Chapter 4
President Goldman showed Egon to his seat and handed him a program.
"The house will be opening up in fifteen minutes." he told Egon. "Is there anything you would like for me to get you before I go?"
"No thank you."
And with that President Goldman turned and walked back up the aisle to get ready for the concert.
Egon was sitting in the middle of the row, four rows back from the stage. The last time he had been this close was when he first met Eden.
"You can't do this." he told himself. "Tonight is her night."
In order to put his mind at ease he opened the program to read. After flipping through the first couple of pages he found her biography. A beautiful shot of her resting her head on the upper bouts of the "Batta" was on the left hand side of the program. On the right the bio read:
Doctor Spengler, principal cellist. 2009 graduate of Juilliard School of Music. Doctoral degrees in performance for piano, clarinet, and cello. Early years were spent home schooled by Professor Egon Spengler, Doctor Ray Stantz, and Doctor Peter Venkman. Voice lessons taken from renowned principal Opera singer for the Metropolitan Opera Eden Spengler. Doctor Spengler has preformed with the NY Philharmonics next to Mrs. Dana Barrett-Venkman. She is finishing up her masters degree in Biology. Doctor Spengler plays a 1714 "Batta-Piatigorsky" violoncello by Antonio Stradivari. With the development of gut strings overspun with fine metal wire Mr. Stradivari was able to reduce the size of the cello, thereby improving its acoustical qualities and making it easier to play. Doctor Spengler's "Batta" is considered one of the best examples of this smaller, improved model.
The "Batta-Piatigorsky" cello is named after the distinguished Dutch cellist Alexandre Batta who purchased it in Paris around 1836. In 1893 it was sold to the London dealer William E. Hill & Sons, who purchased it for the violin collector Baron Knoop. The great Russian-born cellist Gregor Piatigorsky acquired the instrument in 1956. The Metropolitan Museum of Art now owns the "Batta-Piatigorsky" cello and has loaned it to Doctor Spengler for tonight's performance. Having played many other instruments Doctor Spengler knows their qualities and shortcomings so she can exploit their good capabilities to full advantage. Doctor Spengler has played Steinways, Chickerings, Yamahas, Otto Meisters, Webers, and Young Chang pianos. Buffet Crampon, Yamaha, Etude, and Jupiter Clarinets. Yamaha, Otto Benjamin, Amati, and Stradivari cellos. The "Batta" she stated is bottomless in its resources, it spurred her on to try and reach its limitations for which there is none.
Egon looked up when he heard the theater doors opening behind him. In only half an hour the program would start. He turned to the page that listed what the orchestra was going to play. Most of the first half of the program was patriotic songs. "America the Beautiful", "Battle Hymn of the Republic," "God of Our Fathers, Whose Almighty Hand," "My Country, 'Tis of Thee," and finishing out the opening half "The Star-Spangled Banner."
The second half of the program was classical music. This was where she would shine. Vivaldi's "The Four Seasons-Spring and Autumn", Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 5, op. 64 2nd movement, Holst's "The Planets-Uranus and Jupiter", Bach's Minuet No. 3 and Beethoven's Minuet in G, Breval's Sonata in C major Op. 40, No. 1, and rounding out the program Saint-Saens "The Swan" from Carnival of the Animals. This had been Eden's favorite song.
Egon closed his eyes. How many hours had she sat on that chair in the basement on that raised platform that he and Ray had built for her? Practicing her music, day in and day out, while he worked at the computer or on his projects at the workbench.
Egon laughed. That was when they had both discovered the same thing. Egon's spores' collection loved Bach. They thrived on it. Grew better and quicker. The mold's liked Beethoven and the fungus were into Mozart. She would have to arrange her practicing schedule around how the collection was growing. Too much of one would lead her to play a different composer the next week. After all they didn't want an outbreak of one over the other. This also worked for her clarinet and piano practicing also.
"Who knew that those buggers liked classical music." Peter told him one day when he, Dana, and Oscar had come over for a visit. Peter, Oscar and he spent the time in the basement talking. Well really Peter and he talked, while Oscar played the piano. Dana had taught him at a young age. Now at 14 years of age he did very well for himself. Peter was hoping Oscar would get a scholarship to Juilliard.
"Dana really would like him to go there." Peter told Egon.
"He has such talent." Egon agreed.
"He gets it from his mother. I can't even sing in tune." Peter replied.
Meanwhile, upstairs she and Dana had cello practice where there was more room. Dana had brought her Amati cello along and she had her Yamaha that Dana and Peter had just given her last month for her birthday. They would practice scales, etudes, and any other easy music Dana could get her hands on. Because of her training on the piano and clarinet, Dana could see it was clear that once she got the basic techniques down the cello was as good as hers.
The sound of clapping and feet on the stage in front of him brought Egon out of his daydream. The orchestra was filing into the theater. They all stood while they waited for the conductor to come onto the stage. Egon looked to see were she was as he somehow missed her coming in. The first cello chair was empty. Was something wrong? She was never late. The only time she didn't come out with the orchestra was when she had a solo, but that was the second half of the program.
The orchestra started to applaud just then as Conductor Maestro Neeme Jarvi (pronounced nam-eh yair-ve) walked onto the stage from Egon's left. After taking a bow he gestured for the orchestra to be seated and then he went over to the first cello's seat and sat down. That was her seat.
Now Egon knew something wasn't right. The audience knew it too. Whispers could be heard.
"Where is Doctor Spengler?"
"She is way to young, maybe she got frightened and can't play."
"Today is extremely hard on her. Emotionally she is probably a wreck."
Egon was about ready to get up from his seat to go and find her when President Larry Goldman came onto the stage from the right.
Raising both his hands to quite the crowd he began to speak.
"First off let me tell you all that Doctor Spengler is fine. I wanted to do something a little different tonight. She will be out in a few moments to play but I would like to speak to you first."
"On Sunday we celebrate ten years since 9/11, that fateful day as we all watched the Twin Towers on television. The North Tower being hit first between the 93rd and 99th floors and then to everyone's horror the South Tower being hit between the 77th and 85th floors."
Egon swallowed hard. Tears were starting to form in the corners of his eyes. He needed to be there for her. She needed him too, he knew.
President Goldman continued.
"Tonight's concert is in memory of everyone who lost their lives that day. Maestro Neeme Jarvi and I also wanted to dedicate this concert to someone else tonight."
"Maestro Jarvi met this young woman when he directed the orchestra at the Metropolitan Opera. She was an unknown chorus girl who showed a lot of promise. Taking her under his wing she became the lead opera singer there. Her voice was in high demand all over the world. She toured several times a year in several countries as a guest artist."
"She eventually fell in love and married a prominent member of the New York community. At this time she was noted for her extraordinary piano skills too. This kept her doubly busy with more concerts and performances. Her husband always lovingly supporting her in all her endeavors."
"On the morning of September 11th she was in the Windows of the World Restaurant going over an interview that CBS was going to be doing that night with her at the Metropolitan Opera. That day we lost a great talent."
Egon could see a tear sliding down President Goldman's cheek. Tears were threatening to fall from his own eyes. The Maestro Neeme Jarvi was wiping his eyes with a white hanky he had taken from his jacket pocket.
"Many of you know about whom I am speaking." President Goldman continued. " I am talking about none other than Opera singer Eden Spengler, beloved wife of Professor Egon Spengler; Department Head of Psychology at Columbia University. Her name is engraved in a white granite tile in our front lobby. Many of you have seen it when you walked in tonight, as many of you commented to me about it."
"There is a little known fact that no one here knows. Professor Egon Spengler's wife wasn't the only one that we lost that day. Doctor Spengler has a secret that she would like everyone to know."
Egon looked shocked. He was sure his face was as white as a ghost. She wouldn't do this would she? They had promised not to tell anyone, hadn't they?
"Professor Egon Spengler." President Goldman now spoke to Egon directly. "Doctor Spengler begs your forgiveness at this moment. She wants you to know she loves you unconditionally and is sorry for all the wrong that she has caused you to this day."
President Goldman looked away from Egon and spoke to the audience once again.
"Eden Spengler was with child when she was wrongfully taken from us that day. An unborn baby boy."
As gaps and whispers could be heard from the audience Maestro Neeme Jarvi had gotten up from the first cellos seat and was coming forward towards President Goldman. He carried something black in his hands.
Egon was beyond the capability for rational thought. Just like when he faced Gozer the Gozerian those many years ago.
"Professor Egon Spengler." President Goldman spoke to him again. As he was speaking a spot light appeared upon Egon.
"I had you seated in the orchestra row for a reason tonight. If you haven't noticed yet Professor Spengler that is the exact seat you were sitting in when you heard Eden singing for the first time at the Metropolitan Opera."
Egon nodded his head. He had figured that out.
Maestro Neeme Jarvi handed the black object to President Goldman.
"Maestro Neeme Jarvi and I would like to present you, Professor Egon Spengler, with this black granite tile engraved with the name of your unborn son. To be placed next to your wife's granite tile in the lobby."
Egon swallowed and pulled out a handkerchief from his pants pocket. Having given her his other one. He always carried two. As he wiped away the tears all he could do is nod at the President and Maestro.
"Doctor Spengler knows that you and Eden had been arguing about a couple of names before that dreadful day. She would like for you to know that she has now settled the argument between you."
The audience laughed at this bit of teasing between the two.
"She has picked out the name Edison Spengler. Your fathers name to have engraved upon this granite tile. Underneath she has chosen to inscribe Beloved Son and Beloved Brother. Professor Spengler would you please come up on the stage to accept this granite tile?"
The audience started to applaud and then one by one they rose to their feet.
Slowly Egon pulled himself up from his seat. He couldn't do this alone. He started to exit the row to his right. Being congratulated as he made his way along to the aisle. He couldn't see anymore and was feeling his way along. Tears were flowing down both sides of his face and he wondered how he was going to get up onto the stage by himself.
As he exited the row he felt his right arm being taken by someone. "Oh good." he thought. They had sent him someone to help him.
"Thank You." he said to the person in black that he couldn't see as they started up the aisle for the stage.
"Your welcome father." came the soft reply.
Egon stopped dead in his tracks. No it couldn't be? He hastily wiped away his tears with his handkerchief. It was. It was her. His daughter!
Egon pulled her to him in a fierce bear hug. He couldn't speak and neither could she. She did have the sense to break the hug and move them up the stairs and onto the stage though.
They now stood before President Goldman and Maestro Neeme Jarvi. The Maestro shook his hand first and then hugged his daughter. President Goldman turned him to face the audience and with Egon on his left and hugging Doctor Spengler on his right he handed the black granite tile to him. Egon accepted the tile and she came over to take his arm and led him off towards backstage.