Unfinished Symphony by Jeffrey Allen White (good non fiction books to read .txt) 📖

Unfinished Symphony




by Jeffrey Allen White


Chapter 1

Ken was running late for his rehearsal. It was almost two o’clock and he was still blocks away. In the middle of a traffic jam that ran several blocks in all directions. It was Manhattan, after all. Nothing new here. He knew he should have left earlier but the kids all needed a lunch, as they were not serving hot lunches today.

The light turned its Kelly screaming green and Ken proceeded through the tangled intersection. His cello, which he had since high school was in its case slung over his back. His parents bought it for him on his sixteenth birthday. He always swore he would buy a case with wheels one day. In fact, he almost did last year but then his wife Katie died and he had to take time off and the money ran out.

The light changed just as he stepped onto the curb. A silver Cutlass Supreme nearly ran him over. The driver blasted his horn at Ken and gave him the finger, a common New York salutation.

“Watch out, you idiot!” Ken turned and set the cello down for a moment to catch his breath. The traffic was more than horrible today. He should have taken the subway but then he risked having his cello banged around by the mob of dispassionate commuters.

Turning down fifty-seventh, Ken noticed a young girl walking with her violin. Maybe she was off to her lessons. She appeared to be the twin’s age, nine or maybe ten. Ken smiled. He loved to see young kids interested in music. He smiled at the young prodigy as he passed. She stuck out her tongue and sneered. “Back off buster or I’ll deck you with this”. She raised her case as if threatened and walked on by.

“She’ll make a great musician. I hope her teacher has a rotten headache today.” Ken turned the corner and saw a street clock. Its brass hands turned green with age and its glass crackled with maturity. “Oh damn. I’m late.” He picked up his speed, almost knocking over a T-shirt sales representative and his products. “Sorry,” he said turning as he did.

Up ahead they were working on the intersection and half the street was closed. The side he needed to go on. “Damn” Ken sprinted across the street in the middle risking another jaywalking ticket. He could hear his daughter Kimberly chastising him about being preoccupied and reckless.

She was fourteen and now the woman of the house. She looked a lot like her mother. Long blond hair that had a bounce in it. Like a Breck Girl in the ads. She even walked like Katie. In addition, until last year she played the violin like her mother. Then she decided to grow fingernails. With Katie gone, Ken did not want to put pressure on her to continue as he always dreamed she would. He always hoped his children would love music.

Music was important to him. It always has been. Since he was five years old, he had been taking lessons on piano and then the cello when he was twelve. He fell in love with the mellow sounds it made, practicing hours on end. Ken became quite good by his late teens and it was an easy choice to go for a musical degree. Music was his life.

Ken navigated the intersection with ease and quickly made the light. He could see the entrance to the studio now. Also arriving up ahead was Mac McEvry, a bass player. Ken worked with him since their college days. “At least I am not the only one late.” Ken said as he caught up with him.

“I missed my connection and took a later train.” Mac McEvry lived in Connecticut and commuted. Mac and his wife, Leslie were good friends and they were always preaching how great it was to live in the country. So peaceful and tranquil. Good for the mind and soul.

“I was Mr. Mom this morning and made sandwiches for everyone.” Ken held the door opened for Mac as his case was much larger than his but at least it had wheels.

We gave you the name of a house cleaner to come in a few days each week. She worked for us when we lived here.” Mac and Leslie had her in two days a week until they moved to Connecticut. Then Leslie quit working to stay home with the kids. Leslie was a secretary for a law firm and she hated it. Going to Connecticut was her way out.

As soon as they turned the hallway, they could hear the orchestra playing Beethoven’s Sonata in E. “Man, I love that piece.” Mac lamented as they hurried.

They entered the hall and marched up to the stage. The orchestra was about half way into the second movement. The conductor, Michael David Sheldon was in full form, his baton extended into the air as if it were a knife slicing it. Ken thought he needed to work on his aggression, as he was more threatening than artistic.

Ken opened his case and got his cello out, Mac followed suit. They were both experts at getting set up. Ken took the music he had folded in his jeans out and walked to his seat. Second chair cello for the New York Symphony at the Mendelssohn Hall. He had been a member for the last five years. It was not only an honor to be in it but they paid very well.

The conductor caught sight of Ken and stopped the orchestra abruptly, cutting them off in mid measure. He put down his baton and spoke to them. “How nice of you to join us gentlemen. I thank you, the orchestra thanks you, the City of New York thanks you and above all else, Herr Beethoven thanks you!” The orchestra members chuckled. The maestro was not pleased.

“I am sorry. I had a small crisis at home.” Ken humbly explained.

“Mr. Bell. It is amazing how everyone else here was able to avoid such crisis in their lives.” He motioned his arm over the ensemble, and then picked up his baton. His attention turned to Mac. “Perhaps the move to the country has slowed your tempo. Please try to be on time. They do have clocks in Connecticut. Perhaps a sundial?” The ensemble chuckled again.

Mac looked over at Ken and they both wished they were on time. Ken hated being singled out. It felt like High School. He smiled remembering, he was always late for rehearsals then also.

The conductor gave the downbeat and the orchestra propelled to another time and place. The music had a life of its’ own. It had its vicissitudes and then it built to a huge crescendo and the conductor stopped them. “We will have a ten-minute break. Please people, ten minutes only.” The conductor stepped down off the platform and went to the exit to have a quick smoke. Several members joined him. The smell of matches, sulfur and tobacco filled the air.

Ken’s stand partner was Carl Jeffries. He was with the symphony for fifteen years. He was first chair for cello and Ken was second. Ken always felt like a runner up in a beauty pageant. “If the winner cannot serve her royal duties as the queen the runner up will take her place.”

“He is in a good mood, in spite of your late arrival. I think he got lucky with the bassoonist.” Carl smiled.

Ken turned to see the bassoonist taking her break by doing a crossword puzzle. She was quite pretty for a woman her age. She was in her fifties he guessed. She got this job after the last bassoonist moved to Colorado. She beat out many others and they all thought she slept with the maestro to get her job.

“Ken, here is the name and number of my cousin. The one I told you about. She just moved here to the city and you and she might just hit it off.” Carl handed him a paper with a name and phone number on it.

“Thanks, Carl.” Ken perused the paper. “But I don’t really know about this Carl. I am not much of a date. It has been years.”

“Well as long as you think about it. She is nice and I think you two would hit it off. In addition, you should really try to get here on time. You know old man Sheldon has it out for you ever since you missed that performance at the mayor’s dinner.” Carl rosined his bow and checked its tension.

“That was unavoidable. I had to take Kimberly to the dentist. She knocked out a tooth playing basketball. I had too. And that gig was last minute anyway.” Ken explained.

“I know, I know. But you had better watch yourself.” Carl waved to another member across the room. “Now I’d miss a performance for a chance with that.” Carl stared at the lovely blonde over in the flute section. “She can give me lessons anytime.”

Ken thought she was attractive but there was no interest. Katie was only gone a year and they had been together for almost twenty, since they were in high school.

“So how is it going with you, I mean, have you been seeing anyone?” Carl still stared at the redhead.

“No. I have been busy with the kids and everything. Money is tight. I’m out of the loop.” Ken explained.

“Oh, I just remembered, that Laura, my wife’s cousin is a real music lover.” Carl reminded himself.

Ken looked at the piece of paper. “Laura? Now she has a name. “No other info?”

“Well she’s in her late twenty’s I guess and is attractive. Sort of a professional business women.” Carl really did not know much more about her than that. It was his wife’s cousin after all.

“Why does she want to go out with me? Did you tell her about me? That I have three kids and am a recluse?” Ken readied his cello.

“And spoil all the fun? No, that is for you two to discuss. I am only doing this because my wife said you would be a great couple. And she hates seeing you alone.” Ken opened his music.

The conductor signaled for the third movement, which was short at least. Ken played without even thinking. He knew this piece well and music