Bette’s initial impression was what a waste of such a good location and environment. So many different things could be done if this were her place. This was a typical gallery with typical spacing and typical hangings and typical lighting. Typical was the best word Bette could think of to describe this place. Yet despite the typicalness of this gallery it was very successful and Bette was here to get introduced.

Walking up to the front desk Bette inquires for Bruce Fergy.

”You are?” the woman at the desk inquired.

”I’m Bette Porter, I believe you will be showing some of my paintings tomorrow.” Bette politely answers.

”Mr. Fergy is not available at this time but I will get the Exhibit Coordinator, Miss Prantick to assist you.” the woman informs Bette before picking up the phone.

Bette just turns to Tina and raises her eyebrow. Tina just holds her breathe and waits to see what is to unfold.  A feeling of uneasiness begins stirring in her.

”Please feel free to browse around, Miss Prantick will be with you in a moment.” The woman finally informs Bette in a falsely polite voice.

Bette and Tina begin to walk around. Tina whispers to Bette, “Do you get the feeling that they weren’t expecting you to be here?”

”No actually I get the feeling that they are use to being the big fishes and I just a minnow here.” Bette responded under her breath.

After a moment Miss Prantick makes her appearance. She ia young, maybe in her mid-twenties, dark hair pulled up in a sharp bun, wearing a smartly tailored suite with a short skirt. As she walks forward she extends her hand to Bette, “Hello, I am Gloria Prantick, I understand you’re Bette Porter.”

Bette smiled to herself she had met a many of Ms Pranticks in her time but to this woman outwardly, “Nice to meet you Gloria, let me introduce you to my wife, Tina Kennard.” As Miss Prantick reached to shake Tina’s hand Bette continued. “So Gloria tell me a little about yourself as you show me where my paintings are hung.”

Gloria just stood there a moment as she came to grips with the force that can be Bette Porter when she wants to be a force. “Well” she started in a huff, “I have a BA in art history from the University of Boston which I than continued studying in both Florence and Barcelona. From there I started organizing exhibits first in Europe and then here in Boston before moving to this gallery late last year.”  Gloria gave this rendition of her resume as she led them down one of the corridors, winding around and finally coming to a stop in front of Bette’s work.  She spoke on automatic pilot acting put off that Bette might question her credentials.