25 Where Joy Is 1 (1/2)
In the hall, the song was over.
With a round of applause and cheers, the girl who had been listening quietly turned to look at the old man sitting beside her.
”What do you think, Principal?”
”Not bad.” Maxwell seemed quite pleased.
”Only not bad?” The girl blinked her eyes in surprise.
”Your Highness is putting me in a very difficult position.” Maxwell shook his head and smiled, ”The music, good or bad, really depends on the performers and the audience's heart. From what I heard, his performance was very skillful. This is a kid who's worked very hard. He isn't here just because of his family.”
”Why is it just not bad then?”
”Probably because…his performance was missing an element of joy?”
”Joy?”
”Yes, Your Highness. Joy is the essence of music. Life is painful without joy, not to mention as is music,” Maxwell explained.
”Isn't music a serious matter?”
Maxwell laughed, ”Forgive me, but have you ever been to a pub?”
Mary thought for a moment, then shook her head regretfully, ”No.”
”That's a pity, you should go,” Maxwell said. ”I know a good pub. The decoration is okay, not many tables either, and the owner had a bad temper, but it had good wine.
”When he gets drunk, the owner would take the trichord, and jump on the stage to play. Once he gets to the exciting part, he'd sing and dance, even if he plays terribly. But nobody listens to him because all the guests are drunk by then. But even though they're drunk and asleep, it's still joyful to hear music like that.”
”So that's what joy means?” Mary seemed to have understood.
”Something like that,” said Maxwell. He started to laugh suddenly, ”Sorry, I'm lecturing again. It comes with my job.”
”Not at all. If you, the Principal, would be willing to teach me, I would not mind studying at your school.” The girl grinned.
”Oh please, I do not have the strength to take on another apprentice.” Maxwell smiled wryly. ”Now, Your Highness came so suddenly today, what exactly for? Just to make fun of this old man?”
”Well, it's a long story...” With that, the girl's expression became somewhat helpless. ”Yesterday, Uncle sent me a letter from the North Wall ad it's for you, Principal.”
”Your uncle?” Maxwell became serious, ”Is he back?”
”He just wrote a letter and expedited it to you. He even used the wind tunnel. There was a loud noise last night and this letter was just thrown onto the table. The guards had thought that there was an assassin.”
”To be honest, I am very curious what is so important for that psycho to write me a letter.”
Maxwell took the letter from the girl and opened the letter. He was silent for a long time.
After a long time, he looked up and smiled, ”Your Highness, your letter, came ...a bit too late.”
”Too late?” Mary was shocked and uneasy, ”Is it an urgent message?”
”No, no, it's nothing urgent. But for some people...it's probably more important than anything else.” Maxwell sighed and opened the letter, ”- this is a letter of recommendation, Your Highness.”
The girl took the letter. Her expression turned to confusion, probably because she could not understand her uncle's abstract logic and wording. There were only three short lines of writing, one for letterhead, one with the content, and one to end the letter. He had not even bothered with the date.
To Maxwell:
Soon there will be a white haired Eastern boy coming to you to take the exam, please accept.
- Johann Sebastian.
”I do not know how much money that bastard actually received to make him write this letter to me, but he has no concept of time. Your Highness, it is too late. That child might have been locked out already!”
The girl was silent for a moment. She lowered her head and pressed her lips together, ”This is my fault.”
”It is that old bastard's fault.” The Principal rubbed her hair, verging on being impolite, ”Do not be sad.”
With that, he pulled over the fat guy who was passing by.
Mr. Sidney was so excited. He felt like he was walking on clouds and he looked like a penguin happily flying. When he saw the serious Principal, he was suddenly brought back into reality, instantly ready for duty. He first respectfully bowed to the girl, and then his eyes locked onto the Principal, unsure what game the old man wanted to play.
”How can I help you Principal?”
”Yes, Mr. Sidney, I want to ask you about someone.” Maxwell put down the glass, and gestured the height of a teenager. ”Did you see a teenager while you were greeting the guests? He should have had no invitation.”
”Ah?” Sidney was surprised for a moment, but then a bad feeling slowly crept up on him.
”Well, he's an Easterner with white hair. Have you seen him?”
”…Was he with a dog?”