I close my eyes and tuck the violin under my chin. Grasping the bow, I place my fingers on the strings. I wait for my cue. And there it is. Silence envelopes me. Slowly, I pull the bow across the strings. The instrument emits a high mournful cry. I play in the stillness of the concert hall and,I can imagine the music ringing out across hillsides and mountains. My hand is pressed flat against the neck of the violin as I deftly move my fingers. Suddenly the flutes join in, and I am no longer alone. The other violinists begin to play, and drums softly beat out the rhythm. This harmony continues for a moment longer. Than I sing. In my soft wavering soprano, I voice the words to the song.
"I light the candle top, but daylight is almost gone.
The birds have sung their last, the bells call home to mass.
Seat ye by my side for the night is very long.
Something I must tell before I pass along,
I joined the brotherhood, my books were wrong to me. I scribed the words of God and much of history.
Many a year was I, which dwelt upon the sea.
The waves would wash my tears , wind my memory.
I'd hear the ocean breath, exhale upon the shore.
I knew the tempest blood, its rough I would endure
And so the years went by, within my rocky cell, with only a mouse and bird,my friend a mountain bell.
And so it came to pass I'd come here to Normandy, and many a year it took till I arrived here with thee.
Dusty roads I walked and toiled the mountains high, through rivers running deep beneath the endless sky"
I pause and draw in a deep breath. For a few wonderful seconds I just play. My bow moves up and down, creating the notes of this sad melody. Then my serenity is broken. I sing out the last verse.
"Beneath these jasmine flowers, amidst these cypress trees, I give you now my books and tell the mysteries.
Take the hourglass and turn it on its head, for when these sands run out is when you'll find me dead.
I light the candle top but, the daylight is almost gone.
The birds have sung their last, the bells call home to mass."
I play one last chord, before the flutes give the last few notes. Taking my violin out from underneath my chin, I tuck it under my arm. I then give a small bow with the rest of the musicians, as the crowd gives us a standing ovation.
The curtain falls and we all relax. Everyone starts to chatter excitedly.
"That was great, Tiffany." Says Eddie to me. "If you can pull that off at the next festival we won't need Violet to sing both songs." I grin. Even though Eddie compliments everyone on everything, it is nice to be praised. I shake my head.
"Sorry Eddie. My mom broke her leg, so I have to look after her for a few months." Eddie gives me a fake indignant look.
"Your mother, always ruining your life with her injuries." We both break out laughing.
"Tell your mom hi for me."
"I will."
After saying my good byes I went to change.I hate formal wear, so I change out of my black dress as fast as possible. Now I stand in front of the mirror in jeans and t-shirt, which reads strangers have the best candy in big white letters against dark blue background. I examine my face as I wash off my makeup. Big brown eyes draw that one's attention instantly, are my best features. They are slightly darker than my wavy brown hair. A healthy dose of freckles covers my pert little nose. As If these plain features aren't enough, I'm pretty short too. People have told me that I'm pretty and I agree. It's just that I'm not memorable.
I carefully pack my violin away in its case. My mother is lucky that I happened to be nearby due to this Celtic music festival. She lives in the town next to this one. Ever since my dad died five years ago she's slowly gone nuts. About two years ago my mom decided to move to the mountains of North Carolina.
Slinging my duffel bag over my shoulder, I walked out of the building onto the sidewalk. Wham!
Before I can even process what just happened, I am down on the ground.
"I am so sorry. Er... are you alright." I press a hand to my head and blink.
"I'm fine, but... Oh Shoot!" I scramble over my violin case and open it. Thankfully the instrument is unharmed. I sigh with relief.
"Lucky for You no lasting damage was done." I do my best to appear dignified. Picking up my things, I finally get a good look at the person that rammed into me.
And apparently that person is guy. A really gorgeous guy. He has dark hair that seems to have a life of its own and his eyes, oh his eyes. After he clears his throat uncomfortably I realize that I've been staring. He reaches down to help me up.
"Are you sure you're all right?" I take a quick inventory.
"Nothings broken or missing." I stick out my hand.
"Tiffany Donovan." He takes my hand and shakes it.
"James Petrovitch." James looks down at my violin case.
"I assume that you're in town for the Celtic music festival."
"Yes, but my mom lives over in Litchfield and I have to go visit her. She broke her leg."
"Ouch. How exactly are you planing to get to Litchfield?"
"Walk."
"You know that it's several miles away, right?" I look sheepishly down at my feet.
"No." James took this information in.
"Well, since I knocked you down I might as well take you." I open my mouth to protest but James holds up his hand.
"Its the least I can do. Besides I live there so it won't be any trouble at all." I consider this.
"All right. It's not every day I get a free ride."
I am sitting in the passenger seat of James's truck and chatting with him as we drive along.
"So,you are a musician?"
"Yeah, I play the violin. I've been running up and down the east coast with a bunch of other musicians for a while now." He glances at me and I point to the road.
"The driver should keep his eyes on the road."
"You're very distracting." I blushed and said the first thing thaOilt came into my head.
"So are you." This caused James to chuckle and I sank further into the seat.
"I can not believe I just said that."
"I can."
"How come."
"For one, I know just how distracting I can be."
"I cannot believe that you just said that. I'm beginning to think that you have an ego problem." But before James can say anything we arrive in Litchfield. As we cruise along main street I see it.
Michelle's Magyk Shoppe.
"No way. She spelled it with a k and y. Unbelievable." James turns to stare at me.
"Wait, a second. Your mom is that Michelle Donovan?"
"Unfortunately." I mutter under my breath. Hopping out of the truck I glance behind me.
"You coming?" He looks up at the bright pink sign.
"I can't exactly let you go in there unprotected."
"And who says chivalry is dead?"
I push open the door and peer inside. The store is so crowded with nickknacks and other useless items that I can barely see past the shelves.
" Hello? Mom? Are you still alive?" I hear a crash towards the back and I cringe. James places a hand on my arm and steps in front of me. Then my mother appears. She is in worse shape than when I last saw her. Her hair has more than a few grey streaks now and her face is lined with wrinkles. But not even her crutches can disguise her energy.
"Tiffany, you came!" I race out from behind James to hug her.
"Of course I did Mom." She kisses me on the forehead before noticing James.
"And I see that you brought the Big Bad Wolf with you." James visibly stiffens at these words. He gives me one long indecipherable gaze.
"Good bye Tiffany. I hope that I will see you again." At that James reluctantly leaves me to care for my mother.
Author' s Note
Oh, things are just about to get interesting. Apparently Tiffany' s mom doesn't get along with James. Please review and tell me what you think.