Tuesday, April 28, 2015

The Xylophone

It's Day 24 of  the Blogging from A to Z  April 2015 Challenge

To hear me read it to you just click the little green arrow




“Going.... going......”  Aubrey thumped his antique gavel on the lectern. “Gone!  Sold to the lady in the red dress”

With the last lot of the day successfully and profitably sold it was time to go home and prepare for tonight’s performance by the Sunnybeach-by-Sea Chamber Orchestra.

*

The concert so far had been a triumph. All that remained was the final piece featuring a guest soloist. The audience burst into applause as Aubrey staggered on carrying a xylophone in his arms, and clutching a pair of hammers in his teeth. He set his instrument down centre stage. He turned to the conductor who turned to the orchestra and raised his baton to start the piece.

It has to be said that the xylophone is not the most melodic of instruments, but Aubrey did a pretty good job of beating out a tune culminating in a polite if not enthusiastic reaction from the crowd. But the best was yet to come. Aubrey was to go solo!

He placed the hammers on the floor and produced from his pocket his antique gavel. Quite what happened I can’t explain. The music he produced was angelic! It ended in stunned silence from the audience followed by a standing ovation led by a lady in a red dress. Aubrey, bowed bowed and bowed again.

He started going off stage then he stopped and waved. He started going again then stopped and bowed. He banged his gavel on the side of the stage and he was gone!


Picture: Ted Stevens plays Xylophone by Glowsheep at deviantART


Tomorrow a story of mental torment called simply You






21 comments:

  1. Who knew a gavel could be so versatile? Perhaps he could use it in a juggling act next!

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  2. Gone where?? Intriguing!

    Annalisa, writing A-Z vignettes, at Wake Up, Eat, Write, Sleep

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    1. No mystery intended! I think he went home for a cup of tea!

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  3. heard your story, two times, you narrated it well, but missed the link or is the gap intentional

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    1. I think the gap is intentional! I'll go listen again!

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  4. How delightful to hear your voice! Thank you for sharing this. I wrote about xeriscaping today over on http://darlamsands.blogspot.com/ and am number 1179 on the A to Z challenge list today as folks unfortunately continue dropping off. Happy writing!

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    1. At least we are still here! Glad you enjoyed it Darla.

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  5. Interesting little piece. Given his first appearance and playing it makes you wonder about that gavel. :-)

    Sia McKye Over Coffee

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    1. It's got magic powers! Thanks for dropping by again.

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  6. What an intriguing story! I really enjoyed it! Your story for tomorrow sounds awesome, I'll definitely be back for that!

    Rachel Pattinson
    Rachel's Ramblings - Full of writing, tea and cake

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  7. Bravo! I like short yet entertaining stories like this. Looking forward to read Y and Z. Wow, it's almost done! How time flies. :)

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    1. As they say, times flies when you're having fun!

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  8. He was going... going... gone! Whimsical and cute.

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  9. Interesting. Reminded me of the top Xylophone I had when I was about 5-6 years old. I wasn't much good at it though. I think my parents threw it away after they got fed up with the noise my sister and I managed to create!

    A to Z Participant
    miss_teerious

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  10. They don't make a very nice sound especially those little kid's ones!

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  11. Makes me think of Patrick Moore and his wonderful Xylophone playing.

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  12. I really loved your narration ... it was a pleasure listening to you :) Maybe he wanted to be a Magician too :)

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  13. This reminded me of my xylophone I had as a kid!
    Interesting story... liked the way you connected the two scenarios, Keith :)

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