A violinist and his crown

Mrs. Harmon carefully watched Vasil's performance and paid attention to his every movement. She could sense his seriousness in every note he played, as well as his bandaged index finger.

This boy, contrary to her expectations, had been practicing diligently all week, and now he could play that piece smoothly, no matter how simple or elementary it was.

Three days ago, when she decided to teach him other variations of the same piece, she never imagined that, in such a short time, he would master all three of them.

The first time she saw him, this boy with messy hair, she thought he had taken up music out of boredom or curiosity, and she was sure he would soon tire of it, especially considering the type of instrument he had chosen.

So, when Vasil told her that he practiced two hours daily, she was really shocked.

Most students don't practice for more than half an hour.

So, she decided to put all her effort into teaching this boy.

But first, she had to correct the position of his fingers. The amount of practice with improper movements could cause more damage than just a wounded finger in the future.

***

At some point, Stefan no longer suffered as much as before. At first, he thought it was because his ears had gotten used to that harsh sound, but little by little, and with some attention, he realized that Vasil wasn't playing as terribly as before. Sometimes, sure, he lost control and would scorch Stefan's ears, but it wasn't as bad anymore.

Stefan had really gotten used to studying with the violin as background music to the point that he couldn't focus in the silence of the house anymore. For this reason, he didn't mind when Vasil sometimes practiced for more than two hours and kept him in the school.

Recently, he even began to enjoy the sound of the violin.

So, when the silence between two practice sessions lasted longer than usual, he lifted his head and looked at Vasil in frustration.

Vasil, now sitting on the floor with the violin on his lap, looked amusingly much shorter than the music stand. He was staring seriously and furrowing his brow at the book in his hands.

Stefan closed his notebook and asked, "What's going on this time?"

Vasil held his book towards him, as if trying to show him something obvious amid signs Stefan couldn't understand.

Stefan raised his eyebrow in confusion. Vasil sighed: "I just don't know why I can't play this piece properly."

Stefan replied: "It doesn't seem like you're playing out of tune!"

Vasil said in frustration: "But I'm not playing it right! It's not producing the sound it's supposed to!"

Stefan said: "Maybe you're not doing one part right."

Vasil asked: "Probably, but what am I doing wrong?"

Stefan shrugged: "I'm not the one who can answer that question."

Vasil put his hand under his chin and, with a lazy tone, said: "Ya znayu" (a Russian phrase meaning "I know").

Stefan frowned: "You know I don't understand what you're saying when you speak Russian?"

Vasil answered lazily: "Ya tozhe eto znayu!" (Russian for "I know that too!").

Stefan shot him a look. Before he could lift his notebook, Vasil said: "You better not do that! None of the stuff in this room is cheap, and if that notebook doesn't hit me, you'll be in trouble!"

Stefan smirked: "How are you so sure it won't hit you?"

Vasil grinned mischievously: "I've become an expert at dodging your hits!"

Stefan put his notebook aside. Arguing with him was useless. At least in this class. He would deal with him later.

Vasil looked at Stefan's green notebook: "Why do you always carry that notebook with you?"

Stefan replied: "Because you always want a beating!"

Vasil said seriously: "I mean it!"

Stefan said, "So do I."

"..."

"..."

"..."

Stefan continued: "I use this notebook to take notes."

Vasil looked at him blankly. Stefan explained: "When I read a lesson for the first time, I write down the important points in this notebook. That way, I don't have to read the whole book for every exam."

Vasil looked at him sympathetically: "That sounds like it takes a lot of time!"

Stefan nodded: "But it's very effective!"

Vasil said: "You must really love studying if you spend that much time on it!"

Stefan replied: "Honestly, no, I don't like it at all."

"Then why?"

"Are you asking me why I study so much?"

"Yes!"

"Because it's what we're supposed to do! Is there anything else we have to do?"

"Yes, there is."

"I mean something important."

"My answer is still the same!"

"Your opinion doesn't matter! You don't think like a normal person!"

"Are you really telling me you study just because you don't have anything else to do?"

Stefan turned his gaze away from him, scratching the back of his neck, and said: "Well, if I don't study and get bad grades, I'll be banned from playing video games. My dad says it doesn't matter how much I play, as long as my grades don't drop."

Vasil said: "I like this reason better. It's more real!"

Stefan replied: "You like it because it's more childish!"

"That's true."

"What about you? Do you still want to be a musician?"

Vasil rolled his eyes: "It's not like my opinion will change in a week."

He looked at the violin on his lap: "I want to be a composer."

"Then you're saying your opinion hasn't changed?"

Vasil replied with a frown: "That's still part of being a musician!"

"Alright, alright! But why a composer?"

Vasil paused: "... Just because."

Stefan knew this tone meant Vasil didn't want to talk about the real reason, at least not for now, so he didn't ask further.

Vasil put his hand under his chin and said: "I just don't know how to prove this to my mom!"

Stefan asked: "Do you really think your mom will accept that you want to be a composer?"

Vasil answered: "She said she doesn't mind."

"Really?"

"Yeah, really. She just set one condition: I have to prove to her within two years that I can succeed."

Stefan thought for a moment: "So you have two years to become professional?"

Vasil shook his head: "I think she meant I should be able to do something with it, like maybe win a music competition?"

Stefan thought for a moment: "Or get a scholarship to a school with a strong music program?"

Vasil looked at him with wide eyes: "You're a genius! How did you think of that?"

"Well..."

Stefan turned his gaze away: "It was written in the brochure of the high school I'm trying to get a scholarship for. It even has an orchestra group and special classes for students entering through music scholarships."

Vasil said: "I didn't know you wanted to leave here for high school!"

Stefan opened his mouth to say something like "nothing's settled yet," "I'm not even sure I'll manage," or even something more stupid like "because this isn't really what I want," but Vasil didn't even let him speak: "Even better! This way we can go there together! I know you'll make it, so I'll do my best too!"

Stefan stared at him for a moment. Then he smiled and said: "You know, to get into that school, you have to get good grades too?"

"What...?"

"And there's an entrance exam you have to pass with high marks, aside from your performance scores! You know, not everyone who gets in gets a scholarship!"

"Umm..."

"You'll have to study more from now on! I'll help you!"

"Can I change my mind now?"

"No, it's too late!"

"..."