La Fille Mal Gardee

Cherry

By Silver Spun Sand

Mon, 14 Sep 2015
  • 2566 reads
8 comments
 
Almost dark, the practice room door ajar; most of the students long gone.  Walking past – that brief sight of her made me catch my breath.  Mirrors, wall upon wall, and that all important bar where she stood; her reflection fair blushing at its own beauty; hair swept into a chignon; tendrils coyly flirting with gently sloping shoulders,  black leotard – red pumps.
 
Had I ever seen such perfection as this? This budding rose – this slip of a girl, I’d glimpsed as if for the very first time. I meant to move on; resist the pull, the magnetism, the sheer enchantment.  Except, my feet stuck to the floor, reluctant to break the spell. But I had a job to do, and day-dreaming don’t pay no bills. How I wished, though, right that minute, the wretched floors would clean themselves.
 
Transfixed, as I was, I envied her skill; her arabesques and pirouettes...such style, such grace. One of Chopin’s nocturnes echoed round the room as if Ashkenazi  himself was sat, right there, playing his socks off...until I recalled I’d seen the school pianist leave – over an hour since. Fascinating thing...imagination; it fills in all the gaps.
 
The sound of her voice made me jump.
 
“I know you’re there. Heard your bracelets jangle. Any chance of a lift home?” 
 
Fifteen years on, and that same tune calls down the sweet, night rain, and I’d give anything to take her home, again.
Certificate PG
Story
Silver Spun Sand Stories
Biography
Love

Comments

Submitted by Bee on

Like the idea of Ashkenazi playing his socks off. The beauty of the girl is so lovingly and affectionately described, and it's great how she brings the whole thing back down to earth with a bump. But it's a dream that can't be broken with a real weight of sadness at the end. It's got everything, this story, and all in so few words.

Bee

Submitted by Denzella on

Yes Tina,

So much in so few words.  A lovely tribute

Moya

 

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on

Hello again, dear Moya...and I am so pleased you thought so.

Hope your Monday is a sunny onesmiley

Tina

 

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on

Hi there, Bee.  Saw Ashkenazi live, a good few years ago now, before he was famous, almost.  I went on a British Rail weekend to York, and the man himself was performing at some stately home or other in the vicinity of the City.  It was amazing because it was just a small gathering of about twenty of us, round a blazing log fire, a baby grand,  and Ashkenazi playing, only a few feet away.  I shall never forget it.

So pleased you enjoyed my story, Bee, and told me so, so very eloquently, as eversmiley

Tina

 

 

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

Chopin's Nocturne is one of my favourite pieces of music for relaxing. You describe so well the child's charm with her ballet steps and red pumps. What a beautiful sight it must have been, I think I would have been mesmerized too. I have so much admiration for ballet dancers, they work so hard.

Thank you for sharing this story Tina, you set the scene well.

Jenny.

 

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on

Both of my daughters had ballet lessons...as so very many kids, these days.  Back in the year dot, such lessons were only for the rich.  I always loved ballet from when I was tiny, and when somebody local to us in North London set up a ballet class in the local school I was first in line.  My mum, though, wouldn't let me go after the first time.  She said my feet got too dirty and as there was no way we could afford ballet shoes, and the teacher had said anything else would be unsuitable, I had to stop going. I was heartbroken, which was why I let both my kids live their dream of dancing, and in a way, through them, I lived mine too.

Many thanks for your kind words, Jenny.  More than appreciated.

Tina

 

Submitted by airyfairy on

Beauty and longing, and obviously something very close to your heart.  A very lovely and evocative piece.

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on

As close to my heart as it could be, afsmiley

Tina