Chapter 10
1386 Words
After we entered the school , I could hear soft orchestral music flowing through the doors. Everyone was greeting everyone and they looked all happy to be here.
Coda squeezed my hand and when I looked down , his face was looking at his shoes.
I knelt down and put my fingers under his little chin.
“ Sweetheart , look at me.”
He turned slowly to me.
“ Don’t worry about a single thing , when you are up there. It’s you and the piano. No one else. You love the piano don’t you?”
Coda nodded.
“ Then let it love you. Close your eyes and feel the music and you will be fine.”
Coda sighed and hugged me.
“ Oh Ms Blyth perfect timing.” The headmaster was walking towards us.
“ Mr Rogers , is everything alright?”
“ I’m afraid one of the students is sick and we have the act after Coda’s void. Do you think he might be able to play another song?”
I looked at my son. He seemed nervous and afraid.
I pulled his hand and he looked at me.
“ How about another song?”
He took a deep breath and nodded.
The headmaster clapped his hands with joy.
“ Great, I’ll tell the teachers.”
The headmaster excused himself.
We went to the front of the stage , luckily enough there were three empty seats.
Coda sat down.
I put my hand on his chest, his heart was beating loudly and fast.
I pulled him on me and he rested his head on my chest.
“ See? Our hearts are beating with the same rhythm. We are both scared but you know what?”
He looked at me.
“ I’m more scared , because after listening to your playing , everyone will fall in love with you and try to steal you away from me.”
Coda grinned.
I turned to Jace , who haven’t uttered a word since when we left the house.
He turned to me and smiled softly. I grabbed his hand and kissed it.
“ I’ll explain everything later, I promise but for now this is more important. You understand that right?”
Jace sighed and nodded.
“ Yeah it’s just it’s so confusing and you didn’t tell me anything about it.”
“ I had my reasons Jace.”
He nodded and sighed.
The recital started and every kid showed their talents , by singing , dancing and acting.
Coda was the last act, which I’m sure played with his heart strings.
I pulled his hand and kissed it.
“ How are you feeling?” I whispered.
His eyes were wide and his heart was thumping loudly.
I couldn’t help but chuckle.
“ It’s normal to feel this way. It will be alright sweetheart , I’m right here.”
Coda nodded and got up to go backstage.
Jace pulled him into a hug.
“ Kill it , little man.”
Coda smiled and headed to the backstage.
Now my heart was thumping wildly.
Jace chuckled and put my hand in his.
“ It’s gonna be okay Iris. Calm down.”
Calm down ? Calm down?!
My son is about to go on stage and everyone will be looking.
I’m more afraid than him.
They announced his name.
He walked slowly and bowed to the audience , then sat on the stool.
He took a deep breath and put his hand up to play , but then his eyes went wild and he didn’t move.
My heart stopped.
He was shaking and I could see from here that he was about to cry.
Everyone started to murmur.
The teachers looked at me , worried.
I got up and climbed the stage , not worrying about what other people might think.
I knelt near me son and grabbed his hands in mine.
His eyes were wide and he was shaking.
“ What happened Coda?”
He played a note which sounded in the whole hall.
G-Sharp.
Which means he is stuck and afraid.
I turned him to look at me , he looked at the audience.
“ Look at me.”
He slowly looked at me.
“ Coda , everyone is scared and I know that you probably heard everything back home.”
His eyes started to water.
My heart squeezed and I started to cry.
“ I’m so sorry!”
He started to bawl and then he hugged me.
I patted his back.
“ There , there sweetheart. Everything will be okay. I will tell you everything.”
Coda hugged me tighter.
“ But now , there are people who are waiting to hear your voice.”
Coda let go and looked at me.
I stroked the piano.
“ This is your voice , now , show everybody what you are feeling by playing. You can play anything.”
He shook his head.
“ Coda, do you know what your name stands for?”
He looked at me and shook his head.
“ The last few measures of a musical piece, typically differing from the main theme and added on to give a sense of closure.”
He looked confused.
“ It means that you are different from everybody else and that you are unique. But also that you gave me a reason to live.”
His eyes went wide.
“ Can you play for me?”
He took a deep breath and nodded.
I went down the stairs , back to my seat.
Jace hugged me to him.
“ You are amazing.” He whispered in my ear.
Coda closed his eyes and hit the first note.
He played something different , not the one he practice.
Everyone stopped talking and listened.
“ Is this the one you practiced?” Jace whispered.
I shook my head , my eyes stuck on my son.
“ It’s A melody of tears.”
I put my hand on my mouth to muffle my cries.
Coda was also crying.
“ When did he learn this?” Jace asked.
“ I don’t know.” I said shaking my head.
No one dared to speak, they looked at this small child , playing such a big instrument.
Everyone’s eyes were glued to the stage. I could see other children looking from backstage.
Coda’s voice is reaching everyone.
He didn’t mess even a note. He played so beautifully that even the teachers were speechless.
I couldn’t believe it. I always knew that my son had a talent , but I never dared to say that he is a prodigy , I might jinx it.
Jace’s eyes were wide , listening to every note. Every word that my son is conveying to the crowd.
When he hit the last note, no one dared to clap or make a sound.
He opened his eyes and looked at me.
I smiled widely and sent him a kiss.
He smiled and got up and bowed.
Suddenly a loud roar was heard and everyone started to clap.
I jumped slightly.
Coda’s eyes were wide and he was smiling widely.
“ He is amazing.” Jace said.
I nodded.
The cheers wouldn’t stop.
The presenter came on the palk and place a hand on Coda’s shoulder.
“ Coda Blythe everybody.”
Everyone yelled and clapped.
“ Now now , we still have another song to hear.”
Everyone calmed down and settled back on their chair.
Coda looked at me and shrugged.
“ Play anything you want.” I mouthed to him.
He nodded and went back to the piano.
When he started to play , I took a deep breath.
“ Moonlight sonata. My favourite.” I said smiling.
Jace smiled and kissed my forehead.
No one interrupted. Everyone kept their eyes on Coda. Some even closed their eyes to feel the music in their soul.
I can say it now…. Without fear.
My son is a prodigy.
- Writer
