
“What ?!” Stan shouted for an explanation.
“Listen to Stan, don't get emotional,” I tried to explain to Stan what I've been thinking for a few days. We were sitting on the terrace. Hardin came to help Frans put up a new TV in Toebroek. The new TV just arrived this afternoon. Grandma was busy dealing with some big flask that Toebroek had to fill. Several times his glasses dewed from the moisture and he cleaned them with a handkerchief that he always kept in one of his jeans pockets.
“Stan,” I start my explanation slowly. “I used to think that singing in front of people and getting a standing ovation was what I wanted. But it turns out that's not what I wanted.”
“Don't break Sophie too soon. Maybe you're just emotional because the atmosphere there makes you uncomfortable. This is all because Diana khan ?”
“Maybe. Probably about Diana. Yesterday he told me why he needed the job so badly. You know he has khan's son? And he needs to support his son.”
“Iya I know. I know Diana for a long time.”
“Where is her husband?”
Stan sighed.
“You know Sophie, this entertainment world sometimes – sometimes cruel. You're lucky because there's a granny like you so they can direct you. Diana was not so lucky. Her parents seemed to not care what she wanted to be, then she started singing at the club – night club and hang out with people – people who are not right. She had a son, no husband. So she did struggle to raise her child, all by herself.”
“Oh,” just like my response. I understand her attitude all this time. It's possible that I would behave the same way if I were in his current position.
“But, Diana's problem, it's just a small thing that makes me uncomfortable there. So it's not at all. That's not the problem.”
“Then what ?” Stan's hunting.
I took a deep breath. “Some times I fell asleep in class because I was too sleepy. My singing activities are disrupting my school.”
“Only it?”
“No. There's still others. Every time I sing there, I feel uncomfortable. Diana was just one factor. There I can't be myself. I've always arranged what to sing, what to wear and who to sing with. The worst thing is Stan, I can't use Mama's guitar anymore. But it all helped me to think and decide..”.
“What ? What am I thinking ? What did you decide Sophie ?”
“That I always miss the little stage of Toebroek. Customers who always want to hear my voice. Kak Frans' guitar twang and Grandma's soft harmonica. My place is here, not there.”
“But that's the path you have to take to become a Sophie star,” Stan said weakly.
“No need there to be a star Stan.”
“You are very stubborn well,” Stan lowered his head weakly while smiling thinly. His right hand reached into his shirt pocket to pick up a cigarette.
“You know young man ? No ashtray in Toebroek,” Grandma came carrying a glass of toebroek for Stan. “I know you must really want it.” Grandma went back to the kitchen.
Stan put his cigarette back in.
“I will definitely miss you Sophie.”
“Do not overdo it. You can always come here. If there is a job during – time that is not under contract, you can still be my manager”
“As long as I can get a free cup of toebroek every time I come here”
“Always free for you. Don't worry.” Stan paused for a moment, like he was thinking something.
“I have an idea Sophie. How about we open the youtube channel. You can sing with Grandma and Frans, cover – songs of other singers. Maybe we can also get money from it. How?”
“Mau bang. Brother Frans same Grandma would not mind either. But I don't know how Stan is?”
“That's the point of manager Sophie. You leave everything to me. How?”
“How can I refuse?” i smile. Stan stood up and hugged me.
Grandma and Brother Frans standing on a small stage in the middle of the middle – of Toebroek.
“I used to sing with Frans. We both felt complete as a family. When Sophie came to this house and started singing with us, the two no longer made it complete. Threesome new complete,” said Grandma with eyes glazed – glass.
“But now, Sophie has made a bold decision that won't be easy for everyone. She will sing along – equals us again.” Said Frans steady accompanied by a soft applause of the visitors Toebroek. I walked up to the small stage and heard some people say,
“Play your guitar Sophie.”
“Play your guitar Little miss.”
Grandma started blowing her harmonica. Finger – Frans finger plucked the strings of his guitar and I stroked Mama's guitar just before playing it. The three of us same – same sing,
…
Yesterday morning
I saw a dew
Swinging at the end of a leaf
The gentle wind came
Make the little dew fall
Crushed seeped into the ground
Small dumps are destroyed making the soil wet
Then came a bud
New life begins
What was small would be big
Because of a dew
…
Hardin sat him on the carpet, in one corner with the television. Just this time he saw me singing in Toebroek. Something he was ashamed of before.
Hardin helped me to distinguish between dreams and desires. I am often fooled into thinking dreams are desires. And I have made one wrong decision that fortunately I was able to quickly correct. But I also know there are some decisions that you guys will find difficult to make. So heart – hearts only with every decision you make. Indeed sometimes – sometimes we have to make a mistake to know which is right. But if you can figure out what's right without making a mistake, I think it's worth it. Just believe in yourself, listen to what your heart is saying.
And I'm gonna stay here, sing while strumming Mama's guitar. With – people who love me around me, I think I've got the world. I have become a star.
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Check out other stories written by Eveningtea81 in Noveltoon
1. Play your guitar, Sophie
2. The Sun Becomes a Star