CHAPTER SEVEN
Mark Conely
MARK ARRIVED AT Tony's house and called him, his stepfather came out and said with his usual rudeness:
— Tony doesn't live here anymore boy, go away and don't bother me anymore. Are you understanding me?
Mark apologized and left.
The way home that day was longer than it had been, he sat in the square where the three of them usually gathered and was randomly typing the scales, no matter what music was playing, loneliness had reached its terminal stage and in the most cruel that one can feel it.
Losing your most precious friends.
They had lived unique moments together, it was as if together they had saved each other's lives and existence.
UNLIKE JOSIE, Anthony left without saying goodbye, Mark knew something like this would happen, it wasn't like him to say goodbye, he just did what he felt like and didn't care what happened or what they said about him.
Anytime he shows up here with that cock— faced smile that only he has and tells how things are going...
— Now it's you and me — he said to his instrument — at least we won't have any more excuses not to study.
WITH THE LESSON Tony gave him to earn some money, Mark decided to play every day at the train station and raised an average of sixty dollars a day, which gave him the opportunity to buy a first-rate violin after a few months.
Mark arrived at the store and saw a Yamaha V5SC model.
— I would like to test this model.
The seller was a little apprehensive.
— Do you really know how to play, boy?
He gave a smile that made the salesman see that it wouldn't hurt to let him play a little and after a few notes he was delighted with the boy.
— This is a size one…
— Size 4/4, Spruce top, Maple back and side strips, Ebony spreader, chin plate and pegs and oil — based varnish finish.
The seller was amazed.
— I think someone is trying to steal my place.
Mark laughed, this was the first time he had laughed without being around Josie and Tony and it felt good to do so.
— What is his worth?
— Two thousand dollars.
— I will take it.
The seller put it in the luxury case as a gift to the boy.
— I hope this violin brings you good luck.
He brought Josie to me once, I hope he brings her to me again…
MARK ENTERED his room and looked at Pastorius, who next to his new violin looked like an elderly gentleman who had participated in several wars.
— Thank you for everything, partner, without you nothing would be possible.
Mark kept it lovingly in his wardrobe and knew that that moment was also a watershed moment for him, it had taken him a few months to realize that his friends would not be returning to his life so soon and it would be an affront to them not to be at the same level of excellence.
AS MUCH AS HE LOVED to play, every now and then some kids from school would show up and start making fun of him, when Anthony was there nobody did that, because he was always surrounded by beautiful girls and they were always content with the crumbs left by Tony, but now he was the crumb of what was left of the trio, and that somehow did him more harm than good.
Pastorius was all worn out, it had already been restored by Mark several times, even the fact of playing with him in the various places he went favored him, as people ended up tipping more, and also helped to keep the instrument new.
LIKE TONY and Josie, Mark participated in an audition for the city orchestra encouraged by his grandparents and passed with honors, which made it possible for him to become a professional in his dream, he didn't earn very well, however, he had the opportunity to study with professionals, the that was the difference, and another, now I no longer had to play the cardboard for meager change, because everyone saw in him a musician who had a lot of feeling in each note made on the instrument, but with those people he managed to develop correctly.
His mother participated in all the rehearsals, happy to see her son fulfilling his dreams, sometimes the conductor invited her to sing the solo of one or another piece because of the consideration she had for her grandparents who had retired from the stage, who with the Time turned out to be the real father he had, as his mother was abandoned by her husband a few days after Tony and Josie went their separate ways and the maestro began dating her not long after.
Margareth was the kind of beautiful and attractive woman who ended up being blinded by the old and worn out flowery clothes, but after she started working in a fashion store, her boss presented her with some clothes from the store, gave her some lessons in makeup and life reigned in that house again.
— You look very beautiful, mother.
Her mother smiled happily for the first time in years, it was a little— received compliment in her life.
— Thank you dear.
Mark was happy to see his mother rise from the ashes, really his father was doing her a lot of harm and as much as he loved him, he realized that there was life far from that hell they lived for eighteen long years, and his son's independence was being very good. for all.
MARK ONLY TALKED about music, only had the luxury of changing the subject when he read and wrote correspondence to Josie weekly and to Tony monthly, occasionally they would meet and have coffee, go to a club, but Mark knew something was wrong. had changed between them...
That something was Josie.
It was the only thing that truly connected them. Without her they had no league, it was strange for them, they were two completely different worlds, even more so after Tony successfully debuted his play, he was someone else, sort of transformed by success, he became arrogant, before he was egocentric, but until then, every artist ends up going through this phase, however, Tony went headfirst into the dark side of the Force.
But contrary to what everyone imagined, Mark also did well with the song on his debut, receiving many compliments from the most varied magazines and specialized newspapers, he sent a copy to Josie who was extremely happy with the news.
MARK STARTED a summer relationship with a flutist, but ended on the second date when he called her Josie and had no explanation to give knowing the girl's name was Claire. After that blunder, no girl wanted to go out with him lest she run the risk of being called by another name.
People thought Mark cared about their indiscretion, or even the lack of ethics in talking about him behind his back, but in fact, he didn't care what they said and thought, he just moved on, had the luxury of leaving. with the occasional person who went to his shows or clubs, but in the end he always called them Josie and it was over.
— Who's Josie? — Asked one of them interested in the story behind the blunder.
— A friend — he lied.
— She must have been more than a friend to call me that.
He nodded awkwardly.
— It's hard to explain.
— If the explanation is good, I emphasize having called me by another name, after all, you're a good kisser, you're cute, I like the way you touch. If you tell me a compelling story, I'll let you call me whatever you want.
Mark smiled.
Either she's crazy, or she's just in love, which is crazy.
He decided to tell the truth about everything they had lived together, the three of them and their endless adventures in the lands of impossible dreams.
That day Mark lost his virginity.