AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Niko grins, her head tilted and her eyes shining.
“Can you play?” I sign.
Niko takes the bench and pats the seat next to it.
When I start to move in, Purple Hair and Sazuki arrive.
“That’s my seat!” Purple Hair blurts out before my butt can touch the cushion.
I freeze, mid-stoop.
“Sorry.” Her puff of laughter lacks sincerity. Edging behind the music stool, she clasps her hands together. “The professional sits there. Not just anyone can teach, you know.”
What is your problem?
“Right,” I say coldly.
We exchange places. I stand behind Niko and her teacher, while Sazuki leans against the door and watches everything with his shrewd eyes.
“Niko,” Purple Hair signs, “you remember what we did last week?”
Niko bounces her head.
“Let’s begin.”
The teacher sets the metronome on top of the piano desk. Leaning forward, she taps out the beat on Niko’s leg while the little girl reads the music.
Niko plays expertly, hitting all the right notes. Unfortunately, she’s a little behind the beat.
“No, no, no.” Purple Hair shakes her head. “Niko, we’ve been over this. You need tofeelthe timing.Feelit.”
Niko gives her a frustrated look.
“Let’s go again.”
Sazuki’s phone rings while Niko and the teacher start from the top. He leaves the classroom to answer.
Free from his overwhelming presence, I start to relax.
Niko’s light brown fingers sail across the keys. She’s incredibly talented. There’s a youthful, passionate expression to her music. She reminds me so much of my sister. Both of them are determined, talented, and capable of doing anything they set their minds to.
Niko hits a bad note. Her nose scrunch says she knows what she did wrong, but the teacher still points it out to her.
“You were supposed to go to A#,” Purple Hair says with barely hidden annoyance.
Niko signs, “I know.”
“She’s probably nervous because I’m here,” I say, trying to smooth it over.
“That is exactly why I don’t allow visitors in class. She needs to focus and she can’t play her best with an audience.”
Keep quiet, Deej.
Don’t start a fuss.
This isn’t your place…
“She’s going to have to play in front of an audience eventually,” I argue.
