Sumario

20. LONGINGS

Laura was immensely happy. She had recovered the man she had fallen in love with, and now she remembered with great longing those favorable times of the first years of her marriage. Only the shadow of Nina's flight clouded her happiness. But she was convinced that her daughter would return and forgive her, especially after her reconciliation with her father, for whom she had genuine passion.

“Do you think Nina will forgive me?” She asked her ex-husband as she prepared to serve what she had cooked.

“I'm sure, I think I know Nina, and she's not spiteful.” Laura tried not to be affected and be the happy and fun woman of her youth again, but she could not get rid of her past memory. “Sometimes children give parents great moral lessons,” told her ex-husband. “This generation is not ours. They have better judgment because they have lived more intensely and have the experience of adults. Above all, because they are exposed to many temptations in a world that have exceeded its liberalism. Every day they have to reject the innumerable offers of filth, online and on the street. They have learned to say, No thanks. We did not know how to refuse, because everything was new and attractive. Do you think Nina has the talent and will be a great singer-songwriter?” He asked with a gesture that showed her doubts, “Isn't it a teenage fantasy?”

“I think our daughter has a talent and a strong will to succeed, but I am afraid she is too young to truly know what she wants to do with her life. Now is the guitar, tomorrow can be anything else where she can express your talent. Nina is an exceptional person, perhaps that is why we have had difficulties understanding each other.”

For a few moments, they were both silents. Laura couldn't get her daughter's disaffection out of her mind, to the point of running away from her. This was the first time in many years that her responsibility as a mother far outweighed her desire to enjoy her freedom. Since their divorce, Nina had not a mother, but rather a protector, who considered it sufficient to assure her of the cost of music classes, to dress and feed her, just as she would with a pet.

They dined on the large terrace, with the pale lighting coming from the lanterns on the restaurant terrace. They could hear the music coming from the piano-bar, but it should not be from live performances.

“It was a delicious dinner. I congratulate you, Laura! It had been a long time since I had dined in such a pleasant atmosphere, in such a good company, and tasting such a delicious dish. We should be able to live like this all year!”

“Thanks, I hadn't felt so good in many years either. When you are happy, even the fish collaborate to make these moments enjoyable. Happiness is only appreciated when you have been unhappy.”

“We have learned a hard lesson: never abandon a person when they have their low moments because even if you are free, regrets will make you unhappy. Happiness cannot come without sacrifices.”

“Do you say it for me? Yes, I have been free, but I have not been happy. What use is freedom if we are unhappy?”

“Laura, you can take my pajamas to your room, but before, I would like to take a walk on the beach, and if we can get it, I would like to invite you to the vanilla and chocolate ice cream that I had promised you.”

“Sounds like a brilliant idea to me. I collect all this, and we go for a walk.”

“Let me help you, you have already done enough, and I have to get back to the habit of clearing the table and washing the dishes ... As in the old days!”









The lullaby




Nina and Nano returned to the house and worked in the splendid room until nightfall on the two new songs' composition and arrangements. Nina preferred melodies of slow and melancholic rhythm. Nano favored melodies with more lively rhythm and arrangements for other instruments, such as the mandolin, the accordion, or the transverse flute. Nina preferred the violin arrangements. Finally, they agreed on a consensual middle ground.

Tired, but satisfied, they still sang the new compositions several times, until the hostess warned them that dinner was already served at the large table at the entrance.

“I have cooked them mici, it is our traditional peasant dish, and we are peasants. I guess they will eat meat because it stuffs them with lamb meat. If you don't like it, I can cook something else for you.”

“We will try it, we will surely like it!”

They settled at the enormous table outside, and the woman brought several cold beers.

“The mice must be accompanied with good shots of beer. It is not like Romanian, but the one here is also good. Enjoy them!”

When they finished dinner, Nina was slightly dizzy from the beer she had drunk in abundance, following the Romanian hostess's culinary advice.

“Nano, that I see double, now I have two friends, and I don't know which one to decide on!”

“You can decide on the friend or the lover. Which one do you prefer?”

“With both of them! She replied in an amused tone, “one for the day and the other for the night!”

“A wise choice!”

“Nano, are you seeing what I see?”

“And what do you see?”

“A beautiful starry sky! From here, you can see the stars. Do you realize? There are millions, and each of us has our star in the sky. How could I know which is mine?”

“Very simple: the one that shines the most!”

“Don't interrupt me, Nano, I think I already have the lullaby that I wanted to compose ... and dedicate it to my mother!”




Fall asleep, my girl,

ea, ea, an,

because if you fall asleep

The angels will sing.




“Fall asleep, my darling. 

ea, ea, an,

because if you fall asleep

The stars will dance.




Fall asleep, my princess. 

ea, ea., an,

because if you fall asleep

The fairies will laugh.




Fall asleep, my love. 

ea, ea., an,

because if you fall asleep

The moon will kiss you.




Fall asleep my star

ea, ea, an,

because if you fall asleep

your mother will watch over you.”




Nina couldn't continue her lullaby because something pressed against her chest to make her cry.

“Nina, are you crying?”

“Yes, I am crying, because I would have liked my mother to have rocked me with a lullaby-like this ...”

“Consider yourself happy for having written it, because other babies will be lucky that their mothers sing your lullaby to them.”

“Do you like it?”

“I love it!

“Now, we have to compose the music ...”

“But it should not have just an instrument background, because what sleeps the baby is the voice of her mother. You practically have to sing it a cappella, and with light guitar accompaniment; a few notes following the voice and nothing else.

“Yes, it is a magnificent idea. Can we compose it tonight? I don't want this magical moment to pass!”

“We will not sleep, but this lullaby will have her music this very night! Three songs on the first day! Nina, you are a monster!”


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