The Haunted Symphony
by
Fiona Gehrke
Zylinia
(pronounced Zy-lin-eea) Lemon Ferretly is ten years old. She has
long, pitch black hair, as dark as the feathers of a raven. Her eyes
are a deep forest green, like the magical sheen of a glimmering
emerald. Zylinia loves animals, her favorites being skunks, condors
and wild boars. She is a well trained pianist and harpist. She goes
to Marshwillow Academy, who’s mascot is the state tree, the
Marshwillow, hence its name.
The
Marshwillow is not a tall tree. Like the willow tree, its branches
sag low over the ground. In spring and summer, beautiful navy blue
and indigo flowers shaped like chalices bloom. The Marshwillow’s
smooth tan colored bark is quite amazing because it will never catch
fire. However, during the winter, it looks like a completely
different tree. The branches look like age old stone with gnarled
ends reaching down like long twisted fingers, hauntingly spooky.
It
was Halloween and Zylinia entered the Halloween talent show at her
school. She had signed up without giving any thought to what she was
going to do even though she could play instruments. You see, she was
afraid to play by herself in front of her entire school! What if she
messed up? This thought was interrupted by a rough voice, “Hey,
weaseley!” Tylor and his gang of school pests had found her.
There were three of them, unfortunately.
“It’s
not weaseley, it’s Ferretly and they are two different animals,”
she replied through gritted teeth, “thank you very much!”
She
began to walk away, but she heard their clomping footsteps following.
So, she quickened her pace hoping for them to lose interest in
trailing her. She made her way to the library, thinking she could
lose them through the rows of shelves, hiding behind one. She must
have triggered something for the shelf opened to reveal a secret
passage. Zylinia quickly peeked around the corner and saw that they
were almost upon her. She was left with no choice but to duck into
the passage.
The
passageway was dim and was somehow lit by a strange light source that
she couldn’t see. Cobwebs lined the walls and ceilings, and she
could swear she saw rats! The walls looked like rough gray stones. A
damp and musty smell hit her nose, “Ugh, what is that smell?”
Then her hair began to wave in the air even though there was not any
wind! All of a sudden a strange and haunting tune rose from the
hallway before her. It sounded like a flute playing in an eerie G
minor. Hooo
laaa-dee daa….Hoooo deedee daa dee hoo…Hoo la dee daaa dee hooo
dee daaa….hooo deee daaa…
Rather than being frightened off, Zylinia continued towards the
sound, captivated.
She
saw a light at the end and raced towards it eager to see what it was.
Then she came upon an old ballroom, filled with majestic instruments
covered in dust! A glorious sight indeed! A Steinway grand piano,
glimmering ebony, sat in the middle, surrounded by violins, flutes
and cellos. A grandeur golden harp engraved with twisting vines
stood at the front right corner. She looked over to the left, and
saw a silver flute floating in midair; this was the source of the
melody she heard in the tunnel.
“What
is that?”, she gasped. As she took a closer look, a shimmering
figure was holding the flute to its lips! Then all of a sudden the
pianos keys started playing, the harps strings began to pluck and the
rest of the instruments sang along.
Plink
plonk dinkydonk twitter-inky plinky plonk…
Went the piano.
Sooooo
lee doo da hooo la dee doo da, laaa…
Sang the harp.
Hooo
heee daaa-deee-duum…laaa teee haaa hooo… The
flute continued its hollow tune.
Countless
ghosts began to manifest from the instruments and began to play.
Enthralled, she waited until they finished playing.
“Um,
hello?”
They
all stopped and looked at her, curiously. “That is the question we
should be asking you,” said the piano ghost.
“Hi,
huhuh, I’m Zylinia Lemon Ferretly. That was wonderful!! I’ve
never heard such music before!”
The
ghosts murmured amongst themselves, “Why thank you young miss,”
said the harp ghost nodding her head.
Three
of the ghosts approached her. “We are obliged to meet you,
Zylinia. My name is Dusky and I play the harp.”
“I
am Levias, please to meet you. I play the flute.”
“And
I play the black and white keys, young lady. I am Lilly.”
“Wow,
it’s so nice to meet you all! As much I would like to stay and
listen to your beautiful music, I must go back to school so I could
figure out what to do for the talent show. I play piano and harp but
I can’t seem to play in front of everyone.”
“You
have a talent show, hmm?” Dusky said, “well maybe we can help you
young miss.”
-👻-
The
Halloween talent show had started. It was Zylinia’s turn. “Good
evening everyone! My name is Zylinia Lemon Ferretly, and today I
will be performing the Haunted Symphony.” When the curtain opened,
gasps of surprise filled the room.
“Ohh
my! “
“Are
those real ghosts?”
“What
are those?”
How
is she doing that?!”
Tylor
and his gang of pests, seemed petrified but were unable to move when
the music began.
It
was a hauntingly beautiful performance, one never to be forgotten!!!
THE
END
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