The Music of Spring: The Fountain

As we matured, our music changed too. When we released the sixth disc, times were tense. Nete wanted a solo career, and the violinist we interviewed was reluctant to adopt a Muse’s name. The discussions, long, loud and bitter, left everyone on edge.
“I’ve had enough of this,” Melete announced. “We all need to mellow out, and I think I have just the thing to help.” She left the room, and returned lugging a box. She opened it, and I helped her lift the contents to the conference table.
“What is this thing, Melete?”

“It’s a meditation fountain, Aoede. Bring me a cup of water, and I’ll get it running.”

She poured the water I brought into a chamber in the base, and plugged in the pump motor. After a moment, water trickled down over the stony surface. We all relaxed at the sound, in spite of ourselves.

“I think,” Melete said, “that this is the one pun on ‘Spring’ we haven’t used.”

“Why don’t we take it one step farther?” I suggested. “Besides the stream on the cover, let’s record the sound of the fountain, and run it between each song on the disc.”
Sales on that one were spectacular, and we lived to regret it. Spring broke apart shortly after I heard the music of the sixth disc piped into the restrooms at O’Hare airport, in the middle of a concert tour.

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I checked my watch for the fifth time, repeated my deep breathing exercises, and ruined the effect when I giggled at the decorations visible from my position in the wings.
“Melete, the stage is cluttered with plastic frogs, and giant springs, and a fountain the size of a water wall, can you believe it!”
“The seats are packed, Aoede, I hope my lip holds out.”
Melete fingered her trumpet and gestured for the Ferguson triplets to hurry into position. We went into our backstage huddle.
I hummed an ‘A’ and spun my mallets as the vice-principle cued, “The reunion you’ve demanded, Aoede, and the Muses of Spring!”

The Music of Spring is a short story in nine parts. This is the last installment, however clicking on the link will take you to the first. All of the installments are also listed in chronological order here.

Read more of my published short stories here.

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