One day in Brooklyn

Chapter 22

Vito's POV

Mr. Sanchez asked us to be at the auditorium by one p.m. Right now it is eleven thirty, I need to leave at twelve thirty in order to get there right on time with minutes to spare. I jump out of bed, jarring my sick bones. I slowly walk to the kitchen on a hunt to get some food. Then I decide that it would be better to not eat for fear of vomiting.

I go back to my room and pull on my black dress pants and belt. Then, I button on a white collared shirt. I hear the front door unlock and I know it is my Mother. She took off today so she can see me perform. She comes into the room and smiles at what I am wearing.

"You look dashing, but you are missing something." She comments moving out of the room. I hear shuffling in the linen closet. Mother comes in with a box in hand. She opens it and Father's suit is in there. The black sports jacket, the dark grey vest, and the striped neck tie.

"C-Can I wear this?" I ask hesitantly

"Of course," She says handing me the box and walking out. I put everything on and then finish it off with my favorite, and only, black dress shoes.

I walk into the bathroom. The collar on the shirt is high enough that my tumor isn't visible. I put some hair gel on my hands and run my fingers through my hair, slicking it back. When I am done I walk out to my Mother. She smiles at me.

"You look like your Father." She says smiling as a single tear drips from her eye.

"Thank you, Mother." I reply

"Now go! Get you Cello and wave goodbye to the old Vito and say hello to the new and happier Vito." She commands and I follow through. I go and grab the new Cello and walk out of the house saying goodbye to mother.

The temperature is perfect, not a cloud in the sky as the sun shines down backing my sickly pale skin. It's a perfect day for a concert. I walk slowly to the auditorium it is a different building than the one we practice in. Instead of walking down the alley I take a right and cross the street. There is the largest building in sight. It has large columns up front and marble steps. It has glass doors and inside is very fancy.

The carpet is red and plush with gold traces in it. The chandelier above is huge and shines in the light it gives off. There is a huge split staircase in front of me that goes up with large marble stairs like the ones outside. To the left is a sign that says Grand Symphony Players Only.

I start towards the sign toting my Cello in my left hand. The section is roped off and a security guard stands there. As I approach him he smiles, not in the friendly way.

"Boy, you aren't supposed to be here." He menaces at me

"Oh, I think I am." I retort with a small chuckle tacked onto the end

"No, you aren't this is only for symphony players, grand symphony." He puts extra emphasis on grand

"Yes, I do believe that is right, now I think you should let me in so I am not late." I say

"YOU AREN'T IN THE GRAND SYMPHONY, LITTLE BOY!!" His booming voice yells in my face.

"Yes, I am."

"I'll check the list and if you aren't I am going to whip your butt to next Tuesday." He threatens picking up a small clip board "What's your name?"

"Vito Seminarra."

"Oh so sorry to inconvenience you Mr. Vito sir." He says unlatching the red rope and ushering me through. "Straight back." He directs me.

I walk down the long dimly lit hallway. Along the walls are paintings of people that seem famous and rich, but I don't know them. I reach the auditorium quickly and see the huge area where people will sit.

There is enough room for over one million people at least that is what it seems like. The chairs are all set up for us. I go to my position in the back of the Cello section. There are a bunch of people already there but we are missing at least half of our whole Orchestra. I take out my beautiful Cello and Bow. I smile at the sight of them. I go through the main songs we are going to be playing.

I have worked these songs so that they are perfect. I don't mess them up at all and it is awesome. I let the depth and sound of the Cello echo through the whole auditorium. There are a few people that join in and sync with me. We sound like one instrument merging together and making the voices of our instruments cry out with their beautiful specialties.

It is still three hours until concert when Mr. Sanchez comes in. He comes straight to me which scares me. What is he doing?

"Vito," He says motioning for me to pick up all of my things. I do. He leads me to the chair on the outside of the section putting me in thirteenth chair. There are twenty four Cellos. "This is your new seat, son." He says sitting me down in the black chair that symbolizes way more than just a place to sit.

I lay my Cello gently on the ground and place the case against the wall at the back of the stage along with the other cases. I go back to my seat and run through the songs over and over again. I am in the middle of the most difficult song when a guy maybe mid-thirties comes up to me. He is wearing a black tuxedo and shiny shoes his hair is lying flat on his head.

He scowls at me and says "Little boy, that's my chair."

"Matt! You’re at the back now!" Mr. Sanchez yells at the guy in front of me who rolls his eyes and moves to the back of the Cello section, where I used to be.

Mr. Sanchez starts our last rehearsal before the concert. We sound amazing, like all of the instruments are combined as one. Each different part portrays different feelings that all together come as one. This is the Grand Symphony Orchestra, and I am in it.