A story about Tom

By Lei

There was a boy named Tom. He was born in a small town at the west in America. Tom was a cute boy with brown hairs, cherry lips and blue eyes. He had a happy family, a kind parent and a lovely sister. When Tom was 8 years old, his dream was to be a musician.

Someday an elder asked Tom why he wanted to be a musician. Then he replied: “Because I want to move everyone!” This cute answer made everyone laughing. They thought it only a daydream of a boy.

But Mother knew that Tom was serious. Tom ever looked at a street-entertainer whole an afternoon. That man was playing a guitar and singing. Tom was charmed. Though Mother thought that to be a musician is not bad. But their family was poor. Tom’s father was a miner; his sister was a worker although she’s only 15 years old. They would hope Tom graduate from some college with a high degree. Then work for a lot of money to bring them out of this hell. Ever if they couldn’t server for Tom to more education, his father would ask Tom to work, such as a miner.

When Tom 3 grades in elementary school, a musical teacher noticed that Tom liked the music. He asked Tom to his office after school, and told Tom he would like to teach him how to play piano. Tom was embarrassed but willing. Everyday Tom stayed at school after classes and practiced the piano. His teacher was a responsible person. He searched a lot of notations for Tom. And sought some performance chances. Tom had played on the stage in his hometown successfully some times. When he 14 years old, he wanted to study in an academy of music.

But Tom’s father disagreed Tom to study in music. He thought a musician was not useful for a person’s life. After Tom graduated from his junior high school, Tom’s father asked him to work. But Tom didn’t want to be a miner, he still wished move everyone by his music. So he left his home one night. He went back to his elementary school on the second day, seeking his musical teacher and asking for help.

The musical teacher phoned to Tom’s home and soothed Tom’s family. He looked at Tom and ordered Tom to consider his life. Tom still wanted to be a musician. Even though his father wouldn’t serve Tom to study in an academy of music. Tom’s teacher introduced Tom to his friend in New York. And Tom’s mother gave him some money to travel to the east. So Tom arrived a strange city when he is 16 years old.

The friend of Tom’s teacher called Mesha. She served Tom a room and introduced him to an academy of music. But the academy denied Tom. So Tom had to work first for his live. And Tom was seeking every chance to perform his music. But he didn’t success in the strange city.

When Tom was 17 years old. He met a girl who studied in violins in an academy of music. Tom was enchanted by the girl and played a song for her. But the girl said: “It’s too cold in your music. You have not put your image in it.”

Tom couldn’t understand, and was confused. He lost her after two years.

One day, Tom sat under a tree and recalled his life before. It was a mistake, he thought. Tom was 19 years old with a terrible life. He was a worker and almost lost his dream. Tom decided he had to get over it, he resigned his work and move to Chicago.

At there, Tom listened some performance of piano’s master. He found they always lost themselves in their music.

“Is it the imagination in music?” he asked himself.

But he still couldn’t tell what should he do when he was playing piano.

Again, he sat under a tree in a park and pondered.

Then he saw a bird flying through out a cloud, and dropped on the lake. The water waves moved to the shore, beat the grass and broke on it. Suddenly Tom knew it.

He remembered his girl friend, and the memory between them was back. Some were sad, some were happy, and Tom understood that if he wanted move his audience. He had to make them into his dream by music, frames up his sorrow and happiness. That’s the imagination.

He connected to Mesha, and asked for her help. Mesha arranged for Tom to meet a rich. Tom played a song for the rich and tried to put his imagination in. He was success. The rich man was moved. He promised to serve Tom the fee of instruments, school fees, and signed up the contest of piano player.

Tom had to win the contest for introduce himself. This gave him a heavy pressure. Tom practiced playing piano and put his imagination in music every day. He was into frenzy, and almost lost. Mesha was worried about Tom’s state of mind. But Tom didn’t consider he was sick.

One day, Tom was on his way home from a super market. He heard a child playing a violin and he stopped. He stood at there for a long time. Although the child already stopped playing violin, Tom seemed still hearing a sound of a violin. When Mesha and the rich man found him, Tom was faint on the pavement.

Doctor said Tom had a light schizophrenia. Rich considered that wasn’t a problem, neither Tom. Though Mesha disagreed, but the contest was so important that Tom insisted to present at it. He wanted to prove himself to his family, and his elementary musical teacher.

The date of the contest was coming. Tom appeared on the stage at least. He played the Polonaise Heroigue which written by Chopin. The audiences were silence while Tom playing, and applaud loudly. Tom won the award and was interviewed by reporters. Tom was happy, he finally proved himself by music. He was success.

But Tom had a headache that night. He left his party for celebration early and had a fever. Mesha called doctor and phoned to Tom’s family. She told them about Tom’s success and his sickness. Doctor said Tom would be healthy but he couldn’t play irritant music, which would affect Tom’s state of his mind worse.

The second day, newspapers reported Tom’s success in the contest. Tom went back to his hometown and met his family. His father was sick and his sister already married several years. And his elementary musical teacher was assigned to another school but had sent a letter to congratulate Tom.

Though Tom still had to walk for a long journal to be rich. But he already opened the door.