Chapter 3
"Well Erik, do you have a last name?" questioned Andre in quite a nasty tone.
"No Sir, I never knew my parents, and therefore don't have a last name." Erik replied steadily.
"Probably killed the pair of them…" muttered Andre under his breath.
"Enough Andre!" scolded Frimin, joining in the conversation once again. "The orphanage didn't give you one?" he asked in a more gentle tone then his companion. Erik shook his head.
"No Sir."
"Now see, Andre, the boy does have manners…unlike some others I won't mention."
"Firmin, if everyone had manners, do you think there would be politicians, or criminals, or carriage drivers?"
"Carriage drivers?" asked Frimin in amazement. Andre however waved his hand in the air in dismissal.
"I shall not permit it. I want the boy out of here at once."
"Andre be reasonable, we need a violinist, he's available…" Firmin whispered closed to Andre's ear, "…won't cost much as a professional…might even work for food or shelter…?" That comment seemed to have swayed Andre a little bit and he fixed his gaze upon Erik.
"Well…"
"Oh go on Andre, let him have a go." Nudged Firmin.
"Very well…play. We'll see if you're up to the level that only the Paris Opera House expects."
"Go on." Said Firmin encouragingly, "go on, don't be shy." Erik couldn't believe his ears. After all this arguing, he was going to get a chance to audition to be in the orchestra of the Pairs Opera House! That was all he ever wanted, well he really wanted to play in the orchestra, singing in an Opera however was way beyond his reach, but one step at a time. All he could ask for now was a chance to show them how good he really was, and that was what he was being offered. For the first time since entering the Opera House, Erik's face showed a hint of a smile and excitement as he placed his violin up to his chin and took a deep breath. It's now or never, Erik kept reminding himself over and over, show then what you've got…blow them away.
Erik closed his eyes and began to play, a different melody from what he had played outside. Ever since Erik could remember he had been planning what piece to play for his very first audition. As Erik's fingers danced gracefully over the strings with his bow, memories of a younger version of himself came flooding back. His first violin, the secret lessons he had in the alley behind the orphanage, his first composed piece. Now he was really here living out his dream. He had waited so long for this moment, he had planned out exactly how it was supposed to go, and now that the moment was here, it hardly seemed real. As with most things it life, nothing ever goes perfectly, and even with the rocky start Erik felt that he had, he supposed that the only thing left to do was play his heart and soul out.
He did just that.
The moments passed as if a dream to Erik, and too soon, far too soon, thought Erik, it was all over. His moment of glory was gone in an instant. The last notes faded away in the office and Erik opened his eyes slowly, trying to savour the very last seconds of music. The room was in stunned silence which Erik thought was quite a change, considering in the very short space of time that he had come to know Monsieur Firmin and Monsieur Andre, he guessed that they loved to talk. Erik risked a glance towards the faces of the two managers. Andre still sat in the chair but he had his elbows on the table now and his face was cupped in his hands, while his eyes showed that he was in a dreamy state. Firmin leaned against the filing drawers with his eyes closed and his head tilted back just below a rather large pile of papers and Erik had a terrible suspision that it might come crashing down on his head if he jerked away to quickly. Erik dared not move and so he waited with bated breath until there was at least some sign of movement from the two men before him. It was Andre who at last came out of his stupor and his refocused eyes settled onto Erik, who held his own face level with Andre's. Andre opened his mouth, but the words seemed to have been lodged somewhere deep within his throat. As if Firmin had heard the non-existent sentence, his eyes fluttered open and he looked at Andre with a grin on his face. It was Firmin however, who seemed to be the first to master the art of speech.
"Andre…." He said slowly in an almost mocking I-told-you-so fashion.
"My dear Firmin." Andre said as he broke gaze with Erik and turned his face towards Firmin. "I do believe I ought to take you out for diner." Erik's eyes widened. This didn't make sense, he had just performed an audition and Monsieur Andre was talking about food. Was he really that horrible? He hadn't been really listening to himself closely anyway, his thoughts had been tied up about his childhood. Could it have been possible that while his mind was on other things, he had messed up, or forgotten a note or two? A terrible dread was starting to quickly descend on Erik as the managers continued to look at each other in silence, hardly paying him the slightest bit of attention. Even if he had messed up, didn't they see the passion in his eyes? Don't be stupid, thought Erik, your eyes were closed. Still, they should have seen the drive in him or the longing to play, or had he been too scared? Had he, Erik, come off as just a scared little kid who had no idea what he was doing? His mouth was dry and his lips were cracked as these thoughts flew around inside his head madly. He lowered his gaze to the richly carpeted floor of the managers office trying to remember what kind of life he could have had if he hadn't been so stupid as to forget to concentrate on the one thing he had ever been proud of in his life. Erik wanted to make his dismissal as painless as possible and so he stood a small tentative step forward.
"Messieurs, I'm terribly sorry to have bothered you. I shall leave you in peace. Thank you for your time." Erik hung his head and turned towards the door again for the final time. You blew it, Erik thought in misery, now there are no more chances. You can't go back. A small cough was heard behind Erik, but he paid it no heed.
"That won't be necessary Erik." Said Firmin sternly. Erik sighed inaudibly, but did not look back at the managers, he just stood there frozen solid, with grief and disappointment written all over his face.
"Why not?" Erik whispered so quietly that he was sure the managers hadn't heard him. However from the answer that Andre gave, Erik was sure that both the managers had heard him.
"Welcome to the Pairs Opera House Orchestra Erik!" smiled Andre for the first time.
