SHORT

STORY #1
By Francesco Ragni
(2018)






One day, a clarinet woke up unwell. He felt like being in pieces, his mouth was
dry, and he had a headache.

His mind went to the night before. Loud music. A huge crowd. Drinks, perhaps
too many drinks. I will stay in bed all day he thought and eventually I will get
better.

Suddenly he heard a lovely music being played on the piano in the next room.
Slow, peaceful minor chords. It took him a few seconds to recognize the piano
accompaniment to the 2nd movement of the “Clarinet Sonatina” by Joseph
Horovitz.

That tune! He had played it so many times in the past, but never after the
accident. Why, he wondered? He loved that music so much. Or perhaps that was
the reason.

The piano music kept playing. He stood up. He put himself together. He wet his
reed. He was almost ready to play when he saw Clarissa. She took him in her
hands. They looked at each other for what seemed to be a very long time. Then
she smiled and kissed him, and they started to play.