Filed To Story: Returning to Her Not-So-Poor Family
This was the mark of a master – immediately immersing the audience, striking a chord with their emotions. The joys and sorrows of life played out in his rendition like a movie flickering through their minds.
The rich and subtle emotions, conveyed through the twists and turns of the melody, tugged at every heartstring.
As the crowd was lost in the enchantment, another voice joined the symphony, a rapid, whirlwind-like performance that swept through the room.Could it be Jamie Noelle?
Jamie Noelle had arrived?!
Her violin roared with majestic and powerful rhythm, yet flowed like a gentle stream, reaching into the souls of everyone present.
The crowd was buzzing with excitement, convinced it must be Jamie Noelle.
Only Jamie Noelle could infuse such rich, full-bodied emotion into a performance; only she could master both the rhythm and the power so seamlessly; only she could bring out the majestic grandeur of the piece in its entirety.
Jamie Noelle was here!
She was really here!!
Guests craned their necks towards the stage, peering into the darkness. Though they couldn’t see a thing, the melodious and captivating sounds of music had them utterly enthralled.
Some guests couldn’t help the acidic sting in their noses as their eyes moistened.
They had loved this piece for years, and now, at long last, they were listening to it live!
What was key, the rich and nuanced emotions woven into the music, conjured up a flood of memories –
some joyful, some sorrowful.
Eugene closed his eyes, savoring the beauty and the overwhelming power of the moment.
Ordinarily, he didn’t even have the chance to listen to a duet, let alone for the guests in attendance.
As the piece concluded, everyone was still immersed in the impact of the music. It took a moment before a wave of warm applause broke the silence.
The performers had captured both the fiery passion and the piercing clarity of the emotions meant to be conveyed.
Their refinement, scope, pitch, technique – all were laid bare in the execution of the piece.”That was incredibly moving!”
It was something to relish over and over again.
“It was totally worth coming today.”
“It brought back memories of summers at my grandparents’ house. They’ve passed on now, but their lessons still live in my heart.”
“This piece, honestly, is the most beautiful I’ve ever heard. It recalls every moment of joy and sorrow in my life.”
“Same here, it reminds me of my mom, who’s been gone for many years now.”
Tears welled up in the eyes of many guests, moved by the music.
As the lights brightened, Regan had already descended from the stage.
People looked around, wondering where Jamie Noelle was. They couldn’t help but ask, “Mr. Jarvis, didn’t Jamie Noelle come?”
“I swear I heard her playing just now. Could I have been mistaken?”
“No way, Jamie Noelle definitely joined in. That piece has been on loop in my head for years. I can tell the difference between a solo and a duet, and I’m certain Jamie Noelle was part of it!”
Only together could they create such a harmonious sound; alone, neither could evoke such rich and full emotions.
Regan, smiling at the crowd, assured them, “She did come.”
“Where is she, then?””Will there be a chance to meet her?”
“We’ve got a few questions we’d like to ask her.”
Seeing the gathering crowd, Regan said with a beaming smile, “I bet everyone’s eager to know who she is. She’ll be presenting Mr. Albright with his birthday cake shortly, and then everyone will get to see her.”
Many in the crowd anticipated that this Jamie Noelle, capable of such a moving and beautiful performance, must surely be like Regan, a kindly elder.
“Mr. Jarvis, the duet you and Jamie Noelle played was absolutely enchanting. I’m still lost in the melody.”
“It was truly memorable.”
“Given your close relationship with Jamie, do you know if she’s considering taking on a protege?”
“Yeah, Mr. Jarvis, since you’ve already got someone in mind, we can only hope Jamie Noelle hasn’t found one.”
Regan said with a grin, “Honestly, it doesn’t matter who you learn from. As long as you’ve got the drive and the right guidance; if you’re gold, you’ll shine eventually.”
When Alma heard the music earlier, she knew Jamie Noelle had arrived. Even though the hall was dark, she made her way to the front of the stage, guided by the faint moonlight from outside, and could just make out Mr. Jarvis’s silhouette.
But there was no Jamie Noelle on stage!
Where could she be?
With this question nagging at her, Alma pricked up her ears and followed the music through the crowd.
When the lights came on, the person closest to her was Mirabella!
Although Mirabella wasn’t holding a violin, a servant rushed past her, clutching one.
Of course, Alma didn’t think Mirabella was Jamie Noelle. After all, she was already Dr. Bell and Maestro Melody, not to mention the chess master Queena. If she added Jamie Noelle to her list of personas, wouldn’t that just send her ego through the roof?With that thought, Alma approached Mirabella, taking advantage of the fact that all the guests were preoccupied with Regan and not around her. She tilted her chin up arrogantly and challenged, “Mirabella, dare you compete with me?”
Mirabella, curious about her intentions, drawled, “Compete in what?”
“Isn’t your violin playing supposed to be top-notch? Let’s have a showdown to see who can impress Jamie Noelle enough to take them as a protege.”
Mirabella found it amusing, her lips arched upwards, “Did Jamie Noelle mention she’s looking for a protege?”
“Whether she is or isn’t, making her want to teach us would be quite the feat. Let’s see who can win her favor, her guidance, or even become her protege first.”
Mirabella looked at her with interest, “Aren’t you afraid Jamie Noelle might ask you to perform on the spot and you’ll embarrass yourself?”
“How do you know I haven’t improved these days?” Alma retorted with a sneer, “Not everyone remains stagnant, afraid to move forward. So, do you dare to take the challenge or not?”
In preparation for tonight, Alma’s mother, Beverly Collins, had hired a couple of top masters to ensure her daughter would shine in Jamie Noelle’s presence.
She had practiced tirelessly for this moment.
“And what if you lose?” Mirabella asked nonchalantly.
“Stay out of the violin scene for life and don’t touch any career related to it. Do you dare?”
“That’s quite a gamble,” Mirabella responded, unfazed.Just then, Regan popped up behind Mirabella, “What’s this? What’s the fun? Can I join with you?”
“Mr. Jarvis,” Alma seized the opportunity to ask, “is Jamie Noelle really looking for a talented student or protege?”
“Well, I’m not entirely sure. You want to study with Jamie Noelle?” Regan seemed perplexed. Wasn’t Jamie Noelle already within reach?
“That’s right.” Alma looked confidently at Mirabella, “I want to know if Jamie Noelle will choose her or me.”
“Hmm, well, I can have a look for Jamie Noelle. Each of you play a piece. The guests can help judge who’s more qualified.”
Alma had lost to Mirabella in a school competition before and had never gotten over it.
To turn the tables, she had been honing her skills and techniques diligently.
Her new mentors advised her to practice with The Life, a piece composed by Jamie Noelle and Regan, as no one else dared to attempt it.
“How about The Life?” Alma said, chin held high, certain that Mirabella wouldn’t have practiced such a difficult piece in private.
Having prepared it in advance, Alma felt she had a better chance of winning.
“I’m okay with that,” Mirabella said nonchalantly.
“Then I’ll borrow a violin from someone here.”
Alma hadn’t brought her fiddle today, worried that others might think she had an ulterior motive, so she left it at home on purpose.
“I’ve got one.”
From within the crowd, Eugene’s voice emerged. Though he was a whiz at chess, his house had quite a collection of musical instruments.
“Speaking of which, this violin was a gift from Jamie Noelle,” Eugene asked someone to hand it over.
Regan, seeing the exquisite and familiar violin, couldn’t help but ask, “Is that the one Angus made in 1716, which Jamie Noelle snapped up at a high price? When did she give it to you?”
Eugene looked smug, “A small token like this really shows who’s more valued.”
“Why did she give you that? Did you coerce or bribe her?” Regan was obviously a bit jealous.
Mirabella knew he had a passion for music, yet she gave such a precious thing to Mr. Albright, the chess nut. And she didn’t even think of him!