Chapter ten
Beautiful music, secretive musician
I'm early which is weird considering my record of late arrivals. It's Tuesday. We're in the second week of October. Half term is next week and I am really looking forward to it. I spoke with Amy on the phone last night, she said that Jake is going away for half-term which means that we can hang out again. Yay! But currently, I still hardly see her at school.
I'm just turning a corner around the Art & Music block, when I hear the soft sound of a bow being pulled across a string. Maybe a violin? It seems to be coming from an open window just ahead of me. I look inside.
Ebony is sitting on a chair, eyes closed in concentration, short pinkish hair tied up in a red ribbon. One hand is grasping the neck of a huge cello while the other holds the bow flitting gracefully across the strings. I can see the open cello case behind her. The music is enchanting and I just stand there for a few minutes lost in the music. I'm disappointed when it comes to an end.
"That was amazing Ebony!" Ebony's eyes jerk open as she looks around wildly. When she spots my face at the window, she turns red.
"No it wasn't." She mumbles but I can tell she is pleased.
"Where did you learn to play like that?"
She shrugs shyly. I don't enquire further.
"Ebony," I say after a few moments of silence. "What class are you in? You're in seventh grade right?" She's definitely not in my class or I'd have seen her around and she looks younger than me.
"I don't know which class." She says miserably. "I have never been to school."
I'm so astonished that my mouth just opens and shuts like an ungainly goldfish. "What?!" I finally manage. "You're joking right?" But Ebony just sadly shakes her head.
"Everyone goes to school. It's the law. Article 17, declaration of rights for children. What about your parents? What do they say?" Ebony looks on the verge of tears. I'm pushing it, I know, but I have to find out why.
Ebony starts packing her cello away.
"But then why are you here? Why do you come to school?" I insist. She just picks up her cello case and pulls open the door.
Turning around she says, "I'm sorry Jayde, but even I do not know why." Then she goes, the door slamming behind her, leaving me standing there at the window. I consider going after her but after consulting my watch I know I can't. Classes are about to start soon. I hadn't realised how long I had been listening to Ebony play the cello.
I continue along the path up to the main school building, hopefully looking out for a flash of pink hair. No such luck. I reach class without another sign of a Ebony. Oh well, there's always tomorrow.....
Okay so the picture above is the closest I could find to how Jayde looks like, however if I find something better I might change it. Anyway, how was the chapter? Ebony is a mysterious character right? Why do you think she actually comes to school? Comment and tell me, I'd love to know.
~tealgreengirl