Roses are Red, Black Eyes are Blue

Anna walked through her front door and called out for her father. They hadn’t finished unpacking yet, so he didn’t go to work that day. She put her school’s uniform jacket by the door and walked into the living room. “Dad? Hey Dad?” She hesitantly peeked around the open door of his office to see him filing paperwork. “Hey Dad?”

“Yes?” he asked without looking up.

“Has the piano arrived yet?”

“Yes, but I want you to do your homework first.”

“I don’t have any homework. Can I go tune the piano?”

“Why don’t you go play your flute or violin? You’re always on the piano. When was the last time you played your clarinet? No, Anna, I think the piano can wait ‘til tomorrow.”

“Oh, well... Alright, is the violin stuff unpacked?”

“I believe so. Now can you please run along? I’m very busy.”

“Ok, Dad.” Anna replied softly and left his office.

The plus side to her new house was that her father gave her a room to dedicate to her instruments. She spent most of her time in her small “studio” that was built onto their old house, but as her collection grew, she found that the studio was way too small. So now, standing in her new, larger studio, she smiled to herself at the sight in front of her. Unlike her old studio, this one had enough room to space everything out. One wall was covered with shelves for her various wind and string instruments and the more valuable ones that she didn’t want on the floor. Her shiny, black baby grand piano sat in the center of the room and her drum set was set up in the far corner of the room. Beside the door was a desk where she could compose music and a filing cabinet was next to the desk, so she could store her music.

Anna went to the shelves and frowned at the lack of organization the movers had put them in. She found the violin she was looking for. The one she selected was a dark red wood and fit nicely in her hands, it was her favorite of her three violins. She sat down on a random stool by the large window facing the back yard and began to play. She didn’t think of what she was playing, she just played. She closed her eyes and let herself go, feeling the vibrations in her hands; she felt free.

When she began to come back to reality, she kept playing, but stopped abruptly when she realized she was playing the tune she heard Frank singing. She blushed for no real reason and began to put the violin away, when she was struck by an idea. She ran to the desk and set the violin down gently. Grabbing blank sheet music, she began frantically drawing notes on it, humming softly to herself. When she was done, an hour or two later, she sat back and stretched, smiling slightly to herself. The sheet music was messy, but from what she could tell, it would sound beautiful.

She stepped off the bus the next morning, making her way toward the school. She was sort of depressed when she didn’t see Frank on the bus, she didn’t know why, but she wanted to show him the music she wrote. The school day went by without anything big happening; it seemed that Frank was the only exciting thing in the school, in a way. During lunch she went looking for the band room that the principle had told her about earlier that day. She found herself in the fine arts department, looking through the windows into the empty classrooms that ended up belonging to art classes and drama classes and things like that. When she finally came across the band room, she didn’t have to look through the window to know which class it was. There was a giant banner above the door, indicating that it was obviously a band room.

She opened the door and stepped in. The room was quiet and empty. She took a step toward the small piano pushed up against the far wall.

“Can I help you?” said a voice from behind Anna. She quickly turned around to see a man in his thirties leaning out of what seemed to be a small office.

“O-oh, I’m Anna...the uh...the principal told me to...he said I should talk with you…” She stuttered out, fidgeting with her messenger bag strap.

“Oh, right, so you‘re Anna Garner! The whole faculty is talking about you. We’re all very impressed by your grades. I was also intrigued when I heard you’ve mastered almost every instrument.” He said, smiling.

Anna blushed when he mentioned the faculty talking about her and mumbled out, “I wouldn’t exactly say ‘mastered’...”

“And you’re modest too.” he chuckled. “May I hear you play something?”

“O-oh...um,” Anna started, shocked, “What would you like to hear...?

“Surprise me.” he replied, giving her a reassuring smile.

Anna walked to the piano and sat gingerly on the edge of the bench. Her hands hovered over the keys and she took a deep breath, trying to ignore the fact that she had an audience. As she began to let the breath out as the tips of her fingers made contact with the cold smooth keys of the piano. Her hands moved gracefully as she played a simple yet beautiful song. She swayed gently with the song, closing her eyes as she felt the music flow through her. When the song was finished she let the last note resonate in the air before she turned around to face the music teacher.

He nodded and smiled again, saying, “That was amazing. I don’t think I’ve heard it before, did you compose that?”

Anna blushed and shook her head, “No, it was Mozart. It’s not very well known, but it’s one of my favorites.”

“Well, I think it was wonderful. Have you thought about joining the orchestra here? We could really use someone as talented as you,” the teacher said, his eyes pleading with her.

“Umm...” Anna started, not sure of what to say. “I’d love to. But I have to ask my dad. He might be afraid that it will mess with my study time. Will I have to be in a music class?”

“Well, usually I prefer that orchestra members be in one of the music classes because we practice the music in small groups in class, but I’m sure you will practice on your own. If you can promise to come to the scheduled band practices then I’m sure you’ll do fine without the classes. Ask your parents about it and come by my office later this week to let me know, ok?”

“Uh, yeah,” Anna replied simply, picking up her stuff to leave the room.

When Anna got home she went to her father’s study first, knowing it was best to hurry up and ask him about the orchestra. She reached his door and knocked, waiting for a reply. When she heard him call for her to come in she opened the door and slipped in. Realizing he was on the phone, Anna closed the door behind her and patiently waited by one of the bookcases. She listened to her father reassure someone that the case was air tight and there was no way they would lose. Her eyes traveled over his many expensive leather law books. She reached up and pulled one in particular out. It was old and dusty. When she cracked it open the binding made a little creaking noise, confirming her thoughts about it not being used in a while. She leaned forward and sniffed, it smelled like old parchment, her father’s cologne, and ink. Anna heard her father telling his client goodbye and the phone being put down. She quickly closed the book, putting it away and turning to face her father.

“What can I do for you, Anna?” he asked, shuffling through some papers on his desk.
Anna shuffled her feet nervously.

She wasn’t sure how to ask without being shot down immediately, so she just said what came to mind. “I was talking with the music teacher today. He was wondering if I was interested in joining orchestra. I told him I would ask you.”

Her father sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose while he thought. “Don’t you need to take a certain class for that? You’d have to drop something.”

“The teacher said I wouldn’t need to take a class,” Anna supplied quickly, knowing it was a good sign that he didn’t shoot her down immediately. “As long as I come to all the practices he says it won’t be a problem.”

“I don’t know, Anna. It seems like it would get in the way of your studies. Are you sure you can balance everything?”

“I’m positive! I really want to do this, dad! Please?” Anna rushed out; this seemed to actually be working.

He thought for a minute, watching his daughter’s eager face. He finally sighed and nodded. Anna ran forward and around his desk, throwing her arms around his neck in a hug. “Thanks dad!” She pulled away quickly when she realized what she was doing. She hadn’t hugged her father in years, but then again, there really hasn’t been a reason to.

He cleared his throat, looking away and back to his papers before saying, “As long as your grades don’t suffer I don’t see why you shouldn’t join. But if I see one slip in your grades I’ll pull you out. Understand?” Anna nodded quickly, still smiling. “Well, go do your homework now. I’ve got a lot of work to do. I have a big case coming up.”

Anna walked quickly out of the office, afraid he might take back his permission if angered. She once again had no homework so she went into her studio, wanting to tune her piano. She sat on the black cushioned bench placed in front of her piano. She trailed her fingers along the lid covering the keys. Her piano had been in storage for at least two weeks while they packed and unpacked. She had missed it and now she finally got a chance to sit and play it again.

She lifted the lid and began to tune it. It took her a while, but it was finally perfect. She stared at the beautiful black wood in front of her, trying to think of something to play. After her long wait she finally had a chance to play, but she couldn’t think of what she wanted to start with. After a moment, it came to her. She quickly retrieved her bag from beside the door and pulled her purple notebook from it. She flipped to the last few pages and gently set the book on the piano. Her hands hovered over the keys, like they did earlier that day. Anna stared at the first note scribbled on the paper. She took a deep breath and her hands came down on the keys. Sound erupted in the quiet room as the notes seemed to come to life. They danced through the air, as if waltzing with each other. Anna came to the end of the page and quickly flipped it, never slowing her pace. The song was quick and bright, her hands moving quickly over the keys to keep the fast pace. In the middle of the song the time signature changed and the song became slower, more deliberate. It seemed like it was coming to an end when it jumped back into its quick pace again. Her hands moved quickly, the muscles in her arms tensing up from the sudden change in speed. As she came to the end it seemed to speed up even faster and she found herself nodding quickly with the music and mouthing the counts, a bad habit she had formed when she was 11. In the last few measures she repeated one of the main phrases, only slower, and let the last note trail off.

The silence was overwhelming and she couldn’t help but laugh lightly. She didn’t know why she laughed, she just did. She doubled over, holding her sides. When she finally stopped she sat up, looking out the big window and sighed. She really did want to show Frank that song.

The next day Anna climbed the steps of the bus. She didn’t expect to see Frank, thinking that he had probably been suspended for the rest of the week, so she didn’t bother scanning the faces of the passengers to see who was there. She kept her head down, only knowing that a seat was taken because of the feet in front of them. As she passed the fourth row she heard someone call out to her,

“Hey.” Looking up her eyes met with Frank’s. He smiled at her and moved his legs, which were thrown across his seat, so she could sit. Anna ducked her head as she sat down, keeping a lot of space between them.

“Well you look happy,” Frank said, seeing her nervous face.

“I don’t really like crowds...” Anna lied. She was fiddling with her messenger bag strap again, a big sign that she was nervous. She wasn’t sure why she was so jittery around him, and part of her was afraid to find out.

“So I never did get your name,” Frank said, bringing Anna’s attention back to him.

“Um...Anna Garner...” she replied quietly.

“Um Anna, that’s nice. So, Um Anna, why’d your parents name you Um Anna anyways? And are you always this quiet?” he asked, smiling from his little jokes. Anna smiled too and just shrugged.

“I guess. I’ve never really paid attention to that.”

“Well, you should work on that, you’re about to miss your stop.” Frank said nodding out the window. Anna gasped and jumped up, but then realized that Frank wasn’t moving. She also realized he wasn’t wearing his uniform.

“You’re not going to school?” she asked, a little disappointed.

“Nah, still suspended. But I’m going back tomorrow. I’m heading to a friend’s house. Hurry or you’ll be getting off at my stop in a few minutes.” Anna shook her self back to reality and quickly dashed out the door before the bus driver could close it on her. What she didn’t realize was that she had left her notebook behind again.

At lunch she once again went to the band room to talk to the teacher. She knocked on his office door, hoping he was there so she could give him the good news. The door opened and a smile appeared on the teacher’s face. “Anna! I was just wondering if you would be stopping by. So you have an answer for me?”

“I do, Mr. Andrews. My dad said it was ok with him as long as my grades don’t slip,” Anna said, surprised that she was able to talk to a teacher without stuttering.

He clapped his hands together and his smile grew. “That’s great! Let me grab the information packets for you and get you some music.” He disappeared back into his office and came out with a folder. “This is the calendar with all the practice and concert schedules on it. Here is the rule book, just simple stuff, all it says is that you will respect others and the instruments lent out to you. And I need you to sign this. It’s a form saying that whatever instrument I give you, you will take good care of and treat with respect.”

“What instrument will I be assigned?” Anna asked, realizing she didn’t even know what she would be playing.

“Well, I haven’t really thought of that. What can you play?”

“Um...there really aren’t any orchestra instruments I haven’t played...” Anna said quietly, not wanting to sound like she was bragging.

“What’s your favorite?”

“I like the piano and violin.” Anna supplied.

“Well, then I’ll most likely have you on one of those. If I need you to cover a part for a different instrument I’ll let you know and we can work it out. Do you have a violin at home? If not I can sign one out to you, I can’t really assign you a piano though,” he said, laughing at his own joke. Anna laughed too, not wanting to make him feel bad because she didn’t really think it was funny.

“Yes. I have three actually. What kind would you prefer I use?” Anna asked; wanting to be sure she did everything perfectly.

“Well, whichever you want to use, I guess.” Mr. Andrews laughed again.
He retreated back into his office after she signed the paper and came back with another folder, this one full of music.

“Your first practice is Monday right after school. Everyone is expected to be there on time, but I’m sure that won’t be a problem. Make sure to bring your violin to the practices. My violins may sound different compared to yours.” Anna nodded, said good bye, and made her way to her next class. She had to admit, she was excited about joining the orchestra. This school was so boring; nothing about it was worth mentioning, well, except for Frank. But she had a feeling he didn’t spend much time in school, so it was nice to find something else interesting other than him.

When Anna finally got home she went up to her room to start her homework, since she finally had some. She started to pull items out of her bag and realized she was missing something. She suddenly began yanking things out, desperate to find the small purple notebook. She tried to remember the last time she had touched it. She was holding it outside at the bus stop that morning, trying to decide if she really liked the way one of the songs ended. Then she got on and put it next to her in the seat. Anna gasped as she realized she never put it away and that it must have been left on the bus. It wasn’t a big deal, most of the good compositions in it had been copied neatly on real music paper, but the last one she wrote, the one she actually wanted to show off, had yet to be copied. Anna sighed heavily, deciding that there was nothing she could do now. She would have to go and ask the driver tomorrow if anyone turned it in.