One last melody

Vincent was a musician who played the violin togheter with his best friend Dante. Dante also played the violin. They were both very talented and their music gave hope to the people who lived around. It was in a little village were poor was lefted on the streets while the rich locked themselves in and enjoyed their food and fires. Vincent didin't have any family and his older brother left for some reason. Vincent didin't have any money but he had managed to live through his music. He played for hours every day but not to earn money, He played for the poor and the sick. He made them feel the warmth they hadn't felt in a eternity of a lifetime. Almost every poor man, Women or child was sick because they didin't have enough clothes and they slept outside on the ground. It was cold in the late October but many people survived it when they were able to listen to Vincent and Dante. Dante lived in a small house he and his family found when they almost frooze to death the last winter. It was old but warmer than outside and shielding for the wind and rain. Terrible snowstorms from the last winter had killed many people who were out in the woods, hunting for food. The cold had killed most of the animals so now it weren't so easy to get food. Vincent was homeless to and he coul'd understand their feelings. Still he at least had someone that had a house and a family that took care of him. They had enough to eat and always shared with the others, They even lived whitout food for a whole week so they coul'd give it to all the poor on the street. The winter came fast and nobody had ever celebrated christmas. Vincent sighed and started playing the violin. -''Why is it that winter can't bring happiness to people?''

Dante looked surprised on his friend. -''What do you mean?''

-''It's always givin death to the villagers.''

Dante looked down in the ground with a sad smile on his face. -''It's the way it is, isn't it? We are here today and dying tomorrow.''

Vincent stopped playing. -''It's not it. Life isn't so good now but at least..'' Vincent didint get any further when Dante interrupted: -''Alice is sick. She has pneumonia. The doctor said he couldn't do anything for her now. She's to weak and just the new miracle medicine coul'd help her he said.'' He swallowed and continued. -''If she just hadn't fallen into the cold water, If I hadn't letted her to it..''

-''Don't blame yourself! It's not you're fault and even less we shoul'd be sad over something that's not going to happen.'' Vincent hurried.

-''How do you know that?'' Dante asked with tears in his eyes.

-''Because you won't let her die like that. Lets play a song for her.'' With those words he lifted up the violin and started playing. Dante did the same thing.
The beautiful melody gave a echo through the village and the sound seamed to get the poor up on their feet. A old women stopped by and listened and soon half the village people stood there. They played the day long and afterwards they went home to Dante´s house. Dante´s mother stood in the door and when she saw Dante she ran out and embraced him. Vincent smiled and then they went into Alice´s room. Alice coughed and she had a fever. She shaked and she was really pale. Alice gave Dante and Vincent a little smile when they came in.

-''Pp..please play a song for me.'' She stuttered and then she coughed again.
They did as she wished and played the evening through and then they sat by her bed until she fell asleep. Dante really loved his little sister thought he had never shown it before. Now he sat in the kitchen crying on Vincents arm while Vincent tried to get him in a better mood. Vincent knew that they soon woul'd have to face the truth and as soon as the winter came the corn and harvest woul'd freeze and then they didin't have much to eat. The shop in the village was very expensive since the food had reduced and they didin't have enough money to buy from town either.


Next day Vincent and Dante sat on the bridge fishing but it didin't go very well. Vincent managed to get one fish but it wasn't much to eat. Dante saw a paper in the river and tried to get it up. He climbed down on the stones. They were slippery and Dante almost fell of. He reached out his hand and was just about to get it when he slipped on the stones. Just before he fell into the water Vincent hooked him with the rod. -''Did you get the paper?'' he asked with a smile. Dante nodded and climbed up again.

-''Here! At least you who can read.'' Dante gave the paper to Vincent.
-''It says that their searching musicians in town. This coul'd be our chance Dan!''

-''How? Do you think they want some poor guys from the country there?''

Vincent smiled and clapped his dear friend on his head. -''Who said they need to know?''

-''Well, It's pretty obvious isn't it? I mean, look at our clothes.''

Vincent looked at their dirty clothes and sighed. Dante was right, with those clothes nobody woul'd believe them. Suddenly he got an idea, his brother had left some clothes for him before he disappeared. He used to work in town so he probably had some clothes. They hurried to the storage were the coffert was and changed clothes. They looked into the mirror and both smiled with proud.

-''That's so not like you Vincent.''Dante almost stared at Vincent. He looked like some rich young man in his brothers clothes. Vincent noticed that Dante looked on him with a really weird face.

-''Is something wrong?'' Vincent asked.

-''No, It suits you.''
Vincent almost started laughing when he saw Dantes look. Dante was nearly blushing and stared straight down in the floor.

-''Are you falling for me?'' Vincent teased him.

-''What are you saying, Idiot.'' Dante looked annoyed and turned all red.
Vincent laughed so he barely coul'd breath.

-''Stop laughing!'' Dante screamed. -''At least stop provoking me, That was just so scary.''

Vincent tried to be serious and took a deep breath.

-''Let's tell your mother first that we're going.''

-''Are you seriously dumb!? Do you think she will let us do something like that?''

-''hm, maybe not. But isn't it just mean to leave without telling?''

-''I write a letter and explain. Let's pack our things.''

They packed all the few things that Vincent had in his home and when they were done they sneaked into Dante´s home and took some needful stuff. It was quite a long way into town if you walked and it coul'd take a day or two to arrive when you followed the small road. It woul'd take even longer to the station. From there they woul'd sneak onboard the train to get to England. It was a big adventure for two youngsters that didin't have any money. But in England they woul'dn't be just themselves. They woul'd be one in the crowd. It coul'd take the time if they just coul'd get there. They needed the money to get the miracle medicine to Alice. Nothing was more important than her now. Dante knew he was going to lose her otherwise they didin't suceeded. Dante left the letter to his mother on his bed and the two of them walked down the road. They knew it was going to be a hard and long journey were they had to face the big and modern London. Dante was nervous and held hard in Vincents hand when they disappeared in the night.

Chapter One *End*

Rebecca E 1893