CHAPTER ONE (PART TWO)copyright protection309ＰＥＮＡＮＡEXAexzd0Uy
Winter Etudecopyright protection309ＰＥＮＡＮＡsYqvieNEuD
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.copyright protection309ＰＥＮＡＮＡBMkmJcCwWA
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.copyright protection309ＰＥＮＡＮＡDAyeP6N26I
“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.”copyright protection309ＰＥＮＡＮＡBzG24ZgSEK
“Yeah I know.”copyright protection309ＰＥＮＡＮＡvfxQBh2eNY
“Then don’t ask.” She was laughing as she pat her daughter’s head.copyright protection309ＰＥＮＡＮＡOrzmFottrz
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.copyright protection309ＰＥＮＡＮＡb28R4dRl6v
“Delicious, delicious,” Violet’s mother sang. “Don’t you think that it would be great if you could put some olives on that?”copyright protection309ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6BKErmVuAJ
Violet shivered. Olives — nasty. Fries — good. “No. I want fries.”copyright protection309ＰＥＮＡＮＡtpb2MRrfkS
“Fries aren’t healthy. We’ve been over this so many times.”copyright protection309ＰＥＮＡＮＡOwVXo0bflh
“I know,” Violet said, sighing. “But I want them.”copyright protection309ＰＥＮＡＮＡKsTv6lR2Pr
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.copyright protection309ＰＥＮＡＮＡLiRWlDNNS8
“What?” Violet asked, her eyes wide as she looked at her mother.copyright protection309ＰＥＮＡＮＡGHEBE2BPhX
“You’re not paying attention. You remember we needed to continue our discussion about the book you’re supposed to be reading.”copyright protection309ＰＥＮＡＮＡ72p0xwlpyb
“Oh…” Violet’s shoulders slumped.copyright protection309ＰＥＮＡＮＡQjuHgQl4Dd
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.copyright protection309ＰＥＮＡＮＡcjURVzUwpc
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.copyright protection309ＰＥＮＡＮＡuweTxMpSbX
“Who was your favorite character?”copyright protection309ＰＥＮＡＮＡ32hyJyo5D1
Did I really read the book all that well? Violet thought, digging her fork into the salad bowl.copyright protection309ＰＥＮＡＮＡiQldHgMBMc
“Um, Charles Wallace I suppose.”copyright protection309ＰＥＮＡＮＡOgI2afOA80
“Why Charles Wallace and not Meg?”copyright protection309ＰＥＮＡＮＡxc2PKMo8R1
Wait, who is Meg again? Isn’t she the main character… Yeah I should have mentioned her… Not Charles Wallace.copyright protection309ＰＥＮＡＮＡa9RvnzM9ay
Violet’s mind was still muddled by the music. The dulcet sound of the piano faded until it was nothing.copyright protection309ＰＥＮＡＮＡmYP510lQAt
“The music’s over,” Violet said, pouting.copyright protection309ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ8GTYqFmzx
“You didn’t answer my question.”copyright protection309ＰＥＮＡＮＡoKHfg4O2eZ
“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.”copyright protection309ＰＥＮＡＮＡBAYrF0r0Q2
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.copyright protection309ＰＥＮＡＮＡtHa9A8Agva
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.copyright protection309ＰＥＮＡＮＡNTUv8bzXdN
“I’ll write the essay tonight while you’re teaching and I’ll finish it.”copyright protection309ＰＥＮＡＮＡWOnVf2VH3M
That way I can probably listen to piano music… But how? How can I?copyright protection309ＰＥＮＡＮＡJwtTG42hlx
“Is there any way we can listen to music on the radio when we’re going back home?”copyright protection309ＰＥＮＡＮＡs9rnEzydxL
“I’m not sure,” she said. “What kind of music did you want to listen to, Vi?”copyright protection309ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1tAooQrkxu
Mom will definitely laugh at me for saying this.copyright protection309ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6g1zaIEd0Z
“Classical.”copyright protection309ＰＥＮＡＮＡKs9bPNLo1i
Violet was right. Her mother did laugh.copyright protection309ＰＥＮＡＮＡa2MKqbASv8
“Classical? But why? I didn’t think you would like that kind of music.”copyright protection309ＰＥＮＡＮＡnBpobz7QN7
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.”copyright protection309ＰＥＮＡＮＡQxzZJpNvNO
“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?”copyright protection309ＰＥＮＡＮＡOXQAIhMiai
How can it? What I saw today from Alexander Kafka’s playing? I want that. I want to go back to my magical world.copyright protection309ＰＥＮＡＮＡrxUQW6q3Wd
“I guess not.”copyright protection309ＰＥＮＡＮＡaMLKMvaz0Y
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?copyright protection309ＰＥＮＡＮＡoPVfqExcXH
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.copyright protection309ＰＥＮＡＮＡuofoebuFfr
“Wait for me!” she said.copyright protection309ＰＥＮＡＮＡSpeEa09lAa
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.copyright protection309ＰＥＮＡＮＡjZZfepTLCQ
Her eyelids were heavy as she felt a hand touch her shoulder.copyright protection309ＰＥＮＡＮＡt7eIwtU189
“Violet, we’re home.”copyright protection309ＰＥＮＡＮＡs1zGFKHO5i
She opened her eyes. “Home?”copyright protection309ＰＥＮＡＮＡZohYDwowh1
“Yeah, you fell asleep. Go put your Pj’s on and go to sleep. You have a long day tomorow.”copyright protection309ＰＥＮＡＮＡnL8CuE5pGe
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.copyright protection309ＰＥＮＡＮＡy8f8PVSxKX
And she wanted nothing more than for it to happen again.copyright protection309ＰＥＮＡＮＡPJm7HZD6wV
A few months latercopyright protection309ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7TGgvbVBAB
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.copyright protection309ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ8J6hz196L
“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…”copyright protection309ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Wvt3dsHjZ
“Who’s he?” she asked, narrowing her eyes.copyright protection309ＰＥＮＡＮＡCrTiHptC04
“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.”copyright protection309ＰＥＮＡＮＡeRdXXuxZDE
“Ah,” she said, nodding her head. “I see who you’re talking about now. You’ve only been talking about him for months.”copyright protection309ＰＥＮＡＮＡKKAgeEtHlM
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.copyright protection309ＰＥＮＡＮＡGXeAgVZKy0
“Violet,” her mother whispered. “You’re disturbing other people. Stop banging on those keys.”copyright protection309ＰＥＮＡＮＡOMR1KOviN9
“What?” she asked, looking up, momentarily confused. Why did her mother stop her from playing?copyright protection309ＰＥＮＡＮＡWyUxO9bhQx
“You sound terrible. Everyone’s looking at you.”copyright protection309ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4xvi7Me6wN
She frowned. Sometimes her mother was harsher.copyright protection309ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6lAXnkMTCA
“Gee, thanks.” She got up from the bench and walked away, folding her arms across her chest and walking away from her mother.copyright protection309ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2z9X6Y6igX
“Vi, I’m sorry. You know I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings.”copyright protection309ＰＥＮＡＮＡPkulDB7SIE
A tear escaped Violet’s eyes and trickled down her cheek.copyright protection309ＰＥＮＡＮＡFOZfMmAzgd
“Is everything okay?”copyright protection309ＰＥＮＡＮＡaiMjgShnby
It was the man who was tending to the front desk. He looked at Violet with soft eyes and a smile.copyright protection309ＰＥＮＡＮＡk0SOmwqto8
Violet looked up at him, sniffled and said, “Yes, sir. Everything is fine.”copyright protection309ＰＥＮＡＮＡ73X6jKtTjJ
“I heard you playing piano. You were having fun, weren’t you?”copyright protection309ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6t2SNjL5GW
Violet giggled as she smiled. “Yes, sir. I was.”copyright protection309ＰＥＮＡＮＡD0XwPj3fNr
“Let me know if you need anything, okay?” He said. Shortly after he walked away.copyright protection309ＰＥＮＡＮＡnUvk1O4vIo
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.copyright protection309ＰＥＮＡＮＡfOSiHFBtLh
“Mom,” she said, walking up to her and tugging her shirt.copyright protection309ＰＥＮＡＮＡqoinV8HYnv
“What?”copyright protection309ＰＥＮＡＮＡpLpV6rKbXs
“I’ve had enough of this. I want to be as good as the playing piano over there. I want to take piano lessons.”copyright protection309ＰＥＮＡＮＡzchruZ76sS
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..."copyright protection309ＰＥＮＡＮＡoShGgcOYac
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. copyright protection309ＰＥＮＡＮＡtAXTv3kfei
"I don't care what you think. I'm going to do it. Please sign me up for lessons!"copyright protection309ＰＥＮＡＮＡIOu0gZZn5s
313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb4v9X1cihr
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