EDI: ART and WRITING 2

By: Estefanía, Cecilia and Victoria. Based on Dollar Sign by Andy Warhol

 

Troubles of a shopaholic

Both born in the city of Los Angeles, Caroline and Elena Forbes had such different personalities that it was

hard to believe they could live under the same roof and share the same room.

“Caroline! You won’t believe what I found on the way home!” exclaimed Elena in excitement. “It was sweet

and lovely, so soft that I couldn’t bear the idea that it was alone in the world, with nobody to love and take

care of.”

“Don’t tell me you brought a puppy. Mum will kick us out,” said the eldest sister.

“You know puppies make me sick. Actually, I bought this fantastic, gorgeous, stunning, amazing fur coat. And

that’s not all. I couldn’t resist getting this pair of kneelength

boots, these beautiful ripped jeans, and last, but

not least, this incredible umbrella!”

“But it never rains here, Elena.”

“I know, but I couldn’t resist myself. It’s pink! Look!”

Caroline rolled her eyes. She was fed up with her sister wasting money on unnecessary stuff. Trying to change

the topic of the conversation, she took a letter from the drawer and gave it to her sister. “This is for you. It

arrived this morning.”

Elena grabbed it and read it anxiously. However, her face, which was like an open book, revealed that these

were bad news. All of a sudden she started crying and complaining. Her account was on the red and she owed

5.000 dollars to the Central Bank.

“What am I going to do now?” she cried desperately, having the feeling that her world was falling apart.

Meanwhile, Caroline was conscious that something like this would happen someday and had already come up

with an idea. Trying to calm her sister down, she advised Elena to select all the clothes she didn’t need any

more and sell them on eBay. So the next day, they got to work.

“Let’s get down to business. Elena, please! What are you doing?”

“I’m saying goodbye to my coats, and my shoes, and all my little babies. I can’t get rid of them so easily” cried

Elena.

“I can’t believe my eyes! When will you grow up? They’re just pieces of cloth.”

“Don’t you dare to call my sweethearts like that! They mean the world to me! You’re ripping my heart out”

“There’s no doubt. You are definitely adopted. Never mind, look, there is a girl from San Francisco who wants

to buy your fur coat and your leather boots for really good money” said Caroline while checking her computer.

“C’mon, we will send it now, pack it”.

“I don’t want to give her my favorite coat in the world, listen, it is saying “don’t leave me mommy.”

“Elena! Pack this or you will go to jail. Stop making such a scandal out of it.”

Ignoring Elena’s tantrums, they continued working. By noon, they had already sold 15 pairs of shoes, 3 coats

and 7 different blouses. Everything seemed to be under control until they realized that their mother’s favorite

collar had accidentally fallen into the box they had sent to the girl from San Francisco.

As usual, Elena started weeping because of her bad luck and Caroline suggested a solution. They would travel

to the girl’s house. The plan was that Caroline would dress like her grandmother and Elena would convince the

girl that the collar belonged to the old lady and that it was sent by mistake.

Without hesitating, they travelled to San Francisco and found the buyer’s house, which in fact looked like a

big mansion. When they knocked, a beautiful tall girl dressed in fancy clothes and jewelry opened the door.

They immediately noticed the collar around her neck.

“Hello, what do you need? Are you beggars? You must be, dressed in those clothes from last season.”

Elena was astonished by the girl’s gorgeous clothes and her amazing British accent. But at the same time, she

was outraged by the words that came out of her mouth.

“What do you mean?! These are original Prada boots and my dress is a Valentino. You’re talking with a

fashion expert!”

“Oh my God! We’re going to be BFFs! Did you see that Armani released its new collection yesterday?”

“Please, of course I did! I loved their fashion show.”

“You have found your long lost twin Elena”, whispered Caroline to Elena’s ears and then turned to the girl.

“Excuse me sweetheart, what is your name?”

“Oh, that’s so impolite from me! I’m Rebecca Brown. Please, come on in.”

Elena, with Caroline holding onto her arm and disguised as their old lady, entered Rebecca’s house. They

were openmouthed.

The decoration was very modern and minimalist, combining terra colors with the sofa

and the furniture in dark brown and the carpets of bordeaux.

“Your house is beautiful, my dear, but we’re here for a very important matter” said Caroline, with shaky voice,

trying to imitate her grandma. “You see, my scatty grandchild has accidentally sent you my treasured collar, the

one you are wearing.”

“This one?” said Rebecca pointing at her neck, “Oh I am sorry but you must have made a mistake. I bought

this one on the internet. Well, I did not buy it but it came as a gift!”

“But dear, my girl was the one who sold the clothes to you. I am really sick and I want my family to have it, so

they will always remember me.”

“Oh I am sorry but my daddy always says that gifts are not returned. Maybe you can buy another one. Besides,

this one perfectly matches my eyes, see? It seemed to be made for me! You can give your family a letter! I

would help you but I don't know how to write letters. Nevermind, did you guys watch Victoria’s Secret’s

fashion show yesterday?”

“Of course I did!”, exclaimed Elena, “The models were stunning and the lingerie too. I really need all the

collection in my wardrobe.”

“I have already told my dad that he must buy me all of it!”

“Excuse me!” yelled Caroline, already fed up with the situation. “Can we please use your bathroom darling?”

“For sure granny! It is next to the massage room.”

“But I don't want to go to the bathroom”, said Elena.

“Shhhh, come here” whispered Caroline as they entered the bathroom.

“She has a massage room! Oh my god I want this girl’s life!”

“Elena! can you please focus, we need to get the necklace back. Now, of course I have a plan… So, did you

understand?”

“I am dying right now SHE HAS VICTORIA’S SECRET BODY LOTION!”

“Elena, please!”

“Yes yes, I listened to you.”

“Fine, let's do it.”

Finally, Elena told Rebecca that she wanted to see her other fancy necklaces and, while the two of them were

trying some on, Rebecca had no option but putting granny’s necklace off and placed it on the table. Then,

Caroline took it. Luckily, the host did not notice a thing because she was too busy boasting about her exotic

jewelry.

“Well, time to go darling, I need to take my medicine,” said Caroline

“Okey granny, and please take this advice: get a new coat on the way home, that one is too old fashioned.”

“I told you Caro.. nanny! C’mon I know a trendy store nearby.”

Totally satisfied with their success, the girls went home. On their way, Elena found a hundred dollar bill on the

street and, looking at Caroline with glittering eyes, they went to the nearest shopping mall to make it

disappear.

By: Mili, Carolina, Daiana R.- Based on a painting by Artemisia Gentileschi. 

The fearful complicity

It was a foggy day and the smell of wet land lingered in the air. Judith, a strong and determined women, arrived home from fencing practice.  Awaiting her was her maidservant Abra. Her expression was most unusual, her complexion gone completely pale and her hands trembling as she saluted her mistress.

"Good evening m'lady. " said Abra.

"Good evening Abra, I'm completely worn out!" replied her mistress.

"Oh dear, do tell me how was your training? How are you doing today? Would you like some tea? I have the perf…"

"Stop right there" interrupted Judith.

Suddenly, Judith noticed something strange in Abra´s attitude, and she realized that she´s been blocking her bedrooms door all the time. She motioned Abra out of the way and peeked through the keyhole. To her astonishment she witnessed her beloved George cheating on her! She backed away from the door in complete shock.

"Oh I´m so very sorry m'lady, I was trying to avoid your distress. Sir George has been in there for quite a while and ordered all of the staff not to bother him or else we would be killed or worst sent to the Americas"

"The only one who will be killed is him, my darling"

There comes a moment in everyone’s lives when one must ask oneself a trivial life changing question. This moment came for Abra, she had to decide whether to leave and save herself from being an accomplice or stay and face the consequences.

"wh- what do you mean?"

"I will behead that bastard!" assured Judith while she was touching her spear tenderly.

Abra tried to make her come to her senses but she could not come through to her. Should she simply abandon her mistress and save herself?

"But think about it! There are far better ways to gain revenge on that filthy soul. You can make him suffer real pain"

"Nonsense I´ve made up my mind and I want blood, that bastard doesn’t deserve to breathe the same air that I breathe. He shall go to hell where he belongs"

Judith suddenly pushed Abra out of the doorway and breaks into the room. What follows is a woman´s shriek and then silence. A few minutes later Judith emerged holding George´s head in her hand.

"Immediately, get me something to place this! Said Judith "I don’t want to get blood on my dress."

"What have you done?" gasped Abra.

"We have spared the world of a filthy leech, we are heroines, the women of the world shall thank us for our actions dear Abra."

"We? I don’t want any part of this m'lady, oh please dear lord, I didn’t ask for this!" she looked pleadingly up at the heavens.

"Yes, you are part of this too, I´m not going down alone" she replied with anger in her voice.  "Don’t just stand there like a fool looking at me, if you want a few more minutes of freedom go fetch the money and my jewels and prepare the horses!"

They managed to get away to a nearby town but were soon arrested and accused of murder. They had a long and lonely death in prison.