Sitting in my elementary school classroom, I couldn't help but let out a small, silent, yawn.
I was 10 years old at the time, meaning I was in the fifth grade.
I sat in the back row of the classroom while my teacher taught us how to multiply fractions with each other.
In the seat next to me sat Ashira Riveria, my best friend, but I called her Ash.
Ash was small, even smaller than me, with short jet black hair. She sat quietly and focused on what the teacher was saying.
Although, she seemed a bit bored as well.
I rested my face on my palm and began to doodle on my paper.
'This is no fun…'
The quiet classroom felt bleak, not even the sun shined inside.
It drained the energy from my mind, like water down a drain.
'Why do we have to learn this…it's so boring.'
Turning my head to Ash, I whispered to her.
"Do you wanna sneak out?"
Ash's eyebrow twitched.
"Again? We're gonna get caught," She replied.
"Nuh uh," I refuted.
Ash frowned but nodded in agreement.
The two of us got up from our seats and sneakily crawled out the classroom. From there, we made sure to exit the school without getting caught.
"So what do we do now?"
I shrugged.
"I dunno."
"Soriel!" Ash scowled.
Looking back, even if I didn't realize it, I was probably being selfish.
Involving Ash in my reckless impulse definitely wasn't very considerate.
But even though I could've done it alone, I really didn't want to.
Being left alone like that would be no fun at all.
"Well, I have an idea of where we can go," Ash said abruptly.
"Where?" I asked, now intrigued.
Ash flicked me on the head.
"Ow!" I exclaimed.
"That's what you get. Now follow me," She instructed as she walked away.
I frowned.
'Meanie.'
Then, I began to follow after her.
As we walked, we made sure to act normal, as if we weren't supposed to be in school.
I think we both did a good job, but Ash looked a little more nervous than I did.
Our tiny journey through the streets of New York didn't last long though. Eventually, we found ourselves at a playground nearby.
"Let's play here," Ash suggested.
I grinned.
"Sounds good," I replied.
"Race you to the top!" She challenged me.
With that, we ran to the biggest slide we saw.
For a while, we ran around, full of joy and glee.
It was really fun.
But, something stopped us in our tracks.
"Ashira?! Is that you?" A voice called out.
Turning my head, I saw that it was a young man with jet black hair just like Ash.
"Who is that, Ash?" I asked.
"My uncle…he teaches me piano," Ash whispered in response.
Ash's uncle had a very confused expression on his face.
"Get down, both of you," he ordered.
We listened and soon appeared to him.
"Aren't you two supposed to be at school?"
We explained what happened, causing Ash's uncle to sigh in disappointment.
"Well, whatever. Actually, you two, you'll stay with me until school ends. Come with me," he said.
Ash and I looked at each other and shrugged.
Then, we followed the man to his house.
Fortunately, it was close to the school.
It was a nice, two story home, similar to the one I lived in.
Entering inside, I was welcomed with paintings, lots of them.
Each and everyone had a specific design and purpose behind them. They were honestly beautiful.
"Sit down on the couch. I'll get you two a snack," Ash's uncle said before disappearing to the kitchen.
Soon, he came back with chips and water.
The two of us ate, taking advantage of his kindness. Once we were done, the man began to speak.
"Since we're here, let's do a few piano lessons," he suggested.
'The piano? I get to learn the piano?'
Ash's uncle brought us to a room, with a big piano inside.
It was a beautiful light brown without a single spec of dirt.
'Amazing!'
There, the man showed me the basics of piano while he gave specific exercises to Ash.
I later learned that he had been teaching Ash the piano for a year at that point.
Seeing him and Ash play was such an ethereal experience.
The man was skilled, precise in every way. His playing was like a samurai performing clear strikes.
And Ash was outstanding, even without having that much experience.
Seeing them play like that, seeing someone my own age play so lovingly, it inspired me.
It moved my very heart, maybe my spirit as well.
It made me think…
'I want to play like that too.'
**
"What were you thinking? Skipping school like that? Your education is too important," my grandfather reprimanded.
Once school had ended, Ash's uncle brought me to my house and explained everything that happened.
My grandfather was livid. I could almost feel his rage.
"No television, no games, no nothing. It's all banned for now. I can't believe you'd…"
Looking at my small figure, Grandpa's words seemed to soften mid sentence.
"Ah, sorry I just…I just need you to understand," Grandpa began, crouching down.
"Knowledge is important. It's a tool you can only get through learning. Out of everything in the world, knowledge is the only thing that doesn't discriminate. So, please, focus on school. For me," he explained.
I nodded.
"I'm sorry Grandpa," I apologized.
My grandfather had always been my protector, my advocate, even when protecting me against myself.
Knowing I had hurt him, my heart panged slightly.
Because to hurt him, was to betray the kindness he had been teaching me for so long.
"Grandpa," I called out.
"Yes?" he responded.
I wanted something.
Something important.
"Can I learn the piano?"
I wanted to learn how to make a song last forever.
One that would never abandon, never leave.
One that cared for you unlike my mother.
One that followed you unlike my father.
A song like my grandfather.
That way, I would never be alone.
And no one else would be either.