Magic Ball: the Billionaire in Ranch

49 Museums Are Friendly to Friends

Noah parked the car in the nearby museum.

He spoke in their native Italian while they’re still inside his car, a smile plastered on his face, “What can I say? America is filled with museums, museums, and museums. And in all honesty, I don’t even know what they want to showcase the tourists.”

Unbuckling his seatbelt, Mike turned his body so that he can face Noah well, “What are we going to see inside, though?”

“I’ve once been to England and France—the museums there are incomparable here. Never thought that I’d be that interested in knowing a lot of statues as well as rare or either very old paintings lying on the museum’s wallpapered walls.”

Noah agreed.

“Wouldn’t it be a little bit unfair to compare Europe against America?” Fitch said, a line forming between his eyebrows.

Noah hadn’t been to Europe, although he can say that the museums there are way better than what lies in front of them at this moment. But if the three of them wanted to have a taste of what’s it like to be an American, they definitely had to go inside.

“Once when I was looking for buyers for the paintings I found, I came across this museum, and one American close friend said we would find amazing as well as interesting stuff inside.”

“Like statues?” Mike asked, his eyes watery and looking hopeful.

Noah shook his head as he loosened his grip on the steering wheel.

“Paintings. Mostly, that is. It’s an Art Museum.”

“Then, count me in!” shouted Andy.

Noah had one eyebrow raised, “I never thought of you as the type of person that would like looking at paintings?”

Andy had a grin on his face as he leaned his body behind Mike’s seat. “I was never vocal about liking paintings.”

Fitch opened his door and began stepping outside.

“Do you also paint now?” Noah asked Andy as he leaned back on his chair so that Mike can maneuver back to its original place and join Fitch outside.

“Shall we?” Noah lead his hand and pointed it at the museum.

He heard several groans that made him chuckle.

There was one friend who, instead of groaning, squealed with excitement.

Andy ran next to Noah. “I hope I can see medieval paintings inside,” he said in English with a little hint of his Italian accent.

Noah holds his chin, “I’m not sure, but maybe you would see an intricate copy of such paintings. I know the original once are in Europe.”

Andy nodded in acknowledgment, “I know, but I’m still excited.”

“I can see that,” Noah said as he patted the guy lightly on his back.

When they went inside the museum, Andy was the first one who disappeared—he roamed the entire building in a matter of seconds while Mike and Fitch argue whether a sculpture symbolizes freedom or innocence.

When Noah was tired of hearing their endless argument that went around and around in circles, he had to have a say, “Alright you two. I’ve been endlessly hearing your arguments—”

“No, listen,” Mike cut him off, “that statue holding his arms wide meant freedom,”

“It’s a sculpture—how many times do I have to correct you?” Fitch crossed his arms. “Just because the arm is open wide, doesn’t mean that it’s inviting freedom. What if it is trying to chain someone? Possess someone?”

Noah had a look at the sculpture whose muscular hands are open wide as if he was welcoming someone in his arms—or maybe he was inviting someone in a tight embrace?

“I don’t even know why you’re arguing.” Noah rounded the corner and found the sculpture’s name engraved on a metallic nameplate.

He held his chin, one eyebrow lifted, “Hey guys. There’s a name—”

Fitch whipped his head to where Noah is, their conversations halting in a second. “I’ll be there in a minute—”

“What are you doing? Stop pulling me!” Mike shouted in Italian, and it was followed by a few Italian curses.

When they reach where Noah is, Fitch halted and it made Mike almost tumble to the ground.

He touched the shoulder where Fitch pulled him. “i***t! What if I dislocated my hand?”

“Guys! This place is my haven.” Andy appeared out of nowhere, his eyes darting up and down on the sculpture that’s almost ten feet taller than the rest of them.

“Oh look,” he pointed the metal nameplate beside it, “It says its Invitation…” he hummed as two of his friends, namely Fitch and Mike, couldn’t say a word on what they’ve heard.

Noah stopped himself from laughing that he almost bit his lips.  

Turns out among the three of them, he was unexpectedly the one who got the correct meaning of the sculpture. Either way, you can interpret in another way, although the artist’s portrayal was in par with what Noah had thought it to be.

“Shall we eat now?” Noah suggested as the two looked solemn-looking once they headed back on the parking lot.

“I knew it was something else,” Fitch muttered.

Mike shot him an incredulous look, “What the hell are you talking about?” he said in Italian.

Fitch glared at him, “Nothing. You don’t know English and art is what I was saying earlier.”

“Hey,” Noah warned, “English isn’t our first language. Don’t use it against him.”

Fitch immediately shut his mouth, his lips sealed in a line.

Mike rolled his eyes and headed first inside Noah’s car.

The two of them continued insulting each other like two elementary students that didn’t want the other one to be greater than the latter.

Noah had Andy sit beside him so that the two of them can argue some more before they reached the restaurant they’re about to go to.

“Are you all done arguing?” Noah turned the car into the corner.

The machine then stopped in front of a burger restaurant that had long been famous for their famous patties and mac and cheese.

Apparently, the owner had been a regular chef when he or she had the time to cook for the customers.

“Yes. And we have come to the conclusion that we’d not go to a museum together.” Mike said as he pushed the front door open.

They headed straight to the menu and ordered the best burger the restaurant had been claiming.

When served with the mac and cheese, Noah noticed that Mike’s mouth watered a little.

He grabbed a fork and dipped it in the bowl, and soon, his mouth was filled with the juicy mac and cheese.

“Perfect!” he exclaimed in Italian. “I have never tasted something so creamy and soft such as this?!”

Noah and his other friends laughed, “I’ve been a recent customer.”

The burger came in not long after the mac and cheese.

Its smell engulfed their senses, and the smoke flew on the ceiling.

Noah poured mustard and ketchup on his patties.

His Italian friends followed suit.

They began eating the burger, their moans of pleasure erupting that the people had their heads turned to where they were seated.

Fitch burst out laughing, his voice crackling in the four corners of the entire place.

It also happened that the owner was at the back kitchen.

The waiter reported to him what the four friends had looked like,  he got curious and went out of his way to see it for himself.

When he laid eyes and heard how vigorous the four had been eating his dishes, as thanks, he sent them his special carrot cake and also a premium patty he’d been developing.

Mike, Andy, Fitch, and Noah had never been so grateful for eating the best burger in town.