Heart's Tempo (Wattys2014) [EDITING]

Chapter 12

“All is fair in love and war? Henry, Henry, Henry…why did you have to say that kind of thing?” Henry asked himself in front of the mirror after taking a shower that night. He cringed at the thought of saying it again. He wasn’t that confident he can win Nisa back, then he had to go and say that. He could have easily told Fourth to back out or stay away from Nisa – but he wasn’t that type of guy. No one is to blame now but himself. He let Nisa go, now winning her back would be the most difficult thing to do.

Fourth was two hours early for his first class. He was the first one in their classroom and he quickly got out the printed copy of the piano sheet. He was slowly playing the first few bars of the piece when his professor walked in and was surprised to hear Fourth playing a piece he hasn’t taught any of his students yet.

“You need someone to play the violin part.” His professor said, taking a position behind Fourth on the piano. He was an old man with a very calm voice, salt and pepper hair and a demeanor that automatically tells students he’s like a second dad who has a lot of patience.

“I know, I’m just trying it out.”

“Would you like to hear the violin part?”

Fourth nodded. His professor walked over to the table where he set down his violin case, and took his violin out. He tuned it for a few seconds then walked towards Fourth and positioned to play the instrument.

Fourth had always thought violins seemed to cry with the sound it makes, especially when playing something slow. He never actually hated the sound the stringed instrument makes; he simply thought he’d have difficulty learning how to play it. As he watched his professor play, he felt that all his emotions are going through the sound the violin makes. It sounded perfect to Fourth that for a minute he was mesmerized by it.

“Remember the tempo…but the most important thing I can tell you now is to play with your heart…” Then the professor tapped his hand repeatedly on his lap, demonstrating the beat Fourth should remember. “I guess it would be safe to assume that you’ve decided to join the competition?”

“Yes.”

“And this is your chosen piece?” Fourth nodded. “Who’s your partner then?”

“Henry Dowell, sir.”

“Good! He’s a very talented young man. I’m very sure you’ll learn a lot from him. Did you know that he’s being considered to be sent to Prague this year?”

Suddenly Fourth’s attention was refocused. All he actually heard was Prague and Henry. 

“He just enrolled almost a year ago, right?”

“Yes, you’re right but we’ve seen his talent. The truth is, there are lots of candidates out there but Henry is the only one that stands out. I do hope he accepts this offer. It’s once in a lifetime…”

Fourth wanted to ask why but had no chance to do it after three of his classmates walked inside the room. Who wouldn’t want to accept that offer to study in Prague? Well, someone who is as rich as Henry Dowell.

Henry sneezed for the second time as soon as he sat down on a bench at Nisa’s university. They say when you sneeze for no reason at all someone is talking about you. It wouldn’t matter now, he’d have no way to find out anyway. He still has an hour to wait for Nisa and clearly there was nothing to do. So, he got out his violin and practiced Violin Sonata No. 5 in F major Op.24 - 1st Movement. He had played this piece when he was in grade school in a recital and that was it. Today, he will try to play it again by memory.

He started slowly, unconfident of the first few notes, unsure of where he’d place his fingers on the strings…it was until he closed his eyes that he finally got out the visual distractions and he clearly remembered the correct notes to play; it was as if he detached himself from the surroundings and played like he was alone in a studio.