Alice Riverstone

Chapter 3

"BRILLIANT ! Nothing but Brilliant ! Iam so proud of you Alice !" Jayce smiled so widely that all of his teeth were showing. It has been three months since Alice and Jayce were practising the Violin. It was easy to teach her because she took keen interest on the instrument. She already mastered a piece, which he was planning for her to play in front of Mrs Winterfeild.

"Are you sure that I will get inside?" She set down the bow and the Violin. "Positive. WE can can train you to be perfection. It can be anyone." He smiled and put a hand on her shoulder. "Be prepared, Tomorrow I will take you to the school. They are selecting children"

Alice looked down at the unswept floor and sighed. She knew this day was comming. But she felt afraid. What if she didnt get selected ? What if they refused to put her in the school ? "Mr Phoenix, I am not sure about this."

"What ?! What do you mean ?" His blue eyes widened at her sudden comment. "It's just .... Iam .... I dont.. OH GOODNESS !!!" She sat down on the chair and sighed. "What if I dont make it ?" She looked at him. "Alice. You can. Push away the negative thoughts. You will enter." He smiled and patted her shoulders.

"Put your eyes on your dreams and catch them." he smiled and wished goodbye to Alice and Myrtle. "What is it Alice ? You look like you have been rained on for weeks !" Myrtle pulled up and chair and sat next to Alice. "Nothing. Iam just scared." She looked at the Violin and picked gently at the strings.

"Sweetheart, You will do it. Have faith" Myrtle smiled and served her a pie. "Thanks." Alice mumbled and pushed her fork through the pie. "Better sleep well today. You have a busy day tomorrow." Myrtle disappeared into the kitchen.

Alice stared at the cloudy, glum skies of London. But as she looked down, someone caught her eye. A young boy, probably her age, was sitting on a lonely bench. His gloved hand was holding a small box and his eyes were concentrated down. A lady was standing next to him. She was dressed in a formal white dress with a long jacket.

She put her hand on his shoulder and spoke to him, receiving nods. Just then, Mr Phoenix walked up to them. He smiled and shook hands with the Lady and It looked like she was introducing the boy to Mr Phoenix. He shook hands and the three were standing there, as Alice watched them moving their lips and nodding.

She came out of them meat pie shop and picked up a broom and started her work. But she kept a keen eye on the three. She brushed away the strands of rusty brown hair tickling her freckled cheeks. Her blue eyes kept glancing at the direction were the three of them were talking. Mr Phoenix saw Alice sweeping up the entrance and looked at the Lady.

"That is my student Alice ! The one I was talking about. She is a very talented indeed ! She picks up music like the way Mrs Goodley picks out ingredients in a recepe ! Excuse me Ms Waterway..." Jayce raced up to Alice. "Alice ! There is someone I would like you to meet." He smiled and put out his arm. Alice let her arm interlock with his and looked up at him. "You have not left yet ?"

"No, just checking around to see the other children who are going to enter. We have dont have a lot this year." He softly spoke and brought her to the Lady who was whispering to the boy and he nodded silently. "Ms Darleen Waterway, I'd like you to meet my student, Ms Alice Riverstone." He smiled widely. "Pleasure to meet you Ma'am" She smiled and bowed.

"Hello Dear ! Lovely to meet you as well." She smiled widely as her stormy blue eyes twinkled. "Niall." She gave a small nudge to the boy. He looked at Alice and his chocolate brown eyes immediately looked down. "Niall Lesedy." He softly spoke and reached out his gloved hand, his pale fingers poking out the holes where the fingers of the glove had once been. "Hello" She spoke and shook his hand.

He was dressed in a heavy looking coat with a few patches sewed here and there. In his hand was a circle shaped box made of wood. "Mr Lesedy, over here is a very good craftsman ! Look at what he built for me !" She looked at Niall and he handed her the box. On the lid, there were carvings of a floral design and as she opened it, she wound the rotating lever and a soft, pleasant music was played.

"You built the whole music box by yourself ?" Jayce asked, picking up the box. "Yes" Niall replied softly. "This is really good !" Jayce beamed and handed it back to Ms Waterway. "Heard that, Niall ? Come on lad ! This is good !" She smiled and gave him a small nudge. "Forgive me, He is too hard on himself."

Jayce walked upto Niall and slung an arm around him. "Niall has got talent Ms Waterway ! He will get through." Niall looked down and smiled lightly. "Please forgive my poor craftsman, He really has been through a lot in his sixteen years." Ms Waterway smiled and him. He looked up and returned her the smile, this time it was more brighter.

"Sixteen ? Thats how old Alice is, am I right Dear ?" Jayce beamed at the two teenagers. "yes, Mr Phoenix." Alice smiled. "Pardon me, Mr Phoenix, I'd like to talk to you, in private." Ms Waterway nodded at him. "Of course, In the mean time, The two of you can get to know each other." Mr phoenix called as Ms waterway slipped her hand into Mr phoenix's and the two walked off.

Niall stood there looking down at his worn out boots. Alice sweeped a few strands of loose hair of her face. "That was a very beautiful Music box." Alice spoke softly. Niall looked up at her and smiled softly. "Thank you." His pale cheeks suddenly had a light reddish glow on them. "I heard that you are very good on the Violin." His looked at her, His deep chocolate eyes looking into her Dark Turqouise eyes.

"I wouldnt say very good but anyway thank you." She saw the box held in his gloved hand. "Would you mind if i had a look at that box again ?" Alice asked. "Yes, I mean no.. no . uh go ahead." He handed the box and looked at his feet again. Alice smiled and open the box. Her eyes brightened up as she twisted the tiny lever , while the song played. Niall smiled as she was lost in the little music piece.

"I think, they are getting along." Ms Waterway smiled as she saw they two of them. But then her stormy blue eyes had a sudden wave of sadness. "Mr Phoenix Iam worried about Niall." "Please call me Jayce." He waved off. "But why ?"

Ms Waterway sighed. "He had a very difficult life. I dont know how he managed to pull through for sixteen years ! When i found the boy, he was a scrawny little thing ! He faced Physical and mental abuse from his father and that pretty much messed up his life."

"What did his father do ?" Jayce asked looking at Niall who was talking to Alice as she nodded. "He wouldnt tell me. Poor thing." Ms Waterway sighed. "He lost confidence. He thinks that he was an accident. He does not realize the worth of his life."

"Ms Waterway, he will make through. I believe in him as much as I believe in Alice. They are both string in their own way. All Niall needs is motivation and prayer." Jayce spoke and he patted Ms Waterway's shoulder. She smiled weakly. "Prayer... That was something that i hadn't done for a while." She looked up. "But i'll do it for Niall."