Moon Song

Os Justi

Chapter 8

“Oh my god!” Lydian said. “I love the breakfast bar here! They have every kind of egg in the world!”

Jenny laughed “They literally have scrambled, fried, and poached, Lydian, that’s not exactly every egg in the world.”

“Still, eggs are my fav, and I am starving!” she said, dabbing a corner of her toast into her poached egg.

“Ew, runny eyes!” Jenny made gagging sounds.

Lydian didn’t mind the teasing. She pushed back “Don’t you mean ‘Mmmm! Runny eggs?’” She took a delicious bite of her toast dipped in egg.

Just then Cristofori sat his tray down across from Lydian and said “Yum! I love dippy eggs!”

“Well, you have elite taste buds, and I approve! Lydian remarked, taking another bite. Some egg yolk dripped from her toast onto her lips. She licked it off with her tongue and Cristofori had instant flashbacks to the way she licked her lips in his dream last night right before sucking his c**k. He willed his hard-on to go away. Maybe sitting with her wasn’t such a good idea, but he couldn’t stop himself. He was drawn to her in a way he didn't understand.

“So, what usually happens in this first class?” Lydian asked.

Melody sat down next to her with a plate full of pancakes and bacon.

“The teachers will all do a variety show for us. They showcase their own talent while introducing the classes they’ll be teaching so we know they can walk the walk. It’s usually pretty fun,” Jenny explained.

“After that, I have show choir practice,” Lydian said.

“Same.” Melody and Cristofori said at the same time.

“I have band and then sectionals. I won't actually see much of you once everything gets going, since I’m really at band camp.” Jenny used air quotes around the words ‘band camp’ and Lydian giggled.

“Well, don’t get up to anything naughty with your saxophone. Well, other than the usual blow job you give it.” Melody laughed at her own joke.

Lydian almost spit out her coffee. She had never met someone so open with their innuendos.

“Oh my god! Melody!” Jenny hissed.

“What?” Melody looked around innocently. “We know what you dirty band kids get up to. They made a documentary about it in the 1900’s.”

The rest of the table laughed out loud. “’American Pie’ was hardly a documentary, but I will do my best to behave.” Jenny said. “Anyway, it's really my saxophone you should talk to. He’s a real playboy.”

They all put their trays on the conveyor belt that took them to be washed and headed to the recital hall for the first class.

Lydian loved watching the mini-concert the professors were putting on.

One in particular was a rotund woman in her 50s with a bright blond pixie haircut. Dr. Holtz. She was brilliant. She started by singing 'Der Hölle Rache kocht in meinim Hedzen.' Better known as the Queen of the Night aria from the Magic Flute, by Mozart.

Lydian was sure that was the hardest song to sing ever, and this lady did it with skill and flair! Then she completely switched genres and did a jazz rendition of ‘Somewhere Over the Rainbow.' her crystal clear voice taking on a husky jazzy tone.

Lydian was impressed.

All the teachers were really good, but when Dr. Holtz called her name to be part of her studio for the summer, Lydian was thrilled. She knew she would learn a lot from her.

After the concert, everyone was divided into their studios.

Dr. Holtz reintroduced herself to the class of about twenty students. Lydian didn’t recognise anyone in the class, but she was OK with that. She was here to learn how to be a better musician and this way there were no distractions.

“Congratulations everyone who made my class. I watched all of your camp audition videos and, as the Dean of the music department, I got first pick of students. If you’re in my studio this summer, you have already shown you have the talent to pursue music, but if you follow my instructions, by the end of the summer, you will have what it takes to be successful in gaining a scholarship to this music conservatory.

I’m really looking forward to working with you all collectively and individually, so let’s get started!”

Dr. Holz had their group go around the room and share a little about themselves, and then they did some vocal warm ups. She then she passed out music for ‘Os Justi’ by Anton Bruckner and had them sight right through it.

Even though their run through was an absolute train wreck, Dr. Holtz found ways to give the right amount of praise mixed with critique and fixed a few of the big problems. The group split into sections for the various parts. Lydian could sing both Soprano and Alto, but usually chose to sing alto, because they got to sing the harmonies which she found more fun. However, in this class, Dr. Holz had assigned her as a soprano, so she went with the other melody singers into a practice room. When they all had our parts down, they came together again.

She had the sopranos run through the higher notes, and the altos practised their solos. She worked on some dynamics and then led them back into the recital hall.

All the other campers were in their seats as Lydian’s group walked onto the stage. She hadn't realised they would be performing, but Lydian didn't mind. She was looking forward to singing on this stage. The acoustics in this particular auditorium were amazing. If you knew how to project your voice, no microphone was necessary.

Dr. Holtz stood in front of her studio class and lifted her baton. Her baton began the countdown.

The notes flowed from them and bounced off the walls back at the singers. Echoing around them like a beautiful breeze. It gave her goosebumps.

This was what it was all about. Music was the only thing she could think of that immediately gave back to you everything you put into it.

She and another soprano effortlessly hit that high G and Lydian choked up. It was so beautiful, all their voices resounding in the concert hall. She imagined heaven sounded just like this. They finished with a triple soft “Alelujah.”

Lydian took her eyes off Dr. Holtz for the first time and looked around at the other singers. Almost all of them had tears in their eyes. Lydian felt her own cheeks, and they were wet.

The audience didn’t clap. They were completely silent. Not wanting to disturb the reverence the song had created in the room. They slowly made their way off the stage.

Lydian took an available seat next to Melody. As the next group took the stage Melody leaned in and said, “Oh my god, motets are so boring.”

Lydian was aghast for a moment, but then Melody winked at her through teary eyes herself. Lydian giggled and replied back “The worst!”

Lydian really enjoyed all the music that each studio performed that morning. She could hardly wait to see how much each studio improved by the end of camp. After that class, they split up again and Lydia made her way to showchoir with Melody.

When they arrived in the large choir room, void of any risers or chairs, they had a huge room set for dancing. The director began passing out the music with the help of two college students who would be teaching us all the dance moves.

“Shakira’s “Try Everything,” a Gospel version of “This little light of mine” and Queen’s “Someone to love.” Lydian wasn’t sure if they were trying to go for a theme of some sort, but she liked all those songs, so she was looking forward to getting started.

The first week went by quickly with classes throughout the day. She didn’t see much of Jenny at all except at bedtime and mealtimes. She, Melody, Kayla, and Cristofori all had the same classes together except for Studio. Twice a week, Lydian had private voice lessons with Dr. Holtz. They were working on her breath support and tongue placement, as well as getting rid of stress habits that were blocking her full sound potential. Dr. Holtz seemed to really like her and told her to make sure and apply for the big solo for the final concert that all the investors, alumni, and parents came to.

It wasn't just a solo, it was also a scholarship. It was a full-ride scholarship to the music conservatory at Kansas University, or a $5000 a semester scholarship to any other music conservatory in the country. Getting the solo was a huge deal, and under Dr. Holtz, she felt like she had a real chance at it.

She did audition and was awarded the solo, which was a huge achievement for her. It didn't do much for her popularity among the other musicians at camp. When the main thing you have in common is that you all want to make it in the music world, you're all competing against each other all the time, and that causes a lot of jealousy. It was a sad price to pay sometimes, but nothing stopped

Lydian from loving every minute of camp. She had to admit though, that her favourite part of camp was getting to spend time with Cristofori.

In the morning she would go with Jenny to the gym and work on the couch to 5k with her. Cristofori would lift weights or beat the punching bag, and just generally encourage them. Being around him just felt good. Like everything was right in the world. It calmed her spirit when he was near. She couldn't put her finger on it, but with every workout, every meal, every conversation, or small touch to her arm, or the small of her back, she felt little tingles that felt like magic on her skin. It was as though they had literal sparks flying between them.

At the end of the summer, he would go back to Kansas City, and she would be back in Emporia, and sure it wasn’t that far away, but they weren’t going to drive hours to see each other all the time when all they had was a summer camp fling. And at this point, they didn’t even have that. He was just a nice guy who could be a little flirty but hadn’t ever done more than a few friendly touches really. Lydian knew she was getting ahead of herself, but couldn't help it.

Actually, it was just nice to have a crush. For a long time now, she had thought maybe she would never like a man that way. That maybe she had been ruined for a relationship for good. She didn’t have to worry about no one wanting her as damaged goods because she had never wanted any one any way.

Until now. Until Cristofori.

Could she put her feelings on the line for him? Tell him she was falling for him. She didn’t think she could take the rejection. She was pretty fragile, but so far he had handled her with such care that she was filled with hope.