"Kelley Eskridge - Strings" - читать интересную книгу автора (Eskridge Kelly)

The kite was an enormous success. Most of the players wanted a turn,
although G and the Conductor made a point of turning up their noses when offered.
The kite had a large group that leaped and shouted under it as it bobbed along in the
clear sky over the park.
 The Piano had brought his wife. тАЬYouтАЩre someone famous, arenтАЩt you?тАЭ she
said to Strad when they were introduced. The Piano poked her sharply in the ribs.
тАЬStop it, hon,тАЭ she said calmly, and went on shaking StradтАЩs hand. тАЬNot everybody
knows music, as I keep trying to point out to the whiz kid here. Everyone says
youтАЩre very good. Did you really tell the SM to put a sock in it?тАЭ She was a tall,
loose-boned woman with deep-set brown eyes. Strad liked her.

They sat on the grass and talked while the Piano joined the group running with
the kite. His wife smiled as she watched him. тАЬHe was so excited about meeting you.
He needs friends who understand his work. I guess you do, too.тАЭ

тАЬYes,тАЭ Strad agreed. тАЬWhat do you do?тАЭ she asked, suddenly very curious.

тАЬI teach literature to fifth graders. They all wanted to come with me today. I
told them it was my turn for a field trip.тАЭ

Words and music, Strad thought. What a household they must have together.

тАЬWhat are you thinking?тАЭ

тАЬI was just envying you,тАЭ Strad said.

Later, after the others had worn themselves out, the three of them took the kite
to the edge of the park green for one last flight.

тАЬI know what it reminds me of,тАЭ the PlanoтАЩs wife said. тАЬWith those deep
colors and the tail swirling. It looks like something the Gypsies would have had,
something that I read to my kids about. They loved to sing and dance. IтАЩll bet it was
just like that, all dips and swirls and jumping around. They played violins, too тАФ did
you know that?тАЭ she added, with a grin for Strad. тАЬI wonder what it sounded like.тАЭ

I think I know, Strad thought.

тАЬCareful, hon,тАЭ the Piano said warningly. He jerked his chin toward the other
side of the park. A man stood on a slight hill overlooking the common, staring down
at the players. He carried a hand-held recorder.

тАЬThey donтАЩt leave you alone at all, do they?тАЭ his wife muttered. тАЬAt least I
only have to worry about them on the job. Although I hear itтАЩs worse if youтАЩre a
history teacherтАжтАЬShe sighed and began to reel in the kite.

They walked back to the group together, but they found separate places to sit.
Strad put the kite away.

WELL, I for one will be extremely glad when this particular tour is over,тАЭ
Guarnerius announced, and put his drink down on StradтАЩs table. Strad wished he