A Life Less Ordinary

Flute Player, Play Your Flute

                Victor came back into the room just as I finished playing. I loved this piece. It was fun to play...once I'd learned it. It always made me think of swirling butterflies and summer meadows. I smiled at my first male friend before feeling my smile drop. His tall, visually perfect, yet icily cold friend was standing in the doorway. I could feel my eyes trying to fall to the floor like they would with my father.

"Sang, that was amazing. Come here I want you to meet a friend of mine." Victor draped his arm across my shoulders and suddenly I wasn't so scared to meet this steely eyed friend of Victor.

"Owen, this is Sang Sorenson. Sang this is my friend Owen Blackbourne" Victor introduced me, and I watched as his friend's eyes went wide then narrowed almost immediately. I had a feeling my name triggered something. I could only hope it wasn't anything bad. I didn't want to lose this group of friends I was starting to make.

"A pleasure to meet you Miss Sang. I do apologize for my earlier response. I was rude." His voice held a note of command that made me want to stand straighter, which was odd as I was already standing properly. Too many comportment classes for me to really slouch.

Spinal reflex kicked in and allowed me to give the approved response rather than the knee jerk snarky one I wanted to give. "The pleasure is mine. I apologize for intruding." From the corner of my eye I could see Victor responding to the formality of my interaction with his friend. He was now standing straighter and looking formal which was a weird image as none of us were wearing formal clothing. The ridiculousness of the situation became too much for me and a giggle escaped. Even as I tried to stifle my indelicate response, I could see Victor losing his composure.

"Alright Owen, I think Sang just proved she can be as stuffy as you. Sang will be joining us for classes this fall. She's auditioning for the orchestra tomorrow and asked my help in preparing her audition pieces." Victor informed his friend with a laugh.

"I haven't played some of these pieces in a year and in the case of one of them my accompanist for the exam was dreadful. I think I got full marks on it out of pity, so I don't feel as confident playing it as I should."

"I am intrigued. Your interpretation of 'Pan Overheard' was delightful. You brought a joyful quality to the section. I heard it played a few times at the exams this spring and while the flautist may have been technically competent; their musicality was pedestrian at best and abysmal at worst." Owen unbent enough to comment. For the first time since we'd met his eyes seemed to warm from icy steel to a glittering silver.

"I know what you mean. When I tested last year, there were five other students who had chosen it as their solo piece. I was the last one to preform in section C due to my last name. I could see the boredom on the adjudicators faces when my piece was announced." I sorted through sheet music while talking with Owen. "I need help with Ian Clarke's 'Hypnosis' for sure and wouldn't mind a hand with the Bach piece I selected. Both are beautiful but too reliant on good accompaniment for the exam. My accompanist during the first round was fantastic the second one not so much." Finding the music, I was looking for I passed the pages over to Victor.

"Give me a few minutes to get familiar with these two. I know the Bach piece, but Hypnosis is new to me." Victor said, settling himself at the piano. While he familiarized himself with the music, I pulled out my practice copies intending to make notations.

I settled at one of the study tables along the wall and started running through the fingering for Hypnosis. I still couldn't figure out where I was going wrong. Hopefully Victor could help me figure out what was missing. Owen might also have some suggestions, but I didn't know him well enough...ten minutes wasn't long enough to see beneath his stoic mask...to ask for his help. I would gladly take it if he offered though.