Chapter 12: Music Festival and More I
I decided to divide this Music Festival sub-story into two parts because having them together will make a very long chapter. Each chapter has different concept..feels..I think you understand me...hihi.. Thanks to everyone following this story. Belated Merry Christmas and may your 2017 be blessed. :) 3
"Good morning Claire!"
"Good morning Carter!"
Claire just finished watering the crops when Carter visited her.
"The town will be celebrating Music Festival at the church in a couple of days. There will be a musical performance then it will be followed by snacks at the backyard. About the musical performance, I'd like to know..do you know how to play the ocarina?"
"Yes. My grandfather taught me how when I was young."
"Great! Will you play with the other girls in a performance?" Carter said.
"Wow! Of course! I'd love to Carter!"
"Thank you Claire."
"What piece are we going to play together?"
"It's the Harvest Goddess Thanksgiving Music. I have a copy of the sheet music at the church."
"I'm familiar with that music! Grandpa used to play that to me. But I'll really need the sheet music to get to know the whole piece. I'll just visit you there after I'm done attending to the animals. Will that be alright?"
"No problem Claire. I'm just at the church."
When Carter left, Claire went to the chicken coop first.
Claire decided to put Pachelbel's egg in the incubator. "You must be getting bored or sad alone in here. You better have some company. In a few days you're gonna have one," she said as she faced Pachelbel.
Afterwards, she proceeded to the barn to feed Mendelssohn and Schubert.
When she was all done with farm work, she went back home, rested for a short while, and then took a bath. After setting herself in clothes and fixing her hair, she went out headed to the church.
oOo
At the church, Carter happily greeted Claire.
"Hello Claire! I just prepared the sheet music here. You can have this copy." And Carter handed Claire the sheet music.
"This is wonderful Carter." Claire examined the composition. "This looks like a very beautiful tune."
"It is. And here is the ocarina. I can let you have it for study and practice at home." Carter gave Claire the ocarina.
"Wow! Thanks Carter!"
"Come here tomorrow after lunch so you can practice with the other girls."
"Sure I'll come. Thanks again!"
"Thank you too Claire."
oOo
Karen, who was sitting on a bench beside the supermarket called Claire. "Hi Claire! I heard you're going to play the ocarina for the Music Festival!"
"Hello Karen! Oh yes. Carter gave me these sheet music so I could practice."
Karen stood up. She held Claire's hand. "Come with me." She pulled Claire to go to the supermarket…all the way to their house. "I have something for you too."
"Huh? What is it?"
"It's a surprise."
Inside Karen's house…"Wait here," Karen cheerfully told Claire.
Later, Karen went back holding a red dress. "Tada!"
Claire stood. "Wow that's so beautiful! Let me guess. Am I going to use that for the festival?"
"Yep! I made this for you. I made dresses for all of us girls for our performance!"
"That's so thoughtful of you Claire. You know I was actually thinking about what to wear after Carter asked me to join the performance at the festival. It's so great that you already made this."
"When Carter told us a few days ago that he was going to ask you to play at the festival, I was confident that you would accept his invitation so I was able to design and make a dress in advance."
Claire giggled. "Gee. Thanks."
"The festival's at 5 p.m. You're gonna have to come here at 3 p.m. so I can help you put the dress on. I will also do your make up. Mary, Popuri, Elli, and Ann are also coming. Oooh! I'm excited to dress you all up!"
"Okay, Karen. I'll be here by three," Claire said chuckling.
"And see you tomorrow at practice!"
"Yeah! See you."
oOo
When Claire got home, she excitedly laid the sheet music on her bed and practiced the piece.
It was not difficult for her to learn the piece since she used to hear it from her grandfather. She was able to familiarize the whole composition within a few minutes.
After practicing with the ocarina, Claire watched a little tv. She caught up with the latest episode of "My Dear Princess."
"Hooah!" Claire yawned when the credits of the show rolled. "Time to call it a day, Beethoven. Goodnight!"
Beethoven barked at her and set himself beside her bed.
Apparently, Claire didn't fall asleep as quickly as she does. She was wondering about something.
'I remember how to play the ocarina. I remember grandpa used to play it to me. Distant memories like those I remember, but not that recent one about how I got here? Why?'
She felt a little pain in her head. She held it as tears fell on her face.
She later on fell asleep.
oOo
The next day, it was practice day for the Music Festival.
After doing farm work and fixing herself, Claire got the ocarina and the sheet music in her rucksack and walked to town, headed to church.
On her way, she met Popuri at the south fork.
"Hi Claire! On your way to the church for practice?"
"Hello Popuri! Yes!"
"Let's go together!"
"Sure! Come on!"
Claire and Popuri chatted as they walked.
"Carter told us that you would be playing the ocarina. It's nice we'll be hearing from you. Duke and Manna's daughter Aja used to play the ocarina. But since she left, nobody played it."
"It's a pleasure for me to join in the performance. How about you Popuri? What will you be playing?"
"I'll be playing the harp!"
"That's so wonderful!"
"Uhm, Claire, Ann will be there at the practice. If you feel like you're uncomfortable, just make a good excuse. Anyways, Elli, Mary, Karen, and I will be there so you don't have to worry."
"Thank you very much Popuri."
oOo
Elli and Mary were already at the church when Claire and Popuri came.
"Hi Elli! Hi Mary! Where is Carter?" Claire asked.
Elli and Mary both greeted Claire and Popuri.
"He's out and about in town." Elli giggled.
"He said he'll be reminding the villagers about the festival tomorrow," said Mary.
"Won't he be watching us rehearse?" said Claire.
Popuri chuckled. "No Claire. He likes to see the performance at the festival night itself. He said he wants to be as surprised and as amazed as the other members of the audience when they react."
"Oh! Heehee.."
Soon, Karen and Ann came.
The girls started their rehearsal.
Karen took charge of the practice.
Popuri sat beside the harp at the left side of the altar (audience point of view).
Ann and Elli stood behind Carter's table. They were both going to play the flute. They stood a little apart from each other so that they could be viewed by the spectators.
Mary's place was at the church organ to the right of the altar.
Claire was in front of Mary, a little right further so she wouldn't block Mary.
Karen was the singer. She stood in front of Carter's table.
The girls spent about an hour synchronizing the harmony of the instruments and Karen's singing. They ran the complete flawless practice performance three times, taking a little rest in between rounds.
When practice was over and the girls were fixing themselves and their stuff, Ann approached Claire.
Popuri noticed Ann and readied herself just in case she needed to help Claire.
"Claire! It will be your first time to perform in Music Festival with us. You're so great because you already know how to play the ocarina."
"Thank you Ann," Claire said kindly.
"So how was your Fireworks Festival?"
Popuri thought to herself, 'oh no..here she goes.'
"It was wonderful!" Claire answered Ann.
"But I didn't see you at the beach. Where were you? Who were you with? I was with Cliff that time." Ann made a quick side eye thinking 'I'm going to get you.'
Just then, Popuri butted in. "Claire! Didn't you tell me you watched the fireworks from Mother's Hill with Beethoven? I want to watch with you next year. I want to see how Forget-Me-Not Valley celebrates!" she said as she put her hand on Claire's shoulder.
"Oh! Look at the time! It's almost five! Didn't you have to be back by five because Carter will collect the shipment?" Karen asked.
"Huh? Uh..yeah.." Claire said.
"You should go Claire," said Mary.
"But what about you? Here? Shouldn't we prepare the place for tomorrow?"
"Don't worry Claire. We can handle the preparations. You have to get back home before Zack arrives, right Ann?" said Elli.
"Uhm..yeah. You should go Claire," said Ann hesitantly.
"I'll just accompany her since my way is also the west path. I need to get home early too. My mom might need me," said Popuri, already pulling Claire. "Bye girls!" She waved.
"Goodbye everyone! I'm really sorry for going early. See you tomorrow." Claire made an awkward and guilty smile.
The others, except for Ann who had a straight face, bade goodbye with smile in return.
When Claire and Popuri were walking outside, Claire said, "I know what you did there Popuri." She made an annoyed, naughty side eye at Popuri.
Popuri only chuckled.
"So everyone knew? Well, of course everyone saw Cliff and Ann at the beach..but everyone knew about Cliff and..uh.."
"About Cliff and you…"
"Uh..no..uh..well.."
"Wait..sorry.. About sort of almost Cliff and you?" Popuri finished her question, giggling.
"Uhm.."
"Like yeah? Hmmm... let's just say many people in Mineral Town like you and Cliff to be together…and they got surprised when they did not see you and Cliff together at the Fireworks Festival.. Well..many do not also agree with what Ann did."
"But I told you, Ann probably did not.."
"I know.. I know..Ann probably did not have ill intentions. But, that's not how the others thought about it when they heard about what happened."
"But Ann might wonder about what you did today. You were in like a team work back there." Claire grinned.
"It's the best we could think of to keep her away from pressuring you. Don't worry, the girls will take care of her."
"I really don't know what to think Popuri but thank you."
"You're welcome Claire. Hurry now. Zack will arrive soon!" Popuri said when they reached the fork.
"Oh yeah. Thank you Popuri. See you at the festival tomorrow."
"See you tomorrow Claire."
Claire came home just in time before Zack arrived.
Zack collected the shipment for the day and paid Claire.
Afterwards, Claire put back the animals in their shelters then she went inside her house with Beethoven.
She cleaned herself, ate dinner while watching "My Dear Princess," inventoried her earnings for the day, then went to bed.