Jason Overstreet - Beneath the Darkest Sky

“Ah, yes,” said Dorene. “I remember her. We actually met her once when we first arrived in Paris, before she moved to Canada with her new husband.”

“Oh, that’s right,” I said. “Of course.”

“Where do you go from here, Loretta?” said Bobby. “I mean… you’ve truly reached the mountaintop. Tretyakov Gallery! The pinnacle!”

“Well,” said Loretta, “I can tell you what might be next. Prescott and I haven’t discussed this yet, and I know that you’ve asked him to join you in Argentina, but a bit of breaking news here, even for you, love.” She looked at me and raised her eyebrows. “I’ve been asked by the State to teach full-time here at the Moscow Painting Academy. Obviously, as you know, only the very top artists in the country are given the opportunity to do such.”

“Of course,” said Bobby. “Only the masters! Wow!”

“We have a lot to discuss in the coming days,” I said.

“I worry about the changing climate here,” said Bobby. “Ever since Kirov was mysteriously killed in Leningrad about a year and a half ago, Stalin seems to have made a shift. He’s arresting some of his own men. Perhaps justifiably, but still, all of us at the chancery have continued to grow suspicious of these arrests, along with those of regular citizens. And there’s an ever-disturbing secrecy about them.”

“But he’s arresting men and women who’ve obviously shown an allegiance to Trotsky or the exiled czars,” said Loretta. “So many men and women are undermining Stalin. This country is still hanging in the balance in terms of folks who long for yesteryear versus we who want to move forward. It’s like the Confederacy never fully embracing the Republic. That battle is still being fought as well.”

“Yes,” said Dorene, “but Roosevelt is hardly arresting all of the conservative members of Congress who oppose him.”

“Maybe he should,” said Loretta. “Many of them are , after all, responsible for turning a blind eye to mass lynchings, just like the czars were responsible for—”

“Both of you make good points,” I said, squeezing Loretta’s hand. “Like I said, we have a lot to discuss in the coming days. I think we’re all just reacting to the fact that there’s a question mark about whether we’re all going to be together again in Argentina.”

“I hate even the thought of us not,” said Bobby.

The four of us stood quietly admiring the paintings, the somewhat sad thought of our maybe not joining them perhaps running through each of our minds. It was a joyful moment mixed with a dose of confusing emotion.

As Loretta and I drove to the French embassy, the Ellingtons’ car just ahead of ours, I still hadn’t come down from the high I’d felt at seeing the paintings. I was married to a renowned artist.

“Well,” she said from the passenger’s seat, “what do you think of all this news?”

“It’s amazing,” I said, one hand on the wheel. “I’m so excited for you. So impressed.”

“But I’m sure you’re conflicted.”

“A bit.”

“Well, I hope you can come around to seeing how important this is to me, love.”

“Of course,” I said. “But you’re an artist with a name now. You can work from anywhere in the world. Why not spread your celebrity to Argentina and beyond? I’m sure Paris and London would roll out the red carpet for you.”

“I have no interest,” she sternly said. “I’m committed to this country, to the people who’ve accepted me and made me a success. My paintings can, and might, be sent to every country in the world, but I want to live and work here. They love me here. And it feels good.”

“Let’s take some time this week to think about it all, Loretta. This opportunity at the embassy in Argentina—”

“No! This is about me now. We’ve always done what you’ve wanted to do. But now, this is about me. I’m not moving to Argentina. I’m going to stay right here in Moscow, where I’m actually, in case you haven’t noticed, becoming somewhat famous. I’ve finally arrived as an artist. I just wanna shine.”

I stayed quiet on those words and realized how different she sounded. I wondered if she’d become a bit drunk off success. I’d never heard her speak of being so happy with being in the proverbial spotlight. I was genuinely happy for her but wanted to make sure this love of fame hadn’t usurped her love of our children and me. Part of me felt like she’d become blinded by this newfound celebrity, unwilling to see the Soviet Union for what it might actually be.

“Look,” I finally said, “I just want to celebrate you tonight, to brag about you when we arrive at the French Embassy. They’ll probably buy some of your paintings, especially considering your connection to Paris. So this is probably not the best time to discuss the complexities of this Argentina decision vis-à-vis global politics. But do you have any idea what’s brewing internationally in terms of the Soviet Union’s current and future standing in the world? Their standing is anything but stable, particularly in relation to Germany and Japan.”

“Here we go with politics!” she said, shaking her head. “But please! Do tell!”

“Not tonight. Please. I just want to talk about your amazing paintings.”

“Dammit, Prescott! Just get it out of the way!”

“Fine! None of this concerns colored folk, so let me preface my comments with that little nugget. But the world is run by white men.”

“Thanks for the reminder,” she sarcastically said.

“Anyway, the Soviet Union finds itself in no man’s land, Loretta. Quite simply, there are the haves and the have-nots , globally speaking, with respect to military power. The U.S., the U.K., and France are the haves . Germany, Japan, and Italy are being very loud about their displeasure with the Western Powers, but, still, they remain the have-nots . For the time being, albeit! Meanwhile, the Soviet Union is somewhere in the middle, seemingly uncertain as to which group they should join, you know, consumed with what’s in their best interest, trying to have it both ways.”

“Well, I think Stalin is with us,” said Loretta. “With America. I know he’s with the Negro.”

“Not so sure. I mean, he might be with the Negro, but I’m talking strictly about countries here. Anyway, regarding Italy, Germany, and Japan, they want territorial expansion to create empires. They want to build up their militaries and overthrow the post–war international order. The writing’s on the wall! I believe that’s why Bullitt wants to be ambassador to France. He wants to work with a true ally if some global war breaks out again. God forbid!”

“But,” said Loretta, “Italy, Germany, and Japan also want to destroy, or at least neutralize, the spread of Soviet Communism. Stalin is aware of that. You know I’m right.”

“That doesn’t change the fact that Stalin might , and I stress might , be America’s enemy for other reasons. He operates quite secretly and selfishly.”

“Stop, Prescott! The U.S. is just as selfish in its desires. And Germany, you know, Adolf Hitler, is clearly the enemy of us all. He’s always resented the fact that Germany was forced to sign the Treaty of Versailles. He’s truly a madman, and I’m sure remains no friend of Stalin’s. But truthfully, regardless of any of this, it’s my turn to have a say in where our family lives. Do you disagree?”

With both hands on the wheel now, I took in her question and contemplated my answer for a good minute. She sounded resolute in her desire to remain here. I couldn’t deny her that. So, I said what I felt was fair.

“Truthfully, no, I do not disagree,” I said. “You certainly didn’t choose to move to Paris. That was a move forced by my dishonesty, and you know I’ll forever be aware of that fact. It is about you now. I’ll find work at one of the schools or universities here, or maybe at one of the factories. I’ll talk to Robert Robinson about maybe getting a job where he works making tools. Hell, perhaps Homer Smith can get me on at the post office. And after all, maybe I’ve forgotten what my true mission has always been, to seek freedom for colored folk, even if through unconventional means, not to become bogged down in State Department bureaucracy matters. And regardless of my reservations about Stalin, the revolution here and the people behind it are courageous. I’m probably best positioned to affect change from a country where the phrase ‘Freedom for the Negro’ is actually met with a smile. So… I say… let’s stay.”