Page 42 of Mysterious Teacher : Arrival
With little hesitation, she moved onto Mozart’s livelierSonata in C major, then onto Chopin’s moodyNocturne in C sharp minor No.20.
She slowly and dramatically played the last notes, then clasped her hands on her lap and waited.
The applause was delicate and polite but filled with appreciation for her fine playing.
Sonya looked at the owner who was leaning up against a pillar. He waved her over.
“Nice. Impressive. That was very pretty.”
“Thank you,” Sonya said. “I was hoping to play for my dinner.”
“I’ll do you one better than that, little lady. My regular pianist is a no-show...again... How would you like a permanent spot here? The crowd loves you.”
“Really?” It was more than she could have hoped for.
“I can give you twenty bucks a week, and you can keep all the tips you make.”
“That sounds wonderful.”
“Then get back there and entertain my customers. Throughout dinner we play it soft and classic. Then we liven it up a bit. Can you play something...you know...a little more jazzy...maybe a few show tunes? You know...like ‘We’re in the Money’ or maybe ‘It’s only a Paper Moon’.”
“I can sure try,” Sonya said, promising herself to learn every show tune if it got her a paying job.
She turned to go back to the piano.
“Hey, sweetheart,” the owner said. “What’s your name?”
Sonya smiled. What would he say if she told him that she was Empress Wanrong, the last empress of China and wife of PiYu, the last emperor? Would he believe her, or would he laugh her out of his restaurant? She looked down at the phoenix brooch on her jacket. “Song,” she decided to name herself. “As in songbird.”
“What about your first name?”
“Songbird,” Sonya said, unable to find a more suitable name.
“Another song?”he said. “Hmm. That might be a little too confusing for my patrons. How about I call you Sonya...Sonya Song. That has a nice musical ring to it.”
“That’s fine with me.”
“I’m Charlie, by the way,” he said. “Charlie Stein.”
“Nice to meet you, Mr.Stein.”
He nodded. “Now go on and play, and after you’re done, I’ll treat you to a nice steak dinner where we can discuss your song list. I have a few suggestions.”
“Sure thing.”
She returned to the piano and, on that evening, won the hearts of the patrons.
It wasn’t long before she drew in crowds. In addition to the classical pieces that accompanied the customer’s meals, she had an impressive list of show tunes that she played and sang. She realized that she had a decent voice, pleasant in its single octave range, which carried the songs she sang decently.
She met fascinating people with whom she enjoyed quick chats about tourist attractions and fun places to visit or in-depth conversations about the war, life in America and the direction the country was going in. And while her life was no longer one of royalty, prestige, and great wealth, she was happier than she had ever been.
Instead of the lavish lifestyle she’d once enjoyed, she now took pleasure in the small but tidy studio apartment she’d found. Fully furnished, it had everything she needed. And though the view from her window was far from impressive, a quick walk down the street had her on the waterfront enjoying the vastness of the Pacific.
Her growing happiness was interrupted only by the heartbreak that caught up with her every time she thought of the child that she would never know. Every day, she gulped back the pain of that reality and did her best to face the world...face it as Sonya Song.
Ready to head out after a night’s show, Charlie came up to her, his smile a mile wide. He rarely missed the opportunity to congratulate her and relay to her the kind words patrons had said of her.
“I don’t know whatever happened to old Gerry Vine, but I’m sure glad you walked in and replaced him. The people here love you. They absolutely adore you. You’re lovely, you’re petite, you’re elegant, and...in addition to those magical fingers on the keys, you have the voice of an angel. Gerry, well... he was decent...but he didn’t have none of that going for him. He was just a schmuck who could tickle the ivories enough to get him by.”
