Sunday, November 12, 2006

The Lady In Black

INTRO: The following is a story that I concocted that plays off the post my daughter has done today in MUFFINLAND. You may read her real life account there. You may also vote while you are there for a new moniker for me if you care to do so in her sidebar. I like "G" just fine but she thinks I need something a little more evocative. Okay now onto the story...


The little girl started off as a student in Suzuki Violin at just about five years old. She didn't really enjoy the beginning classes as they didn't even play the violin at first. She was impatient to make her instrument speak. But their teacher, Mr. Sam was lively and fun and that kept her going. It was as if she knew that she was ready to begin playing the instrument. She was right. She quickly moved from one book to the next surpassing the students who started before her.

As she grew a little older, she was afforded a bit more independence. Since she was at music school from 8:45 am until 1:45 pm (with time off in between certain periods for good behavior), it began to feel like home to her. Plus she had made many friends who sought her out during free time.

During one such time, she and her friends began a game of hide and seek. They weren't bad children, just a little bored with energy to burn - a bad combination for confinement indoors. On this particular day, there was a visiting orchestra from a school in Manhattan which was to perform in the concert hall at noon. But the children's playing led a woman dressed all in black to chastise them - "Where are your parents!". As she turned to see where they might be, she tripped and fell and was helped up by some people seated nearby. It seemed she had sprained her ankle.

The children meanwhile had made a hasty departure to go to their next class which was cancelled. The little girl's mother had a sense it was time to check to make sure that she was in her class and found the six children roaming the hallway. She redirected them to the concert hall to see the visiting orchestra perform. The orchestra played as they sat up in the balcony and the girl's mom applauded a little too loudly for the likes of this orchestra she thought. Then a door swung open and out hobbled a figure - it was her - THE LADY IN BLACK! The one who had yelled at them.

As the woman sang, her eyes scanned the audience and seemed to rest right upon the little girl (or so the little girl thought). She slunk down in her seat ever so slightly whispering to her mother "can't we go now?". Her mother just quieted them and they stayed until the end of the performance. The Lady in Black sang but it seemed that she winced in pain with each high note that she hit. After the performance, she was taken to the hospital where the sprain was actually a break. Although it was casted and she seemed to recover, she always walked with a bit of a hobble.

The girl continued on in her musical studies and never gave The Lady in Black another thought. The Lady in Black continued on with her now awkward gait and never forgot that girl with the blue eyes and her insolent stare. And that's where their paths parted until...

...years later, the girl after much hard work and dedication was to audition for a place at THE JUILLIARD SCHOOL in Manhattan. She awoke early that morning to give herself time to get there without worries. As she waited outside the office of the Director of Musical Admissions, she reworked intricate pieces in her head as she was wont to do. Just then the door swung open and out came the director of Admissions at Juilliard!

Their eyes locked as they shook hands and for the first time in years, the girl thought of The Lady in Black from long ago.

She raised her violin to her chin and set her gaze upon the woman and began to play. The director instinctively rubbed her ankle as she sat back in her chair to listen.

22 comments:

Anonymous said...

As a stand alone "cautionary" tale, this is a great story, NBFF. as a cautionary tale forged out of your own daughter's mischieveous adventures, this is a BRILLIANT story!

too tired to be clever (what else is new?) allow me to bow before you in awe and admiration for an absolutely wonderful and downright funny spin on a simple act of childhood hijinx! i'm sure Talimuffin's trauma over the whole affair won't last long, and one day she'll thank you for turning a simple game of hide 'n seek into a potentially career-breaking disaster. this goes into the big book of Lampshade Family Stories, right?

damn, girl, you never cease to impress. now i'm off to bed, in hopes of waking up clever (who knows? perhaps tomorrow's the day!) xoxo

Hobbes said...

Good story, but I am even more interested in the reality behind it. Does Tali want to be a violinist, as Mall Diva does? Maybe the four of us will meet up in NYC one day. I will go to Tali's recital in Carnegie Hall if you will come to Mall Diva's.
(Tali does know how to get to Carnegie Hall, right? Practice, practice, practice.)

Anonymous said...

Wonderful story! I hope Tali recovers quickly, although with tales like this to haunt her...who knows?

Anonymous said...

Just goes to show what a small place the world is. Great story.

ann said...

what a lovely spin on Tali's tale... you write beautifully

thank you for this

lotsa luv ann xxxxx

robkroese said...

I'm thinking that in chapter 2 your daughter doesn't get accepted, and has to give up her dream of being a violinist. Meanwhile, the Lady in Black's condition worsens year after year, until finally she is faced with the choice of either having her leg amputated or taking some powerful drugs that will ruin her voice. Just as she is about to go in for the operation, she hears about a brilliant young surgeon who has perfected a treatment for severe joint problems, using artificial sinews made from catgut. The surgeon is in such demand that she can only accept a small percentage of patients who want the surgery. Well, you see where this is going. :)

Great story. Sorry, I couldn't help offering my own embellishment.

Anonymous said...

Wow--great accompaniment to Tali's story---and leave us in suspense, why don't you?

Doug The Una said...

So the moral is real violinists don't play hide and seek.

G said...

Neva: Actually immature mom that I am, we joked about a scenario like this on the way home from music school. By then, she could laugh about it. Ah, thanks you're just too kind to me. I see you must have had a good night's rest as you're right to fine form in the Snark! xox

Weirsdo: I would love for us all to meet up one day - in NYC or anywhere! Please reserve tickets now for us for Mall Diva's performance. Well if Tali doesn't start practicing, she'll be luck to string bows! Although I'm sure that takes a special talent in and of itself. She doesn't express that desire now but hey, a parent can dream.

Cindra: Thank you. We scare easily and laugh quickly in my family - thankfully.

Golennib: Indeed it is and thank you.

Ann: Such nice compliments could make a girl feel good on a dreary Monday! Thanks luv ~ xox

Diesel: Not at all - I loved it. Yes I do, but I'll choose the path in which she accepts the Lady in Black's case and the girls eyes, with that same insolent expression, are the last thing she sees as she succumbs to the anesthesia. Now does she make it or what befalls her in the surgery...To be continued.

pia: I'll give you a hint - the kid is tenacious and rarely accepts a no.

Doug: No! The moral is never make eye contact or the moral that I live by - "Never let them see the fear in your eyes."

Anonymous said...

Both of your coordinated posts are very cute and creative, Tali and G. If there's a gene for charming and sweet, its clearly dominant in your family.

Anonymous said...

This story was kind of like my story about the missing exhibits. Except mine was funnier, and was about missing exhibits and... You know what I'll just write it in my next post :)

G said...

Al: Since we've got some crazy genetics working against us, we'll take charming and sweet. Thanks Al.

Yeah charming, read on - the kid is just matter of fact, what can I say.

Talimuffin: Funnier you say? I wasn't even trying...bring it on toots. I mean Mommy would love to help you type it up and I bet it's really funny. Sweet dreams ~ xox

Anonymous said...

do i smell a Mother-Daughter blogchallenge cooking? oh...no... that's still the lingering scent of the burnt batch of cookies from last week.

that said: i want to hear the story about the missing exhibits! it sounds... funny. at least to hear Tali tell it. xoxox

ps: switched over to beta, have we? et tu, NBFF?

G said...

Hahaha on all fronts! Oh yeah I switched over - I really am not clear what that means though. When I figure it out, I'll let you know or alternately it will be outdated. xox

Hobbes said...

I left a comment on Tali's blog. Mall Diva started saying she was going to be a violinist about two years ago. Before that she wanted to be an artist, which is perhaps her most natural bent. But she always practiced regularly and made unusually fast progress.
Best of luck to Tali. If you feel like saying, I would be interested to know what Suzuki piece she is working on?

G said...

Thanks - it's good for her to hear from a professional and get a little insight. This year so far since September has been a tough adjustment as Tali is in school in Manhattan so she leaves at 7:00 am and gets home at 5:00 pm and still has her scholastic homework. Her teacher is understanding and we're committed to fitting in where and when we can. She picks up quickly and has an amazing knack for it. Is toyplayer also still playing? I'd love to hear more about both of their experiences. If you're ever so inclined, drop me an email (it's on the contact page).

She is finishing up book 3 with Bourree by JS Bach while sneaking ahead to Book 4 and noodling around in there. I would love for you to hear her play and if I can figure out, I'd post something. Let's see.

robkroese said...

g - I like your embellishment to my embellishment of your embellishment. Please do continue the story some time (with or without my version).

Anonymous said...

...wonderful story, and I must get over to MuffinLand soon...when time permits...

Minka said...

fabulous story. Now I have to check Tali´s account a little more dedicted to teh real thing. Hope neither of you was that poor little girl, nor the Woman in black!
I voted, although it seemed obvious, and we have been nick- naming you for a long time now :)

G said...

Diesel - Oh good because I did like your embellishment to my embellishment so I decided to embellish it. Who knows - just may pick it up some day and dust it off (I like the direction yours went in).

Swampy!: Thank you. But you're going to be pretty busy with your new grandbaby and her big brother! Congratulations again!
xox

Pengie: Thanks. Well, not exactly us. Thanks for the vote. Yes, I see it's pulled into the lead. Tali will be quite happy. Night - or morning for you friend :) Thanks we also learned something new with Gryla and her sons.

Hobbes said...

Toyplayer is also finishing Book Three! He is on the Bach Gavottes right before the Bourree. He has just learned vibrato, and can shift to third position.
Mall Diva is playing Mendelssohn Concerto and Kreisler's Praeludium and Allegro.
At the moment, I am very excited, because I think Mall Diva's quartet may pick up the cellist they need to prepare an audition for "From the Top."

G said...

Haha, I always ask Tali, "just how many Gavottes are there?!". Tali too is working on her vibrato and can shift to fourth position.

Mall Diva is something else! Very nice.