Can You Teach Me? (Parts 201+)

Part 210 First Annual Family Christmas Concert

Luke helped me sit in a seat in the middle of the semicircle while all the others took their own seats. Victor was last to join us but before he sat he went to the stage and spoke into the microphone. "Test, test. We good?"

From somewhere in the back in the dark I heard a man's voice reply, "we're good."

My eyes were wide as I whipped around, looking for the body that was attached to the voice. But none was seen. "Relax, Peanut. It's just the owner. He's one of us." Letting me know he is Academy.

Owen got up, with perfectly graceful steps, carrying the presence of leadership that is Mr. Blackbourne, "Welcome to our family Christmas concert. For your listening pleasure this evening, we will first hear a violin duet of "Jingle Bells" performed by our very lovely Miss Sang Sorenson and myself. The second number will be a piano and violin duet of "O Holy Night" performed again by our beautiful bird Miss Sorenson and the famously talented Victor Morgan. Miss Sorenson... Will you join me up on stage please?" He asked that as a question, but the sound of his voice left no doubt it was a demand. This is my grade, after all.

Sean came in front of me, holding out his elbow, and assisted me up the few steps. "You will do great. Just remember, we all love you." He said quietly and kissed my cheek as he deposited me center stage. Owen was holding out my violin toward me. With shaky hands, I took it and watched him walk back to collect his own violin. I stood there trembling with nerves, did I really want to play my violin for all the loves of my life? I know they would never say hateful things to me but they still might think horrid thoughts of my playing.

By the time Owen stepped back to me, my knees where shaking so much that my pink satiny dress looked like a waterfall. It rippled with every shake of my body. Owen saw my obvious stressful state. He placed a hand on my cheek and made me look directly in his eyes. "Sang, my love, this is just you and me. Don't take your eyes off of me the whole time." I nodded, grateful he was grounding me.

Owen counted us off. "1 2 3 4" and I began with my first down stroke. My part is the basic "Jingle Bells" line that everyone knows, but Owen's part is elaborate with tons of moving notes. The quality of music he is playing brings a small smile to my face. I saw how he got lost in the music, but he never broke eye contact with me. On our last harmonious note, he smiled at me. All of my loves cheered loudly, whooped, clapped, and whistled. I began giggling and Owen pointed at me saying, "take a bow, Sang." I did just a he instructed, then I turned to him and gave his a firm bear hug, while still holding my violin and bow. He whispered in my ear, "I give you an A+, and not just for the way you look in that spectacular dress. Well done, my apprentice." He kissed my cheek again, then turned to set his violin down, back in it's case.

A warm hand was gently pressed to the small of my back. I turned to see Victor beaming at me. "Ready for our turn, Princess?"

"Yes I am, my Prince." I took in a deep breath. We had only practiced this a couple of times during my violin lesson the last few days of classes. I waited as Victor's part began first. It was an outstanding piece. The piano played a fancy rendition of Pachelbel's Canon in D Major, while the violin line was a simple version of "O Holy Night". With Victor's musicality, the song flourished to this beautifully emotional performance. By the last note, a tear was running down the side of my face. I had done it!

I didn't hesitate to turn to Victor and hug him close to me before I placed a sweet chaste kiss on his lips. Smiling at me, he turned me to face the family, and still holding my hand, we took a bow together. I was so happy to finally be done with my portion of the evening's performance that I did a little skip-run thing to put my violin away. Silas was waiting for me at the top of the steps to help me back down to my seat. Before he allowed me to sit, he kissed my forehead, "that was wonderful Aggele. We have another musician in the family." He looked happy.