CHAPTER ONE (PART TWO)8964 copyright protection636ＰＥＮＡＮＡW1zb6csJel 維尼
Winter Etude8964 copyright protection636ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8X4uP27r92 維尼
The food court at the university was quiet. Violet supposed it was because it was a Friday evening. Most of the people who went to the university Violet’s mother taught at were already at their apartments or at home, celebrating another triumphant week of surviving college. Of course, she didn’t understand what college was all about or why students even went there in the first place. To her, college was just college and nothing more.8964 copyright protection636ＰＥＮＡＮＡK24VffUUff 維尼
There weren’t very many options at the food court of the cafeteria, at least not for someone whose mother was extremely health conscious. There were several fast food restaurant chains offering express menus but there wasn’t much that Violet’s mother would let her eat. Save for one. A salad bar. Violet’s young stomach wanted something fattier, like the burger place, but her mother, of course, wouldn’t hear any of it.8964 copyright protection636ＰＥＮＡＮＡQmKepIGWbn 維尼
“You have to grow strong and healthy and not bog your stomach down with junk.” She shook her head. “You know how I feel about all of that.”8964 copyright protection636ＰＥＮＡＮＡwwhT2KTyJg 維尼
“Yeah I know.”8964 copyright protection636ＰＥＮＡＮＡFqCkX5kzf6 維尼
“Then don’t ask.” She was laughing as she pat her daughter’s head.8964 copyright protection636ＰＥＮＡＮＡ45GWvV1mc1 維尼
The scent of French fries teased at Violet’s nose again. The smell was tantalizing, but ignoring the stomach rumbling, she walked to the salad bar with her mother. Unappetizing. Everything was atrocious. Grimacing, Violet’s shoulders slumped as she held on to her tray, digging into the romaine lettuce with the black prongs.8964 copyright protection636ＰＥＮＡＮＡXfbw0VUyRM 維尼
“Delicious, delicious,” Violet’s mother sang. “Don’t you think that it would be great if you could put some olives on that?”8964 copyright protection636ＰＥＮＡＮＡA7gCOHABQ1 維尼
Violet shivered. Olives — nasty. Fries — good. “No. I want fries.”8964 copyright protection636ＰＥＮＡＮＡIqPhfSvKhw 維尼
“Fries aren’t healthy. We’ve been over this so many times.”8964 copyright protection636ＰＥＮＡＮＡnl9N1ALCsm 維尼
“I know,” Violet said, sighing. “But I want them.”8964 copyright protection636ＰＥＮＡＮＡdNDFd2loa1 維尼
They were checking out now that Violet had put all of the toppings in her bowl. At the moment that Violet’s mother had paid for their food, the speakers began playing piano music. Like being transported into another world, the music danced before her. No longer were the flourescent lights of the food court beating down on her, but some kind of magical light. Her heart raced as the music increased in intensity. Violet ddn’t even realize that she was now sitting at the table in front of her mother, but to her chagrin, she was brought back to her reality when her mother waved her hand.8964 copyright protection636ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Al6zD33PY 維尼
“What?” Violet asked, her eyes wide as she looked at her mother.8964 copyright protection636ＰＥＮＡＮＡXPSG1b4vFY 維尼
“You’re not paying attention. You remember we needed to continue our discussion about the book you’re supposed to be reading.”8964 copyright protection636ＰＥＮＡＮＡsg11d1RAvF 維尼
“Oh…” Violet’s shoulders slumped.8964 copyright protection636ＰＥＮＡＮＡx0makvueik 維尼
Fifth grade sucks. I wish I was in college. Look at all these people. They look like grown ups. I really want to be one.8964 copyright protection636ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6BhtkBqAw8 維尼
The music was still playing over the speakers. Violet looked up and pretended that she too was a pianist. It was the only way she could imagine herself like that Alexander Kafka boy, who played better than anyone one else she had ever heard. The only talented person in her fifth grade music appreciation class was James — and all he could play was Simple Things.8964 copyright protection636ＰＥＮＡＮＡLT9PNLPSxf 維尼
“Who was your favorite character?”8964 copyright protection636ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2TfdOOjsTB 維尼
Did I really read the book all that well? Violet thought, digging her fork into the salad bowl.8964 copyright protection636ＰＥＮＡＮＡj1BGNVnOK3 維尼
“Um, Charles Wallace I suppose.”8964 copyright protection636ＰＥＮＡＮＡMI7QP4frQv 維尼
“Why Charles Wallace and not Meg?”8964 copyright protection636ＰＥＮＡＮＡWHXzNFE49w 維尼
Wait, who is Meg again? Isn’t she the main character… Yeah I should have mentioned her… Not Charles Wallace.8964 copyright protection636ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5WCfSZjmeK 維尼
Violet’s mind was still muddled by the music. The dulcet sound of the piano faded until it was nothing.8964 copyright protection636ＰＥＮＡＮＡVNvf4Zj1qk 維尼
“The music’s over,” Violet said, pouting.8964 copyright protection636ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8AZztmwX9x 維尼
“You didn’t answer my question.”8964 copyright protection636ＰＥＮＡＮＡNWaJ4c25SC 維尼
“I meant to say Meg. I’m sorry. I like her ‘cause she’s like me. I get her. I don’t get Charles Wallace. I dunno why I even mentioned his name.”8964 copyright protection636ＰＥＮＡＮＡCBRVWiCq94 維尼
The conversation continued on the book, but Violet’s heart wasn’t in it and it wouldn’t be for the duration of their talk. She still couldn’t get her mind off of earlier that evening. The way the music sounded — it touched her soul. Even though she was ten years old, she felt that she was beginning to have some kind of understanding of music. As if she was meant to go in the auditorium.8964 copyright protection636ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3MWQQaRK7p 維尼
Though the conversation had stopped, Violet looked at her mother. There was something in her eyes she couldn’t read. Violet knew she was too young to understand why her mother was looking at her, her eyes narrow and almost curious.8964 copyright protection636ＰＥＮＡＮＡe9wMkdCutJ 維尼
“I’ll write the essay tonight while you’re teaching and I’ll finish it.”8964 copyright protection636ＰＥＮＡＮＡYeMdmIYFUa 維尼
That way I can probably listen to piano music… But how? How can I?8964 copyright protection636ＰＥＮＡＮＡbGSjxFxy7V 維尼
“Is there any way we can listen to music on the radio when we’re going back home?”8964 copyright protection636ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7MXmqzvYjo 維尼
“I’m not sure,” she said. “What kind of music did you want to listen to, Vi?”8964 copyright protection636ＰＥＮＡＮＡMEw7JsLy3L 維尼
Mom will definitely laugh at me for saying this.8964 copyright protection636ＰＥＮＡＮＡbjpVAa2R1k 維尼
“Classical.”8964 copyright protection636ＰＥＮＡＮＡzFxC0K7AZi 維尼
Violet was right. Her mother did laugh.8964 copyright protection636ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6ck6G6F1X9 維尼
“Classical? But why? I didn’t think you would like that kind of music.”8964 copyright protection636ＰＥＮＡＮＡkzgUJ5ZvhE 維尼
Violet half-smiled, twiddling with the salad on her plate. “I don’t know… I guess I might want to listen to it on the way home.”8964 copyright protection636ＰＥＮＡＮＡgvnQyYvgfS 維尼
“I suppose going in that music hall did you a favor then, huh? I tried listening to classical music when I was pregnant with you, but it just bored me to tears… It doesn’t bore you?”8964 copyright protection636ＰＥＮＡＮＡE213cmiYSd 維尼
How can it? What I saw today from Alexander Kafka’s playing? I want that. I want to go back to my magical world.8964 copyright protection636ＰＥＮＡＮＡ52umFI1aYS 維尼
“I guess not.”8964 copyright protection636ＰＥＮＡＮＡvf1tVC4hi4 維尼
Violet’s mother found the classical station while they were on their way back home. She didn’t know what it was, or even what the featured instruments were, but Violet felt her eyelids slowly droop until they were completely shut. Was she in her world again?8964 copyright protection636ＰＥＮＡＮＡNbMEMxDMoH 維尼
She opened her eyes to her standing in a field, the sunlight shining down on her pale skin. She was dancing as the trees whispered and rustled with the rhythm of the wind. There was a small barn in the distance. Another boy running toward the same direction. The sun was brighter as the music in her soul increased in intensity. The grass was becoming more and more green.8964 copyright protection636ＰＥＮＡＮＡtZnGgO7CWK 維尼
“Wait for me!” she said.8964 copyright protection636ＰＥＮＡＮＡPtl0scx3h3 維尼
The boy who was running turned around and narrowed his eyes, but after a moment, he smiled and extended his hand. She took her hand in his and they both began running.8964 copyright protection636ＰＥＮＡＮＡqSjyqhTxAr 維尼
Her eyelids were heavy as she felt a hand touch her shoulder.8964 copyright protection636ＰＥＮＡＮＡnQKg35nTo7 維尼
“Violet, we’re home.”8964 copyright protection636ＰＥＮＡＮＡCC4H8tzZ7U 維尼
She opened her eyes. “Home?”8964 copyright protection636ＰＥＮＡＮＡUrAs2mR7D7 維尼
“Yeah, you fell asleep. Go put your Pj’s on and go to sleep. You have a long day tomorow.”8964 copyright protection636ＰＥＮＡＮＡSkxhLMqabW 維尼
Stumbling out of the car, she held on to her mother for support. What did she just dream about? Everything seemed so real, so vivid. So true. Wishing that she could see the images just one more time, she closed her eyes, but there was nothing. She found herself wondering when it would happen again.8964 copyright protection636ＰＥＮＡＮＡPUEaPlb9ph 維尼
And she wanted nothing more than for it to happen again.8964 copyright protection636ＰＥＮＡＮＡHvcJKzKIdq 維尼
A few months later8964 copyright protection636ＰＥＮＡＮＡdUleFdtHdV 維尼
The music store. Violet had been persuading her mother to take her to Barenheim’s for what felt like months on end. Now it was Violet’s turn to finally play on a piano. As soon as they walked in, the smell of music danced in the room.8964 copyright protection636ＰＥＮＡＮＡAKodJk5bKa 維尼
“Look at this one, Mommy!” she said, tugging her mother towards the glossy black grand piano. “It’s so beautiful. It reminds me of the one he was playing…”8964 copyright protection636ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6EXfR5eRNg 維尼
“Who’s he?” she asked, narrowing her eyes.8964 copyright protection636ＰＥＮＡＮＡy0smhyeCkh 維尼
“Oh you know,” Violet said, gliding her small hands across the white keys. “The one who played in the auditorium a few months ago… Alexander Kafka. I dunno who he is, but he was the one I heard playing that night.”8964 copyright protection636ＰＥＮＡＮＡIuFp0gNEKu 維尼
“Ah,” she said, nodding her head. “I see who you’re talking about now. You’ve only been talking about him for months.”8964 copyright protection636ＰＥＮＡＮＡWS5yxNk9Ti 維尼
Violet was no longer paying attention to a word her mother was saying. She was sitting at the piano bench, and fiddling around with the white keys, occasionally reaching for a black key. She didn’t know what she was playing, or even if it sounded good at all. Not being able to deny the intense rush that was coursing through her veins, the young girl continued to play and allowed herself to get completely lost in the music. In her mind, she was another Alexander Kafka on the stage, in front of a crowd of thousands that were eagerly waiting for her to play the next notes and continue on making magic that enchanted them to their very cores.8964 copyright protection636ＰＥＮＡＮＡlftV0y4iZ4 維尼
“Violet,” her mother whispered. “You’re disturbing other people. Stop banging on those keys.”8964 copyright protection636ＰＥＮＡＮＡD7e2ZhJtB3 維尼
“What?” she asked, looking up, momentarily confused. Why did her mother stop her from playing?8964 copyright protection636ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3cB9iDHhzr 維尼
“You sound terrible. Everyone’s looking at you.”8964 copyright protection636ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9h6OKi0gRf 維尼
She frowned. Sometimes her mother was harsher.8964 copyright protection636ＰＥＮＡＮＡzIFn6boCTi 維尼
“Gee, thanks.” She got up from the bench and walked away, folding her arms across her chest and walking away from her mother.8964 copyright protection636ＰＥＮＡＮＡhijj5FDck3 維尼
“Vi, I’m sorry. You know I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings.”8964 copyright protection636ＰＥＮＡＮＡvJOa2hChsH 維尼
A tear escaped Violet’s eyes and trickled down her cheek.8964 copyright protection636ＰＥＮＡＮＡsmGoU9fs1W 維尼
“Is everything okay?”8964 copyright protection636ＰＥＮＡＮＡgk7eM40ZaL 維尼
It was the man who was tending to the front desk. He looked at Violet with soft eyes and a smile.8964 copyright protection636ＰＥＮＡＮＡtdP5VTgirx 維尼
Violet looked up at him, sniffled and said, “Yes, sir. Everything is fine.”8964 copyright protection636ＰＥＮＡＮＡypWFrSuXhW 維尼
“I heard you playing piano. You were having fun, weren’t you?”8964 copyright protection636ＰＥＮＡＮＡR7zyTM93ra 維尼
Violet giggled as she smiled. “Yes, sir. I was.”8964 copyright protection636ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6cRMXVlAmI 維尼
“Let me know if you need anything, okay?” He said. Shortly after he walked away.8964 copyright protection636ＰＥＮＡＮＡs1bSsHYlcZ 維尼
Fast piano music ensued shortly after their conversation. It wasn’t like the music she had heard a few months previous, but it was almost just as good. The music made Violet frown and look at the person playing with narrowed eyes. She had enough of all of this.8964 copyright protection636ＰＥＮＡＮＡvFHNU4s7lz 維尼
“Mom,” she said, walking up to her and tugging her shirt.8964 copyright protection636ＰＥＮＡＮＡfuwmrO8uyc 維尼
“What?”8964 copyright protection636ＰＥＮＡＮＡrJi0Yd3lzE 維尼
“I’ve had enough of this. I want to be as good as the playing piano over there. I want to take piano lessons.”8964 copyright protection636ＰＥＮＡＮＡniNMJ7ctc7 維尼
Her mother arched an eyebrow and shook her head, "I don't think that's a good idea... Violet, I'm not sure if you really have the potential to play piano like that guy over there..."8964 copyright protection636ＰＥＮＡＮＡKdXIM9zj8v 維尼
Piano lessons were what Violet wanted more than anything she had ever wanted before in her life. She was determined to be just as good, if not better, than Alexander Kafka. 8964 copyright protection636ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9feg5Pz8sF 維尼
"I don't care what you think. I'm going to do it. Please sign me up for lessons!"8964 copyright protection636ＰＥＮＡＮＡwXebHbLRke 維尼
640Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgTqaD1LZBQ
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