Marendy's Story

[Kazuki4356]

A New Kind of Music
Marendy's Story

Marendy finished playing and put down her lute, then looked eagerly to her father. Her family, the Lyjacks were famous musicians who had performed for royalty and commoners alike worldwide. It was expected for Lyjack children to play an instrument, and Marendy was no exception. She was learning to play the lute from her father and was now waiting for his comments on how she was progressing.

"Unacceptable," he said coldly. "You missed 3 notes. A Lyjack's playing must be flawless!"

Marendy's heart sank when she heard her father's criticism. "I... I'm sorry father... I'll do better next time," she replied.

"Yes, you will," he commanded. "Go up to your room and practice. The next time I hear you, I don't' want any mistakes." He got up and left the room.

As he left Marendy dropped her lute and broke down in tears. "I... I did my best," she sobbed.

After a minute Marendy's mother came into the room and found her daughter crying.

"What's wrong?" she asked.

"Why does daddy hate my music?" Marendy sobbed. "No matter what I do, no matter how hard I try, he always tells me it's no good."

Marendy's mother stroked her daughter's hair. "Now now, I'm sure he doesn't mean it that way," she said, trying to comfort Marendy. "That's his way to try to encourage you. I don't think he understands how he comes across to others." She wiped a tear from Marendy's cheek. "I'm sure he thinks your playing has improved a lot." She picked up Marendy's lute and handed it to her. "Why don't you play something for me? I'd love to hear it."

Marendy looked up at her mother and took the lute. She wiped her tears with her other hand and gave her mother a weak smile. "Ok I'll try," Marendy said. She brushed off her lute and began playing the same song she had played for her father. Once again she missed a few notes, and looked nervously at her mother.

"My, that was wonderful," Marendy's mother commented. "You've improved a lot lately.

If you keep trying your best I'm sure you'll be a great musician."

Marendy smiled broadly at her mother. "I'll do my best!" she said enthusiastically.

"I know you will," her mother replied. "Why don't you go practice some more?"

"Right!" Marendy said as she got up and walked out.


Later that night Marendy opened her window before going to bed. The night was quiet and she listened to the wind blowing through the trees. Before long she heard another sound, soft and in the distance. A faint chirping, slow but regular filled the night.

Marendy listened to the sound intently. It was like a cricket, but a lower pitch, with a slower beat. After listening for a while, Marendy picked up her lute and tried to match the rhythm. She kept this up for about an hour before heading to bed, her hand sore from all the playing she did that day.


The next day Marendy came down for breakfast, still tired from staying up late the night before. Whatever it was that was making that noise had stopped but the time she awoke. Marendy still had no idea what they were, but she intended to find out.

"Morning, sis," her brother Yannoa said as he walked into the kitchen. He was wearing a pink dress with white lace today, with a ribbon in his hair. "You look tired."

"Ah Yannoa," Marendy replied. "Good morning. You're wearing a dress again I see..."

"Of course," Yannoa said. "I may be a male, but it'd be a crime to deprive the world of such cuteness." He struck a girlish pose. "Don't ya agree?"

"Whatever..." Marendy commented dryly. "I can't believe Mom lets you get away with wearing that, let alone Dad."

Yannoa sat down at the table. "Mom recognizes how cute I am," he insisted. "As for Dad, he cares mainly about music. As long as I play well, he overlooks it."

"Yeah... Music first for him..." Marendy said. "Only the traditional style too..."

"I heard what he said to you yesterday," Yannoa said. "I thought your playing was fine."

"Thanks," Marendy replied. "I just..." Marendy cut her sentence short as her father walked in and sat down at the head of the table. He looked at his two kids sitting there. "A daughter who can't play and a son who's even girlier than the daughter... What's this family coming to?" he said coldly.

"I can too play!" Marendy blurted out.

"Now now, sis, calm down," Yannoa said.

"Hmph," her father replied. "You say you can play? Then prove it.

"I..." Marendy started to reply when her mother interrupted.

"That's enough," her mother scolded, walking into the room. "All of you, no fighting before breakfast."

"Yes Mom..." Marendy and Yannoa said in unison.

"Hmph," their father snorted. "He laid some blank music sheets on the table and began writing down notes, pausing on occasion, playing them out in his mind.

Marendy's mother sighed, and began to make breakfast.

"Oh yeah," Marendy said. "I heard a weird noise last night. I guess it was from some kind of animal, but I never heard anything like it before. It was almost like music.

It sounded really far off though."

"A weird noise?" Yannoa asked. "I don't remember hearing anything strange last night. I had my window closed though."

"It could have been nightchirpers," her mother said, thinking for a minute. "They're a type of monster related to crickets, but they're about the size of a person. Nightchirpers are pretty intelligent for monsters and the communicate through chirps. They come around every 10 years or so. They generally eat grass and leaves and aren't usually dangerous."

"Nightchirpers huh?" Marendy replied.

Marendy's mother finished making breakfast and brought it over to the table. She then sat down herself. "Ok, let's eat," she said.


After breakfast Marendy went to the library to look up information on nightchirpers. As she was walking down the street she heard someone call out to her.

"Marendy! Over here!" The person shouted from across the street.

Marendy turned to look, and saw her friends Karay and Quial waving to her. Marendy
waved back. "Hi, what are you two doing?" Marendy called back.

"We were on our way to the beach," Karay called out. "We're going to collect sea shells."

"Wanna come?" Quial asked.

"Sorry I can't," Marendy replied. "I'm heading to the library to look something up."

"Oh, ok then," Quial said. "Maybe some other time."

"See ya," Karay called out.

"Bye," Marendy replied. "See you later." She then continued on her way to the library.

When she got there, she went to the librarian. "Hi, would you happen to have any books on nightchirpers?" Marendy asked.

"Nightchirpers? Sure, they'd be in the monsters section on the top floor," the librarian replied. "Just go up the stairs and turn right," she said pointing.

"Thanks," Marendy said, as she followed the librarian's directions. She found a book and went to check it out.


As Marendy returned home with the book she borrowed, she found her father waiting for her.

"Where were you?" he asked coldly.

"I-I went to the library," Marendy replied.

"Music should be your first, your only priority!" he scolded. "Get your lute, I have something for you to play."

"Fine..." Marendy said. She went upstairs, put the book down on her bed, and got her lute, then went back down to her father.

"Here," he handed her some sheet music. "Play that."

Marendy took the sheets and looked over the notes. "This looks like a difficult piece," she said. "I don't recognize it either."

"I composed that this morning," her father replied. "You said you can play, so this shouldn't be a problem for you. Besides, you'll be the first one to ever play this song if you can manage it. You should feel honored."

Marendy sat down, put the sheet music on a stand, and readied her lute. "Ok here I go," she said nervously. Marendy struggled with the unfamiliar music, but was managing to play it. It was difficult, with intricate notes, but trying to match the nightchirper's calls the night before helped her with the unfamiliar combination of
notes now.

"Maybe there's hope for you after all," her father said once Marendy had finished playing. "I expect you to keep this standard up," he said as he got up and walked out.

Marendy sat there stunned that she hadn't been scolded. "Congratulations, sis" Yannoa said from the hall. "Looks like he finally accepted your playing."

"Thanks" Marendy replied. She sat there for a while longer, then went up to read the book on the nightchirpers.