by Dean Mayes
Sonya was convinced that no one in her family had ever been privy to this journal—not even her grandfather Harold. The recollections contained within the leather bound volume traversed almost fifteen years of Agatha Penschey’s life and they were indeed a stunning contrast to the life Agatha had recorded in the years following.
Despite her having consumed every minute detail of her grandmother’s life during that period, Sonya still felt shell shocked. She didn’t quite know how to process it all.
Sonya leaned over and checked her iPhone. It was well after one in the morning. Closing the journal and resting a hand on its cover, Sonya rubbed her eyes under her glasses with her free hand.
She shook her head and snatched up the phone, opened a note taking app, then quickly keyed in a line of text.
Crammond-F-ARCH-2102.
Closing down her smart phone and setting the journal down on her bedside table, Sonya lay herself down in the bed and ran her hand softly along Andy’s arm.
“Looks like I get to finish what you started, Grandma,” Sonya whispered softly into the night.
Chapter 20
Ruby arrived outside Elder Hall, having run all the way from the train with Jeremy in tow. She stopped on the lawn and clutched at her chest, completely breathless.
She was desperate to find out if the application Khalili had submitted had been accepted. Jeremy had endured her incessant fidgeting and the constant checking of his watch and he knew no amount of trying to hold her back now was going to prevent Ruby from sprinting as fast as her legs would carry her. All Jeremy could do was lope along behind and make sure she didn’t get bowled over in the afternoon traffic.
Ruby had thought of nothing else the entire day. Her teacher had become exasperated with her because she could not sit still in class.
As Ruby kicked up a carpet of leaves near the statue of Sir Walter Hughes, she abruptly skidded to a stop, suddenly gripped by a paralysing knot of fear that overwhelmed her.
What if the application isn’t accepted? What if I’m not good enough? What if I do get accepted?
Ruby’s thoughts played on her, rising to an almost intolerable crescendo when a familiar voice intoned above her, silencing the cacophony.
“You’ve the weight of the world on your shoulders again, child? What is troubling you?”
Blinking, Ruby glanced up at Sir Walter’s imposing visage and tried to calm her breathing down.
“Sir Wally,” she began breathlessly. “I find out today if I’m going to play for the Malley-Joyce Scholarship.”
“Ahhh—The Malley-Joyce,” Sir Walter said, clearly impressed. “A most prestigious recital. The professor must think very highly of you if he has registered you.”
Ruby shrugged as she sat down at the base of the statue. Jeremy, having finally caught up to her, stopped a few feet away, sensing that she was ‘in conversation’ again.
“He does,” Ruby nodded. “But I’m worried. What if they think I’m not good enough to be a part of it? What happens to me then?”
“Those are quite normal fears to have, Ruby. But you mustn’t panic yet. You don’t even know the result. I’ve no doubts that your teacher would have presented your application in the most favourable light.”
Ruby nodded.
“This is something I never dreamed of before. No one has ever taken a chance on me like this.”
“A chance you say?” Sir Walter questioned. “What makes you believe this has all been left to chance?”
Ruby craned her neck upward.
“You are here because you alone have pursued your love and crafted the opportunity where there might have been none. You proved yourself to your teacher and he has recognised your talent. You were always deserving. This was due to your determination.”
Ruby looked across the lawn in front of Elder Hall then to the hall itself.
“Your teacher believes in you Ruby. Your cousin, over there, believes in you. So does your grandmother.”
Ruby looked down at her hands pensively.
“What if I don’t get in? I’ll have disappointed everyone.”
“You’re so sure of that?”
Ruby shook her head.
“No, sir.”
“Well then…?”
Ruby knew that there was only one way to conquer her fear and that was to march into the hall and find out.
She stood, having caught her breath once more, and prepared to walk across the boulevard to where Jeremy was waiting.
“Ruby.”
Ruby turned around and looked up Sir Walter.
“I believe in you,” he said.
Ruby and Jeremy found Khalili talking with a group of students over by the stage. Together, they sat in the front row and waited patiently until Khalili had finished, then watched as the students dispersed. Some of them passed Ruby and Jeremy and some even whispered, “Good luck,” softly to her. Ruby’s cheeks flushed pink as Khalili waved them over.
His expression was neutral as he crossed to the piano and began shuffling through a pile of sheet music, doing everything he could to avoid looking at Ruby and Jeremy. They exchanged worried glances with one another.
It was Jeremy who finally grabbed the back of his shirt at the waist and yanked on it a couple of times to get his attention. Khalili turned and looked at him, then across at Ruby, giving nothing away.
“Well?” Jeremy probed in an exasperated tone.
Khalili lifted his hand to his forehead and rubbed it distractedly, squeezing his eyes shut and turning away from them both without response.
Both children were flabbergasted. Ruby hopped nervously from one foot to the other and felt her stomach plunge.
The application had been rejected, she was sure of it.
Taking a piece of paper from the pile on top of the piano, Khalili turned back to the children.
When he did so, he revealed to them a huge smile.
He handed the paper to Ruby.
“You have been accepted,” he said.
Ruby’s expression melted into one of shock and then joy as she jumped high on the spot and squealed with delight, her voice echoing around the auditorium. She flung herself at Jeremy who barely caught her and together they danced around in a circle, relishing the excitement of the moment until Khalili gestured for them both to calm down.
“Okay, okay,” he implored, chuckling.
Several curious onlookers were studying the commotion.
“Calm yourselves, both of you. You’re going to get us into trouble.”
Jeremy and Ruby acquiesced as Khalili directed them to fetch a pair of chairs.
“I can’t believe it,” Ruby whispered excitedly to Jeremy, bringing their chairs over to the piano.
“You deserve it, Rube,” Jeremy nodded proudly.
“You do indeed,” Khalili agreed, hearing Jeremy’s words as he opened a folder in his lap.
Together they sat down before the professor and he presented a folder to her.
“But now, the real work begins,” Khalili said. “Since I first met you, I have been testing you—to see if you would be up to the standard required for this competition. I have no doubts that you are.”
Ruby nodded attentively.
“But,” he continued. “This won’t be like anything you’ve ever experienced before. You will be performing in front of an audience for the first time, and you will be competing against students who have received years of structured education—who have spent hours every day honing their craft.”
Ruby gulped softly and glanced at Jeremy.
“But you, Ruby,” Khalili said, levelling his gaze at her. “You are just as capable—perhaps more so. Because not only do you have what is required in here…”
Khalili tapped her chest over her heart then, slowly, drew his finger up to his own temple.
“You also have what is required up here. It is what makes you special. You have a rare ability to think quickly with your mind and adapt accordingly. Your photographic memory is the
key. What we need to do is hone that, through intense practise in order to ready you for the performances.”
Khalili turned some pages over and gestured for Jeremy to come closer.
“The recital consists of three rounds: an initial qualifying round, a semi-final and a final round. There’ll be eight performers in the first round. Four will progress to the second round and, from that, two will be selected for the final,” Khalili paused, making sure that Ruby was following.
“We will need a repertoire for the three rounds that feature either a movement from a major sonata for violin and piano—to be performed with the string quartet at the recital and a pianist of your choice. Also, you are required to perform a short virtuosic work from a nineteenth- or twentieth-century composer and a solo piece of your own choosing. Each must be no longer than ten minutes in length.”
“Sounds like a lot of work,” Jeremy commented, crossing his arms.
“Perhaps,” Khalili said, tilting his head from one side to the other. “But, I believe we can have you in a strong position by the time of the concert.”
Ruby scanned through the information on the sheets in front of her.
“So…what would you like to include?”
“Mendelssohn,” Ruby answered confidently, almost straight away. “I think I should perform Mendelssohn—a portion from the Concerto in E Minor, perhaps the second or third movement…and I want you to accompany me.”
Khalili chuckled then and fixed her with a lopsided grin.
“Wouldn’t you rather have the guest pianist perform with you? I fear I may be a little rusty.”
Ruby shook her head firmly.
“We should perform together. We’ve done this piece enough times now. I know your style and I know your cues. If I were to partner with somebody else…it wouldn’t feel…right.”
Khalili considered Ruby’s words when a male voice sounded from the rear of the auditorium.
“Looks like you’ve fashioned a formidable young student, Khalili.”
Jeremy, Khalili and Ruby turned in the direction of the voice to see Charlie Lynch walking down the aisle toward the stage.
Stepping up, Lynch offered his hand to Ruby and she took it gingerly.
“Charlie Lynch,” he greeted. “You must be Ruby.”
Ruby nodded evenly.
“Yes, sir,” she responded politely.
“Sounds like our esteemed professor here might be a little jumpy at the idea of performing again,” Lynch clucked, smiling at Khalili. “This is the thing about being such a celebrated teacher—one invests so much in it that they forget why it was they got into it in the first place. Complacency will do that to a person.”
Khalili levelled a disapproving glower at Lynch.
“What is this?” he snapped with a note of humour. “I think you are all ganging up on me.”
“Maybe…” Lynch ventured, placing his hands in his pockets. “She makes a compelling case. You have developed the kind of musical partnership that many can only dream of. I think a return to the stage for a seasoned performer such as yourself, is long past due.”
Lynch cheekily stepped up in front of Khalili and leaned in close.
“The kid has got it in one. You’ve gotten lazy.”
Ruby crossed her arms and tilted her head expectantly, waiting for Khalili’s response.
Khalili smiled caustically and nodded slowly.
“Definitely ganging up,” he said, then he took a breath. “Alright. I’ll do it.”
Ruby clapped her hands softly and grinned broadly.
“Okay,” he said, scribbling in a small notebook. “What about a solo piece?”
“Well…” Ruby began, thinking carefully about all the music she and Khalili had explored over the past couple of months. “…I’d like to perform ‘L’Chaim.’ I know it better than any other solo piece. It qualifies as a composition, yes?”
Khalili nodded with a wistful smile.
“It does,” he paused, a curious frown furrowing his brow. “Although, it is not a known composition.”
Ruby considered the professor a moment before nodding her head confidently.
“I can do it,” she said confidently. “I think it qualifies and I want to play it.”
Khalili looked over at Jeremy who shrugged his shoulders.
“She’s pretty good at it. Even I don’t mind it.”
Khalili nodded evenly and glanced at Lynch who smiled, clearly impressed by Ruby’s conviction.
“Okay then,” Khalili responded. “We shall add it and work it up for the recital. We still need a third piece however.”
Ruby searched her internal catalogue of music and thought about it for several moments. As she did so, Ruby was aware of the distant sound of a mobile phone beeping beside her and she shook herself from her thoughts.
Looking over at Jeremy, she saw him surreptitiously reach into his pants pocket to silence his phone, his brow furrowing in embarrassment.
“There’s so many,” she said finally, a note of apprehension in her voice. “I might need to speak to Nana about this. Do I have time?”
Khalili nodded, his eyes flickering between Jeremy and Ruby, sensing a fleeting tension between them.
“You have time. Talk to your grandmother and we can submit the final repertoire—so long as you don’t fuss too much.”
Khalili stood as Lynch stepped toward Ruby, offering his hand once more.
“It seems some of us have underestimated your talent,” he offered sincerely. “Good luck, Ruby. I have enjoyed listening to you play and I hope I can hear much more from you.”
“Thank you,” Ruby said.
Khalili went across to the piano and took out both the Mendelssohn piece and his own from his music book. He returned to his seat and took a pencil from his pocket.
“We have a month until the recital and much work to do. How do you feel about additional rehearsal sessions here in the next few weeks? Do you think you can make it?”
Ruby looked toward Jeremy who, surprisingly, nodded confidently.
“I’ll make sure she gets here,” he said.
“Good,” Khalili beamed. “Let’s get cracking then.”
For the next hour, Ruby and Khalili talked about both pieces of music, setting the sheet music down on the floor so they could mark areas in the music that they needed to work on. Jeremy watched from his usual vantage point in the front row, silently marvelling at how Khalili and Ruby worked together. As Lynch had suggested earlier, theirs was a partnership quite unlike anything he’d witnessed. In the professor’s presence, Ruby became a different person entirely—confident and focused. The timid eight year old he’d known all of his life was nowhere to be seen here. She was instead, someone much older and much wiser.
Khalili and Ruby progressed to working through the Mendelssohn piece together, practising the Andante from the original thirty minute concerto. Ruby felt a sense of comfort knowing that Jeremy was there, looking on.
Khalili too grew more comfortable in his own playing as they refined the piece together, adding their own flourishes to their performance in order to make it flow naturally from within them both. With“L’Chaim,” Khalili made subtle changes to the composition, which he had not touched in over fifty years, in order to enhance Ruby’s interpretation of it.
And during the following weeks, as Ruby practised at the auditorium, she grew increasingly confident that Jeremy’s commitment to her was genuine. He never missed her rehearsals. He always made sure that he picked her up from school on time and caught the train into the city in order to have as much quality practise with Khalili as she could.
At night, at home, both he and Asher and Minty listened along with Virginia in the granny flat as Ruby practised to a recording of the Mendelssohn piece, each time growing more comfortable in her performance as she refined it and made it her own.
All the while, Ruby sensed that something was troubling Jeremy. It had caught her attention in the way that he kept looking at his mob
ile phone and switching it off whenever they were in the auditorium or on the train commuting both to and from the city. She worried it was those boys again but kept her concerns to herself.
As Jeremy and Ruby crossed over the lawn in front of Elder Hall after a Friday night rehearsal, his phone rang in his pocket.
Finally, Ruby could stand it no more.
“Jeremy, what’s going on with those fellas who keep messaging you?”
Jeremy looked away from her as he ignored yet another text message from Mickey.
“It’s nothing you need to worry about,” he replied as casually as he could.
“I am worried, Jeremy,” Ruby protested. “I’m scared something bad is gonna happen and you’ll get in trouble—big trouble.”
Jeremy stopped underneath Sir Walter Hughes’ statue and put his hands gently on her shoulders.
“Look Ruby, you have to worry about yourself, okay? You’ve got a chance to get out…to get away from Mum and Dad and all the trouble around us. Concentrate on that and don’t worry about me. I’ll be okay.”
“And what if you’re not okay?” Ruby challenged.
Jeremy didn’t respond. He couldn’t—because, deep down, he knew Ruby’s question rang true.
Chapter 21
Virginia stood at the kitchen sink, peeling potatoes one by one and handing them over to Asher who sliced them up and placed them into a baking pan in readiness for a new dish she was trying out.
Virginia glanced through the kitchen window into the back yard. Several men, including Rex were cloistered around a pair of upturned forty-four gallon drums which served as a makeshift bar, upon which sat several opened bottles of beer. The men drank and chattered boisterously in competition with loud music that blared from a stereo system. Belle herself was hosting several women who were laughing and chatting among themselves near a bar-b-que and table—a clear indication that this gathering wasn’t going to slow down any time soon.
Virginia frowned darkly. Already several of the men were drunk. The flow of beer and conversation was quickly spiralling out of control. Being a week night—when the children should only have to deal with homework and prepare for school – such a gathering was patently inappropriate. Suffice to say, Virginia had forbidden Minty and Asher from going outside. The very least she could do was to contribute some food in a vain hope that the adults would eat and not totally obliterate themselves with alcohol.
