Alt-Wiener Tanzweisen

Chapter 3

"Hey, Steve. Who's the guy?" The woman asked as she opens the piano and listens if there are out-of-tun keys as she hadn't checked them for a few months now.

"Just some genius who helps me sometimes." Answered the old man Steve as he adjust his glasses and looks at some music sheet at the shelf.

"A genius, huh?" She asks in a low voice as she notices that none of the keys were out of tune. Which made her brows meet in questioning.

"Yes, Elise. He even tunes that and all the other piano if he had the time of day." His voice now had a pinch of pride.

"And can you believe that he's 5 years younger than you and heven't had any proper education about music? A real genius, I say." Steve excitedly stomp and slap the desk as he tell Elise how genius David is.

Elise's widened as she heard the unexpected. She once again looked at the grand piano in front of her and the other piano inside the shop. She immediately goes from one piano to the other... the upright, the baby grand, the console, spinet, even the violin and cellos on display are all in great condition and tuned to perfection.

Her faced showed great shock as she points to the instruments and looks at Steve with no words coming out of his mouth.

"Yes. He did all that. It can't possibly me, you know it. My ears are failing me because of old age." He laughed at her funny expression.

"Then why haven't you sent him at Julliard? You stingy old man."

"It's not the right time yet."

She stiffened at his words and cannot understand what he really means with that.

"What do you really want from him? To end up just like your son?" With a slight irritation on her voice, she blurted out words that are not nice. She bit her lips upon realizing what she had just said.

"I-I am sorry, Steve. I didn't mean to-"

"No, it's alright. No harm meant." He cuts her words.

Steve then went to his little desk and glimpsed at the old picture of a young boy smilling widely while playing the grand piano.

"What's the name of the kid?" Elise awkwardly asks as she looks at the music sheet on another shelf.

"David. He's 15 right now, I believe. Old enough for normal musician to learn until intermediate to professional level. But-"

"But for someone who haven't been enrolled to any music school..."

"And someone who had no instrument of his own and have not learned from anyone, except from looking at a few music sheet, can you imagine what he's capable of being if he had the opportunity to learn?" The old man's eyes shines brightly as he imagines David playing on the stage.

"If you know, then why-" she suddenly looked at Steve with confused eyes.

"Why not be his sponsor? And what? Tell him what a genius he is? Dor him to only end up with a big head and forget where he's from?" Added the old man. Elise bits her lips and stayed silent.

She understands how the environment changes a humble person to a haughty one. The entiltlement and prestige one can get upon recognition will really eat any one alive and kill them at the end. She saw many geniuses dying because of arrogance and greediness for more.

What more if a child, not really of age yet, gets all those prestige and recognitions of a genius can gain, together with the acknowledgement of the rich people that only wants fame for sponsoring or raising a genius of great caliber?

She shuddered at the vision of David being enslaved and performing nonstop for those greedy pigs.

"Then, when are you planning on sending him? She asks.

"Soon, but not yet."

Elise just nodded and looked at the shelf again before picking a few music sheets that she hadn't tried yet.

"I'll take these." She paid for the music sheets she had on hand and sighed deeply.

"I hope to hear the good news soon. His playing is perfect and soulfull. Just imagine what he can contribute to the music society."

Steve just smiled at her as he handed her the receipt.

Elise stopped at the door before turning around to look at Steve with great concern on her face.

"I remembered, before I entered, I saw your son just outside the door before turning around and walking away. I think he already heard David's music. Be careful and take good care of that little boy you're nourishing right now."

After saying whar he needs to know, Elise opened the door and immediately goes out to leave the old man on his own. She looked back at the now closed door and remember how dark Steve's complexion when she stated what she saw.

"This shop was too hidden from the very people who needs it. He was hidden here not thinking how he himself had once molded the music society and how many people are looking for his guidance." She mumbled to herself as she shakes her head and rode her car away.