08/27/07
The Piano
27. Love and Marriage
By the time the cousin gets married to his beautiful girlfriend, the pianist is already a shining star at the Conservatory. He’s been identified as possessing exceptional talent and dedication. His is the first scholarship that will be offered that year.
The cousin’s fiancée, always in awe of his performances, asks him to play at the wedding. It’s something he doesn’t want to do - as a matter of fact, he doesn’t even want to go to the wedding, although he knows he must. The mother accuses him of being rude and antisocial, the father convinces him the family will be upset if he refuses to go. They may think that success has already gone to his head.
And when she asks him to play, he feels cornered: on one hand he doesn’t want to see her getting married, but on the other he wants her to be happy. And his cousin is a wonderful man, so he finally caves in.
She walks down the aisle to the sound of Wagner’s Bridal March, while his heart plays Mozart’s Requiem. But she’s beautiful, and he pours his soul on the Ave Maria as she and his cousin exchange the rings.
Later on, at the reception, the pianist remembers that there’s a pretty brown-eyed girl at the Conservatory. She seems very interested in him. He’ll call her tomorrow.