The Male Cellist

by Me!

    Once upon a little fairy tale time, three female cellist created the band known as Rasputina. They were quite famous and had the greatest music man as ever know. But one day, one of the cellist, Nana, fell sick. She had to be hospitalized for 3 months. Poor Melora needed a third cellist. Being quick and witty, she posted an ad for another cellist before her grand tour. And of course, she received a lot of replies! She had a try out competition at Fairs Hollow to find another suitable cellist while Nana tried to get better.
    "Hello! Welcome to the Rasputina try out festival. Food and drinks are not provided. We're low on budget but feel free to eat the wooden chairs in the stadium. They're not ours but I'm sure the owner wouldn't mind. They're high is calcium" Melora shook all the new comers hand and showed them the way to the stadium.
    When everyone was finally seated and had their instruments ready, Melora and Kris walked up to the front.
    "We are looking for a replacement cellist for our sick Nana before the Grand Tour. We are looking for different unique qualities in our cellist. Looks, flexibility, posture, smell, everything will be counted in our search. Let the search begin!"
    Walking along the isle, Melora and Kris examined countless cellist, but they did not appeal to them at all. 
    "No no, you're feet smell bad. You must have talented feet and toes to be in Rasputina or you can't add those special effects" Melora looked away and started to examine the next cellist.
    "but oh please! I'll wash my feet everyday and spray them down with bottles of perfume until the grand tour!"
    Kris shook her head and walked on. "Oh my, don't you look dazzling. You definitely have the Rasputinian look."
    "Why thank you" said the shy girl. She was a very big Rasputina fan and bought glorious corsets and bloomers over the years to mimic the band. She tuned her cello and began playing Jesu.
    "You're really good on the cello" said Melora. She kept her eyes on the little girl's fingers, producing the loveliest vibrato Melora as ever heard.
    "You seem like a good candidate for Rasputina. Can you site read?" Kris placed a binder of music on the stand. Eyeing the music carefully, the girl took a deep breathe and played again wondrous music. 
    "Well.. that's quite lovely darling, but I want you to play the music on the stand, not Jesu" 
    "But.. that's all I can play." Looking at each other, Melora and Kris nodded at each other with such disappointment. 
    "I'm sorry, our cellist must be good site readers so they can learn all the music in time." The two judges walked to the next cellist half hearted.
    "Good morning ladies. I'm Thomas Hune. I've been playing the cello for 13 years and I'm not too shabby." And of course, Thomas Hune was right. He COULD play the cello rather well.
    "Mmmm.. sounds wonderful. Can you site read?"
    "I most definitely can!" And soon enough, Thomas had his bow stringing against his cello playing The Brand New Key. "I can sing, too" and of course, he sang.
    "Oh my Melora! He's so.. perfect! I think I'm going to swoon!" Kris looked at Thomas with great big starry eyes while big animated hearts floated around her head.
    "Indeed. He is really good, but he's not a girl. Rasputina is an all ladies cello band, we never admitted in a male before." Kris was too busy ogling Thomas. 
    "Okay well, you pasted the playing test, how about taking off your shoes and showing us your foot work."
    "Sure, I'd love too." After kicking off his odorless shoes, Thomas showed Melora his feet. "I don't want to brag or anything, but my toes can do a lot"
    "Oh really? Like what?" Thomas pulled out a penny and placed them between his toes, moving the penny along his foot.
    "oh wow! He can play, site read, AND balance a penny on his foot!" Kris was by now, out of this world.
    "But that's not all I can do! I can play the piano with my hands or feet. I guess it's an extra hidden talent I grew up with."
    "Well, you certainly do meet the criteria we need in a cellist, but it so happens Rasputina is a female cello band."
    "Oh I know. I've been following Rasputina for quite some time, but I don't think letting me in this one time will be that big of an effect. I know you dress up in Victorian clothing and all, and it's not like I'm going to wear a corset, but I can put on a top hat and suit. I know you dislike disappointing your fans Melora."
    "Let him in! Let him in Melora!" 
    "I don't know, but I suppose your right. This one little time wouldn't hurt too much"
    And so you have it, the trio was restored for now and Thomas Hune was going to replace Nana until she got well. Rasputina didn't have much trouble at all admitting Thomas Hune in the band (I mean, he got along just fine with Jonathan and OF COURSE he got along with Kris.) He was after all, a fast learner and took his passion for music to the highest level he could. 

~Two Days before the Grand Tour~

    "Good morning Melora! Jonathan."
    "Why good morning Kris. Did you sleep well? We better start packing our cellos in and get moving just incase we got lost along the way to Philly."
    "Sounds good. Where's Thomas? Have you seen him Jonathan?"
    "No I haven't. Hey, do you have like a thing for him. You see to fly with he's around…" Kris blushed and ran into the bathroom.
    "I wonder where Thomas is. I haven't seen him since Friday's get together and I left him 5 messages on his voice mail. I need him to call in so we can get packing."
    Suddenly, Melora and Jonathan heard a loud shriek. Hollis came into the kitchen pointing at Kris. "Krissy is being loud mommy."
    Melora walked towards Kris with caution. 
    "Thomas! Thomas!!!! THOMAS!"
    "huh.. is that the only word you can say right now Kris?"
    "HE'S GONE!" Kris wailed. 
    "What?? He can't leave! We start the tour in two days. We've been practicing for two weeks already and Nana isn't out of the hospital yet!"
    Kris was sobbing, holding the letter in Melora's face:

Dear fellow Rasputinians,

It has been a great honor to be admitted into your cello society, but I have to be going. I wish I could have told you all in person, but due to time, I had to leave right away. I've developed feelings for Kris and because of them, my playing talent is shadowed by her beauty. I've gone to seek and clear my mind. I'm sorry I have disappointed you all.

Sincerely,
Thomas Hune

    Melora folded the letter and looked at Kris.
    "Kris? Kris? Where did she go? She was just here!" Hollis pulled on her mother's dress.
    "She went that way" Pointing at the door, Hollis looked at her mother with big innocent eyes.
    "I think she went to find Thomas" said Jonathan.
    "What will we do now?? Not only is Nana still in the hospital, making us temporarily without a third chair, but our replacement is gone and Kris has now just left! Rasputina is not a two person band!"
    Just two days before the grand tour and with only one cellist and a drummer, whatever will Melora do?

~*to be continued*~