Thank-you for noticing this story.
Scanned, re-read, and redefined as of 6/21/14.
Closet full of Love
Schroeder flowed his fingers up and down across the keyboard of the piano. It was always a natural feeling to glide his gifted musician fingers on his favorite piano, basking in the noise that came out from it. The melodies were wonderful; they always provided him with a sense of comfort; they never failed him in being his only source of happiness on gloomy days when he just didn't feel right. His favorite composer, Beethoven, was the inspiration for his beautiful playing. His symphonies were the notes that he played the most with true dedication. Sitting on the piano, calm, elated, eyes closed, and al-
"Hey, sweetie!"
His keys all played at once as she walked into the room startling him with her entrance. He glanced up at her, knowing his silence and calm environment would have to wait until another day (if she ever left him alone). She took her regular position, leaning against his piano, and placed one leg over the other. Her foot began moving in a rhythmic motion. She turned to face him, obviously upset.
"Well? Are you going to play your stupid piano to serenade your wife?"
"I don't sing."
"It's not hard, you know! Just play the piano before I take you out on a date."
He hit the keys all at once, again, the erratic sound making her jump away from the piano. She scoffed at him as she walked back to her place, this time leaning forward to look at him. Schroeder stared right back with slanted eyebrows and an irritated frown. She merely smiled at his affections.
"Typical husbands; always hiding their feelings behind a mask!"
"Lucy!"
"And then they want dinner!"
"Leave!" He lifted the piano in one swift movement as she came crashing down to the ground with a shout. He slammed the piano back down, away from Lucy, and began using his talent once again.
She rubbed her elbows, checking herself to see if there were any signs of domestic violence. She scanned her legs, arms, touched her neck, and checked her dress, and that's when she noticed a stain on her dress. She stomped over to Schroeder, grabbing the fabric and bringing it up to his face. She pointed at it with a frown.
"You have to buy me a new one!"
He ignored her as he went on with his show, and she went on with hers.
"My mother washed, powdered, waxed, frosted, hugged, dried, and ironed this dress for me and you ruined it!" She realized Schroeder was not listening to her and she fell to her bottom next to him, tears swelling up in her black eyes. She sobbed silently, looking up to him as she did so, seeming to wait for something to happen.
The music began to slow down and he finally gave her dress a quick glance, then got up to walk down the hall. There was a door, with fancy borders, that stood alone in the middle on the wall. Schroeder stopped in front of it and opened the door with a twist and swing. Inside were four shelves: two for his Beethoven's busts, and two with a hanging post with hangers on it. He grabbed one of the hangers, lifting it up and then closing the door to walk back to his piano. He pressed the item into Lucy's hands, watching as her tears weakened.
She smiled, hugging the dress, "Now, I will probably get married."
"Good grief!"
Thank-you! This story is inspired by, "Fall for You" by Secondhand Serenade.
Have a good day!