An unusual record player

Well I did promise more of her and I have to say Azadeh is at the top of my popular writer list. She has a wonderful way of writing about life, both real and make believe, and making her characters come alive in a natural way. This work has a realistic feel to it as though Azadeh observed the action from a hidden vantage point. The story is well balanced and I love the 'just right' mix of Descriptive work and Dialogue. Unusual and definitely different, I like the concept and hope she might expand this story. It has a lot of potential.  

Title: A Melody ©

Written by: Azadeh Nafissi

Early morning and a cool breeze came inside through the balcony. Edward felt it on his face and his feet which were not fully covered by the sheet. Seven o’clock on a Sunday morning was usually too early for him to get up but he remembered why he had to be early on that day. It was his little son’s birthday and they were going to have lots of fun. After the breakup, waking up alone in the morning was dreadful for him but whenever his son was with him he never felt low and lonely.

Edward headed to the kitchen to make his son’s favorite breakfast- pancakes with whipped cream on the top. 

To Edward’s surprise, Todd was awake sitting in the living room and drawing some pictures of feathered creatures.

“Daddy, are we going to the auction house today? They have finally brought that old record player” Todd asked while pointing at an announcement in the newspaper.

Edward started to play a couple of favorite tunes on the piano while Todd was enjoying his pancake. Edward looked at the announcement again. He knew how tricky an auction could be but he didn’t want to disappoint his son on his birthday.

In half an hour they were ready to go.

………..

“Is he going to find the way? It’s been about one thousand year now.” The turntable anxiously trembled.

………..

Barbara loved this time of the year; passing the whole day with her dad at her parents’ old house and talking about his antiques and huge record collection. After retirement, Randy spent all his time collecting antiques and vinyl. It was his birthday soon and Barbara wanted to surprise him. As far as she remembered, he was in love with music, especially old vinyl. For more than a month, he had looked forlorn as he couldn’t find an antique record player. Apart from good music he believed antiques delivered souls. That was why he wasn’t convinced by a shopkeeper who suggested him to get one of those new ones. 

“If it’s not antique, it doesn’t carry a soul,” her father said.

She came across an auction house and their cheap opening bid, only $10. Randy never liked going to an auction house and placing a bid. But this time could be different, Barbara thought. Every once in a while museums wanted to get rid of some stuff, it was their chance to buy an antique with an affordable price.

She called Emily, her colleague and friend to see if she wanted to accompany her. They were working on a short film together about antiques.

Barbara was fixing her hair in the mirror when Emily honked her car horn outside.

“Doesn’t she come in for a cup of tea?” her dad asked.

“We’ll be back in the afternoon,” Barbara answered. 

…………

The auctioneer and his assistants were taking some paintings and some pieces of furniture to the hall when Edward and Todd entered the building. They were early. Todd ran towards the hall but Edward stopped him.

“We have to wait here, don’t go inside now,” Edward said

Todd glanced at the record player through the open door.

“It’s there, dad” Todd said cheerfully.

The auctioneer was carefully polishing the record player before putting it on a large table, right in the middle.

As a crowd gathered outside, the auctioneer pointed at his assistant to let everyone in.  Edward took a seat in the corner of the room to become invisible but people recognized him. To his admirers, he was a shy gentleman. Some other celebrities also arrived. No one was happier than the auctioneer to see some celebrities and artists there.

Emily finally found a parking spot. As soon as they got off the car a tall lady in a formal dress passed.

“I told you not to put on jeans,” Barbara said to Emily

The assistants were about to close the doors when they entered the hall. They were looking around to find a spare chair when Barbara’s eyes met Edward’s. He was patiently signing and taking pictures with his fans. People were chitchatting while looking at Edward and other celebrities.

“Edward, the rock star, is also here. I didn’t know he is interested in auctions!” Barbara whispered in Emily’s ear

Edward looked busy talking to a supercilious girl with unnaturally highlighted hair. Her banality was unexciting. 

“I’ve heard he bites…..”Emily said jokingly.  

The auctioneer had to grab a microphone to ask participants’ attention. The program of the day was distributed.

Todd tired of the crowd around his dad, slowly made his way to the front row, as close as possible to the record player. Barbara captivated by the allure of the turntable sat next to him without knowing who he was.

“Are there fairies inside the record player?” Todd asked Barbara

She didn’t know what to say.

“If it’s the real one, there are. I read it in a book,” Todd said

Barbara just smiled at him.

After the paintings, the record player was brought.

“Only $10, anyone?” bawled the auctioneer.

To Barbara’s surprise, Edward was the first person who raised his hand: $20. Todd got excited. 

Barbara took a deep breath and said“$25” while looking at Edward.

$30, $ 50, $80,… $20000 it was going higher and higher. Barbara’s head was spinning.

A mysterious old man from the back row shouted $200000. People turned their head to see his face. Graham had tracked it for more than a thousand year and was there to go home with it. He put down his cane and stood up to be seen by the auctioneer.

Todd pulled his dad’s sleeve to continue.

As the participants hesitated, the auctioneer unwillingly announced an interval.

……….

“My darling is here, come closer.” The turntable shook

………

Todd drifted around the record player, touching its wooden bottom. He positioned himself where he could read a small engraving at the back of the turntable.

Later, when Edward was back, he tried to tell him.

“You must see it yourself,” Todd whispered

“Not now Todd,” Edward said

The auctioneer repeated two hundred thousand dollars several times.

Barbara glanced at Todd who looked very upset, his dad was ignoring him. She thought whether to continue or not. Barbara and Emily exchanged a look.

“I think we should get your dad something else,” Emily said

Barbara always admired her friend’s sense of humor. 

The assistant announced ‘sold’. Barbara and Emily decided to leave.

Edward thought what a terrible idea to come to such a place on Todd’s birthday. He blamed himself.

Barbara saw Todd outside, standing alone and crying quietly.

“Hey, do you want an ice cream?” Barbara asked

Todd hesitated but then nodded.

“It supposed to be my birthday present,” Todd told Barbara

Pure coincidence, Barbara thought.

Edward went out to tell Todd that he had asked if they could look at it.

“You can show it to me,” Edward told Todd

Barbara came back with the ice creams. Todd picked one and jumped up and down cheerfully.

“Thank you, you can also come with us and look at the record player if you want to,” Edward Told Barbara

……

Graham was finally alone in the room with his beloved record player. He uttered some words in Latin but nothing happened.

“Come on my love, I've waited so long,” Graham said desperately

……….

“The password is not enough my love, you should have known it so far” the turntable rattled. ……….

The auctioneer ushered them into the room where the record player were kept.

Graham didn't want any intruder but agreed to let them look at it.

As soon as the auctioneer left, Edward and Todd looked at the engraving; a motto in Latin, saying ‘True Hearts, Honest Souls’

The turntable started whirling. Graham fell down on the ground and his head transformed to the head of a wild tiger.

Edward’s hand glued to the turntable. Once Barbara joined him, one of the loveliest melodies ever heard in the world was played. 

“I knew it’s real, dad” Todd said before falling asleep

………

Barbara and Edward found themselves in a castle where a young princess covered with feathers was listening to the same melody through a record player.

“Oh my love, you are here,” the young princess said

As the princess embraced and kissed Graham, his transformation was complete.

A creature half tiger, half horse stood next to them.

“This melody is played every thousand year when true souls touch it and the gate to the parallel world is opened,” Graham said in a husky voice

In less than a second Barbara and Edward got back to the room in the auction house, not sure what exactly happened to them. Emily and Todd were still asleep.

To the auctioneer’s surprise, there was no sign of Graham.

“I think he left,” Barbara said

 The last bid before Graham’s was Edward’s, and he was officially its new owner.

………..

Barbara still could hear that magical melody. Her dad was so pleased to have some guests on his birthday and a record player.

After eating a delicious cake, Randy brought his collections for Todd to choose.

“Happy Birthday, now choose a record from my collection,” Randy told Todd

He was only 9 years old but such a good companion for his dad, Barbara thought.

Edward and Todd were about to leave after dinner when Barbara stopped them.

“Are you sure you don’t want to take the record player home?” Barbara asked

“You can bring it when you visit us next time,” Edward said smilingly

Todd put the record in his backpack and waved at Barbara.

(Copyright Azadeh Nafissi 2014)

All fiction submissions are edited by the writer and not re edited in any way before they are posted. What you see is 100% writers work.