Play your guitar Sophie

Harmony

Stone Town was colder than usual until I had to wear a sweater plus a thick cloth covering the neck. Grandma was wearing jeans and a coat of woven wool that even though I didn't wear it, I felt warm.

“Sophie, creamer is out,” Mr. Suko, one of Toebroek's subscriptions shouted from the kitchenette. “Iya Sir, Sophie get me a minute,” I ran to the warehouse take creamer. Every day I help out in Toebroek. With the realization that from Toebroek, my tuition and pocket money came. By helping in Toebroek I became right – really understand that there is nothing free in this world. Everything takes hard effort.

“Enhanced Sophie,”

“Sama – with Mr. Suko. Tumben sir, wear creamer. Usually a toebroek?”

“Not today Sophie,” Mr. Suko stirring his coffee after adding creamer in it. “You're sick Sophie ?”

“Neither Sir. Why is it ?”

“Kok as if there is another thought?,” he said as he walked to his desk full of newspapers, a complete note with Nek Irma who was smiling charmingly to Mr. Suko. According to a – desus rumor, the two of them are dating. They met while being the same – alone enjoying a toebroek.

The widowed Mr. Suko and the widowed Nek Irma. I think they're both the perfect couple. It seems that today everyone is overwhelmed with happiness. Except me.

“Oh …. Maybe because it's cold sir,” I said slowly. I walked over to the lobby table where Grandma was there.

“You want Grandma to make Sophie toebroek ?” Grandma said while cleaning up the sugar and coffee that was spattered. Toebroek is not so crowded tonight makes me not too busy. Some visitors come but prefer to go to a small kitchen making their own toast and coffee. At most – at most I will wash dirty glass dishes.

But imagining having to wash the glass with cold water made me nod not to reject Grandma's offer.

“Please little Miss,” Grandma thrusting a cup of toebroek with smoke still billowing.

“You want to sing tonight?” Grandma asked slowly. I'm shaking.

“Alright, it's okay – what. Frans, get your guitar. We sing now.” cried Grandma at Frans who was busy tidying up novels and newspapers that lined up neatly on wooden shelves.

Without nodding, Frans picked up a guitar and sat down in a high chair on a small stage in the middle of Toebroek. Grandma was ready for her harmony. Slowly –, visitors who are sitting in front of the TV turn off the TV and visitors who are busy reading close their books.

Grandma took a deep breath while stroking her red harmonica. Fatigue – land, Kak Frans guitar began clinking then followed by Granny harmonica.

I sat looking at the two of them with a strange feeling. The song they played this time I heard. A song that is sung with the heart so that it can bring everyone who hears it to another world. The World that Grandma and Frans created. A beautiful world that calms the mind, refreshes the body and links the heart. Similar to the reaction of a toebroek. The magical reaction of a cup of coffee. And that's right – I felt when my ears started to digest every note the air delivered to my ears while drop by drop the toebroek glided smoothly in my stomach. Then I heard Frans start singing.

…

In everyone's heart

There's a recycling box

A magic box that destroys mistakes

Mistakes of friends

They make weakness a strength

What makes a sad moment an unforgettable memory

One mistake cannot drown out memories

Bitter memories that evoke laughter

Then miss, then,

Longing that the bitter moment that is considered sweet is repeated

…

It was beautiful, and I was fascinated. In my heart, I wish I could find that recycling box inside of me. Nando is cool and I love it. But Dede is my best friend. It's not worth it that this friendship breaks down just because of a guy. The song was very good, as if – would have been deliberately made to understand my mood today.

“Thank you,” Grandma nodded politely when they finished singing.

“Come on Sophie, play your guitar,” cried Nek Irma while raising her hand and making me very nervous.

“Eh .. uh. sorry, Sophie has to do the dishes first,” dishwashing is much better than singing in front of people in a state of heart that is again very upset like this.

“Do not make an excuse Sophie. I saw you yesterday playing guitar with Frans,” Nek Irma said again.

“Oh …. That's just a khan training, Grandma. Not real at all,”

“Try Sophie,” Grandma gripped my shoulder warm.

“Main alone again in D, you will not meet F,” said Frans full of happy smiles while giving Mama's guitar to me. Today they were all right – really wanted to torture me so I had to say,

“Good then. But if wrong – is wrong, Sophie should not be laughed at well ..” once I finish talking, all visitors Toebroek applaud. My body went limp.

I sat in a high chair with my guitar. All eyes looked at me while hoping to get the same magic that Grandma and Frans gave me.

“Sophie can't Nek,” I whispered to Grandma.

“Try first Little miss, then you can determine whether or not,” serve Grandma. I nervously put my left – fingers on D. I plucked the number three string and two then switched to G then to A.

I chose You’re still the one by Shania Twain.

…

Looks like we made it

Look how far we’ve come my baby

…

Ooops, I plucked the wrong string and my G is not perfect so the sound is not at all worth listening to the ear. The faces of Pak Suko and Nek Irma wrinkled – wrinkle. Maybe Nek Irma was realizing that telling me to sing while playing guitar was a perfect mistake that was worth 100. My nervousness so doubled – fold, I need a miracle to get out of this mistake. Mistakes that make my guitar playing more and more unruly and songs that I have already evaporated like cold air. I just decided to stop. Let, this shame I'll bear to old age.

All the visitors to Toebroek looked at me with pity. As if – would I was the most unfortunate girl in the world. For the second time today, I have to hold my tear-resistant – so as not to spill. Toebroek became so quiet, silent and silent that my head was ringing. As if – would, a breath would sound like an explosion until then I heard the sound of Grandma's harmonica smooth and soothing. Make all the nerves that had been tense back loosened. Then followed by the twang guitar Kak Frans, still on D, with the same song. Brother Frans nodded at me. I don't know what that means and I see grandma starting to blow her harmonica. Like magic I was blown away in a world of harmony, it felt beautiful and I wanted to cry, but I wanted to sing more. I opened my mouth and went back to singing,

…

You’re still the one

You’re still the one I run to

…

While once – times my hand plucked the guitar,

…

I’m so glad we made it

Look how far we’ve come my baby

…

Until the last word I sang, I was right – really understand how beautiful it feels to sing with the heart. Singing with guitar accompaniment and harmonica people – people I love makes me not want this moment to pass quickly. “Thank you,” I said with upright eyes and glazed – glass. So I heard the rumble for me, the clapping of some people I've known all along in Toebroek.

That night, after Toebroek was quiet and his – seat had been flipped over the table, I entered my room feeling tired and happy at the same time. While closing my eyes trying to sleep, I remember again the lyrics of the song played by Frans and Grandma,

In everyone's heart

There's a recycling box

A magic box that destroys mistakes

Mistakes of friends

Today was a long and exhausting day. I have one thing to do tomorrow. I close my eyes, sleep. Dreaming of strumming a guitar on a big stage. 

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Check out other stories written by Eveningtea81 in Noveltoon

1.      Play your guitar, Sophie

2.      The Sun Becomes a Star