A Song of Spring

Part 03 - Audition

                of my proud protestations of faith in romance.”*

Oshiro’s hands nearly froze on the piano keys. She’d taken it for granted that the girl would be singing a Japanese version of the song. You had to have pretty good enunciation skills to sing it in the original English. The girl Sayuri easily breezed through the first verse, her words coming out loud and clear.

                “And they'll say I'm naïve as a babe to believe

                Every fable I hear from a person in pants.”

The song was a girl’s unashamed declaration of love. It was joyful, it was silly, it was hopeful. Sayuri was breathless and smiling as she sang line after line.

                “Fearlessly I'll face them and argue their doubts away,

                Loudly I'll sing about flowers in spring,

                Flatly I'll stand on my little flat feet and say

                Love is a grand and a beautiful thing!”

“It’s not fair.” 

 Toru was silent, holding Rin’s hand. They sat on a bench under their favorite tree behind the library building.

“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner,” she said.

“I wish you had,” he said.

“I think I was hoping for a miracle. That my dad’s plans would change. I mean, it’s not like there was anything either of us could’ve done.” 

“We could’ve run away.”

                “I’m not ashamed to reveal

                The world famous feelin' I feel.”

“I love you.”

Rin wanted to tell him how she felt, but she was afraid she’d start crying. “Will you write songs for me after I’m gone?” she asked him.

“I’ll sing them to you over Skype.” He paused. “Do they have Skype in California?”

She punched him in the arm. He was so stupid sometimes.

                “I’m as corny as Kansas in August

                I’m as normal as blueberry pie

                No more a smart little girl with no heart

                I have found me a wonderful guy”

Her head rested on his shoulder. She always felt safe beside him. He was so tall, it was like being enveloped her in a warm circle of everything she loved. It was her own little universe where there was just him and her.

“Let’s not go home tonight,” he whispered.

“It’s cold.”

“It’s warm by the spring.”

                “I am in a conventional dither,

                With a conventional star in my eye.

                And you will note there's a lump in my throat

                When I speak of that wonderful guy!”

Rin closed her eyes and wished upon all the stars above her. She wished she didn’t have to leave Okutama. She wished she weren't fourteen years old and unable to do anything when her family wanted to drag her away to another country. She wished she could stay with the boy who sang her songs and told her he loved her. 

Toru had taken off his uniform blazer, and spread it on her like a blanket. They lay together on the grass, side by side. “Are you warm enough?”

She opened her eyes and smiled at him. “Yes,” she said. “You realize what we’re doing, right?”

He snuggled closer, until his forehead found her temple. “Do you believe?”

“I don’t know.”

“Me neither. But my grandmother does.” He traced a finger over her hand wistfully. “She’ll miss you too, you know.”

“Well, if this works, I …” She didn’t know what to say next. She didn’t even believe in ghosts. Maybe there was magic in the spring. Maybe it was enough to let them stay together. 

Maybe all they had was this night.

                “I’m as trite and as gay as a daisy in May,

                A cliché comin' true!

                I'm bromidic and bright

                As a moon-happy night

                Pourin' light on the dew!”

The sunlight felt gentle on Rin’s face. She smelled the damp grass before she opened her eyes to the morning. She sat up slowly, taking in her surroundings. The mist surrounding the spring had almost entirely lifted, and an occasional bird flew across the cloudless sky. 

                “If you'll excuse an expression I use,

                I'm in love, I'm in love, I'm in love

                I'm in love, I'm in love, I'm in love …”

His blazer was on her lap, and she stared at it for a good long time, through the tears she didn’t realize she was crying until she felt them on her cheeks.

He was gone.

“I’m in love with a wonderful guy!” Sayuri belted out the last line triumphantly.  In the front seat, Eiji was nodding approvingly while writing down notes on his clipboard.

Oshiro was almost in a good mood. She smiled at Eiji when he thanked her for her time, and the boy was so startled he nearly dropped his clipboard.

“Hey, Abe-san,” she called out as Sayuri was about to leave. “Do you have a minute?”

* "A Wonderful Guy"  - music by Richard Rodgers, lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II