"Alright…"
Mappy and Dig Dug strolled back into the room. Goro's presence made itself known, but the memories did not choke him like before. Their grasp coiled around Mappy's throat the same as always, but he did not let it show.
"Came back, huh? You can't get enough of me, can you?" Goro taunted.
"I'm not here to see you," Mappy gestured towards the sculpture.
"Of course not, you can't bear to look at me after you disgraced yourself. That guilt must be crushing."
Mappy swallowed down his anxiety.
"It really isn't. If anything," Mappy took a deep breath in. "It seems like you're the one fixating on it. I've got art to admire, so if you'll excuse me."
Goro paused, caught off guard. By the time he conjured a response, Mappy and Dig Dug stood across the room, looking up at the gigantic sculpture. Goro looked at the mouse, but his gaze was ignored. Mappy's ears stood up tall as he leaned over the railing. For once, Goro failed to catch Mappy's attention. Had he really moved on?
In that moments, the lights shone dimmer. The statue's shadow burned darker against the wall. The distance between Mappy and himself had never felt larger than between this small crowd.