The following story is a work of fiction. If you like bad B movies, this is the next best thing. I'll return with my customary non-fiction blog posts as soon as this beast has been slain. This is Part 1 and you'll have to suffer through 6 parts in total (or skip these posts if they aren't your thing).
It was a dark and stormy night, so I had forgotten there was no moon. When I arrived at the concert, I had been single for almost a year. Walking into the church alone, I had no warning that it would become the craziest night of my life. Ultimately, it was a night that would lead me to suspend my vows against pre-marital relations, setting me on a new course and changing the very trajectory of my life from horizontal to vertical.
Apart from that, everyone in the audience was attacked by fat, striped, flying bloodsucking elephant bees, and it was my duty to save humanity from their vampirish proclivities.
My life was busy and I had met few girls who could understand my deepening interest in classical music. Now there I was, walking into the atrium of a church, handing over my single ticket for a program from a lady usher who must be pushing 90. I scanned the crowd for Uncle Julius, a fellow classical music fan who had invited me. He was deep in conversation with some overdressed guests, but he gave me a wave, the pivoting kind that the Queen of England uses. Hoping the music would be worth spending an evening here, I strolled through the pews and took a seat far on one side of the third row.
Unpadded pews. If Christ suffered for our sins, then the least a church ought to be able to do was to place some cushions on those hard wood benches so the congregation needn’t suffer so mightily through all of its celebrations and lamentations. Little did I know that those same wooden pews would soon be ruined by bloodsucking elephant bees that poked holes in them with their long proboscises, sticking those hypodermic noses right into the wood like darts as they slept upside down.
Looking around, I noticed a lot of families with children at this show. I picked up the photocopied program and began to read about the piano trio that was to perform selections from Beethoven along with Tchaikovsky’s Piano Trio in A, Opus 50. The program finally finished with a couple of jazzy pieces I didn’t recognize.
Ah, and I saw that there was a piano solo instead of an intermission - interesting. Liszt and his Mephisto Waltz. This pianist wasn’t fooling around; that’s not an easy solo. But it’s one way to give the other players a break. And Tchaikovsky’s Piano Trio was a wonderful piece for the piano, violin, and cello, a worthy anchor for this concert. Chamber music will never be my favorite, but perhaps it was worth coming this evening.
While I awaited the concert, I read the bios of the three performers. They had met in university and had been playing together for less than two years. The violinist had won several major awards as a soloist, including the Aloysius K. Throckmorton IX Young Performer’s Coif- that’s a big one. I blinked twice and had to re-read the pianist’s bio when it stated that she was last year’s runner-up for Miss Nicaragua. Somewhat unusual, but those beauty contestants always need a talent to showcase, and being a concert musician should score some points. The cellist’s picture showed that he was older. According to the program, he was a graduate student in music at the university, having burnt out in some another career to return to his first love of music. Passion above paycheck.
My uncle Julius was program director at the church. He rose first to welcome the audience and introduce the performers. They seemed an interesting mix, but showed easy chemistry during the first Beethoven warm-up piece. However, the violinist disappointed me slightly. She seemed increasingly detached and perhaps more accustomed to solo play where she could hear herself. I first gravitated towards watching the cellist, as he was closest to me, and having the most fun. This guy was dynamic and played with charisma; the audience really enjoyed his flair.
The strangest thing was the violinist’s back. She wore a dress with open shoulders and there was something wrong with her skin. (That means there was something wrong, because I'm not normally judgmental about anyone's appearance.) At first, I thought the large red-brown spots were part of her dress, but no.
My next thought was a series of plain tattoos, but no again. She had these weird spots on her skin. If I had to describe them, I’d say that it looked like she’d had suction cups pulling at her skin on those places. I could see at least five of them in two rows. The color made them look like birthmarks. Is it possible to have five slightly irregular dots on one’s back as a really unusual birthmark? I could not figure out what else they might be.
As for the pianist, of course I noticed her when the trio walked in. Every straight man in the audience was doing the same because she was simply gorgeous. From my seat, I could not watch her face while she played. She was turned away from me. But I could see her long black hair and watch her hands. Once the cellist’s opening part was done and they got further into the Tchaikovsky piece, I became transfixed at the way this Nicaraguan pianist moved her slim fingers from side to side: smooth and methodical with just the proper element of risk. By the end of the first movement, I felt there was something special in the tenderness she brought out in this piece, even through the gloomy pezzo elegiaco.
For the next 30 minutes, I only took my eyes off the piano playing to gaze upward at the tall pipe organ (and occasionally at the goofy cellist, who was a showman, even in a supporting role). Above the back of the stage area, the organ’s pipes were built into the wall as the vertical portion of a huge cross, the rest of which was formed of a similar metal.
It seemed somehow ironic that there was a marvelous instrument built into this church and yet we were here listening to a much smaller piano that had been wheeled in for the event along with these string instruments. Speaking of strings, they had dangled a microphone from the high ceiling, which hung by a wire right above the performers. I wondered, could a good piano player play the church organ, or is it a very different skill set?
But I had no time to ponder that notion, since the piece concluded and we clapped. The musicians bowed and then exited the stage, walking just in front of me to the stage/clergy door under the organ. As they went by, I saw the smiles on all three of their faces. The pianist’s nose was longer than I had realized, but as the trio members passed by me, I thought she was no less attractive than she had appeared from a distance. Looks aside, I sure had enjoyed the way she played that piece. All three of these musicians clearly enjoyed performing.
A few moments later, the pianist came out to do her solo. If anyone had doubted her skill, she proved quickly that she could play Liszt by embracing the wildness, not resisting it. Mephisto is a multi-faceted piece, serving up a whole Faustian set of dual elements in just 10 minutes, an interesting choice for an entr’acte. The audience was completely focused on the piano playing, as was I.
If I had been more attuned to what was going on in the room, I would have noticed something really strange. The two other trio players were not backstage; they had moved behind the audience and into the small audiovisual control room near the entrance doors. The technician who had been in there was gone and in his place sat the violinist and cellist. They made no move to get up. In fact, as the pianist moved into the latter part of her piece, the bass tones seemed heavier, like someone was messing with the AV controls.
And then the upper windows opened. Above and behind the audience, the warm, humid evening air drifted in. There was a smell of peanut butter & honey, followed closely by a hissing sound, and then someone screamed.
To the pianist’s credit, she tried to finish the Liszt piece without hurrying the ending. But as all hell broke loose in that room, she had to stop instead. The last time I saw her, she was dashing for safety like half of the audience. There were exits to the rear and the sides. The other half of the people in that room stood frozen like expendable extras in a bad movie, transfixed by the sight of the predatory Heffalump bees that were flying in through the two open windows above.
This was Part 1 of 6 of a fictional story. Please tune in again soon for the next riveting installment.
The rights to this work are held by the author, who created the montage image with public domain and/or properly licensed stock images. The Heffalump bee image was adapted from an old Winnie the Pooh video, the rights to which are held by Disney. If you're not familiar with the Dark and Stormy Night branch of fine literature (let me spread that sarcasm a little thicker), please consult this page: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/It_was_a_dark_and_stormy_night . This is, of course, my own take on it and not strictly Purple Prose.
Wow your descriptive ability of music in this story is too dazzling, I love the way you gave your feedback on all the performances at the event lol, seems quite that the lady with the birth mark may have a rare skin disorder really from my opinion though.
The last piece of the prose plot ushered in the coming of the bees and the attack, it seems many will be stung and their sufferings will be funny hahahaha.
Beautifully written bring the part 2 on @donkeypong
The bees will take over unless they can be stopped.
Eagerly waiting for the rest 5 parts. Wow your descriptive ability of music in this story is too dazzling, I love the way you gave your feedback on all the performances at the event lol, seems quite that the lady with the birth mark may have a rare skin disorder really from my opinion though.
The first two line of the heading is awesome.
“ if you like bad b movies then the second best thing” this line will hold all the readers here.
The last piece of the prose plot ushered in the coming of the bees and the attack, it seems many will be stung and their sufferings will be funny hahahaha.
WOW @donkeypong really great fiction story .I think the issue was that the bees are raised in controlled hives and may already have a negative opinion of people. Also If 1 bee decided to sting you the others would smell the pheromones given off and start stinging as well because that's what they do instinctively.
Elephant bees. They're even nastier.
@donkeypong, Actually, you've written a very interesting fiction. I will protect myself on my desktop folder to read it over and over again. Writing a fiction is not easy at all, it requires good patience and a mental imagination. You can see that this combination is very well used. It's very unbelievable that a night club, a church, and a piano are playing. This has helped me to bring up the most playful piano playing in my heart. It's really a nice concert. Some of the talents of different talents have become my favorite. Waiting to see another episode.
It's OK; here's your vote. Please don't read it over and over again. Once is enough. :)
I think you overindulged on that mad honey :P
I like bad B grade movies. Here I found B grade loke story. that's really enjoyable, especially for adults. thanks for your creativity.
It will get worse, I promise.
Hello friend how are you, very good writing really caught me, while I'm reading I'm imagining your story, the word cellist is new to me, the end of this first part made me think that you will feel at that moment that you are about to be attacked by bees, wow surely must feel afraid, I wait for the second part to know what happens.
This Heffalump bee is a combination of bee and elephant? wow that before an attack of these is much more exasperating
Regards!
Think of flying, striped beach balls with vicious trunk/stingers and you'll understand why the Heffabees must be eliminated.
Wow this is an interesting story,
I cant wait to read the next episode...
Thanks for sharing this wonderful story...
Nice start! Looking forward for part 2.
I'm intrigued, are those marks from the Chinese cupping therapy? There's always a mystery surrounding them.
Good call. You'll have to read on and find out.
Whoever that is playing the piano is gorgeous!
OH man, your fiction story reminds me my real story, we were living in a living 10 years back, when i was of 12 or 13 years old, we had a shop and near the shop, there was a tree and on the tree, there was bee house. We friend, hit the stone on their house and run away, Thank God we saved by running, but there was a man coming, he got attached, But luckily the attack was not that strong, and he also runs away, but still he got caught.
Great story. Its remind me many of things repeeated in my mind. You wer single on concert because you make your life busy. People are with children at this show. This make you more sad about you sadness. This is great story and your way of writing is intresting hope we will see other parts of this story soon. This has helped me to bring up the most playful piano playing in my heart. It's really a nice concert.
Bee are awesome and eating honey is more natural than white sugar ;) Nice story @donkeypong i can't wait Attack of the Heffalump Bees, Part 2.
Really amazing fiction story @donkeypong
You do know that like the massive sauropod dinosaurs like brachiosaurus, diplodocus, apatosaurus and the massive argentinosaurus, heffelumps are really just big and gentle herbivores also known as plant eaters and aggressive only when provoked or when they notice danger or ferocious meat eating carnivorous predators including terror birds, crocs, birds of prey, big cats, pack of dogs or dromaeosaurs and even the mighty giant theropods like Giganotosaurus, Allosaurus, Carcharodontosaurus, Spinosaurus, Torvosaurus, Mapusaurus, Saurophaganax, and the mighty Tyrannosaurus Rex that want to eat their young. ;)
You are a great writer, the plot was awesome and I believe this pianist us truly gorgeous because you spent most of the time admiring her.
The suspense at the end is also awesome, generally this is a great piece.
I am waiting for the remaining parts
How does we survive this bees?! When I see a fly I scream for dear life! I like your fiction story And i wait for your next part. And @donkeypong continue written because you are really creative writer. Thanks for share
You are a real star in the creation of fiction. I could not think of your creativity and your writing skills. The talent you have shown to create the knowledge of the masses is truly unique. Although this creation is a fiction story in the mind, it's really a lifelong experience. Thank you very much for creating fantastic stories.
Writing a fiction is not easy at all, it requires good patience and a mental imagination. You can see that this combination is very well used. It's very unbelievable that a night club, a church, and a piano are playing. The first two line of the heading is awesome.
“ if you like bad b movies then the second best thing” this line will hold all the readers here. I wait for the second part to know what happens.
Wow.... Really lovely post..ma dear lovely friend...i love your all post....💞💞💞
i can't believe it's a fiction story, because when i read it, it look to me real and Every word sound to me real that happens on you, You live 1 year with out girl friend, i never had girl friend. I am forever single :P
Elephant bees :P I have heard of honey bees, but never heard of Elephant bee, it's something new to me.
Really high quality fiction....The more i read your content the more i fall in love with your creation....Want more from you......Thanks for sharing.
Nice story
Good start
I really liked your sense of humour in the writing esp the cushion on the benches. Lol
Eagerly waiting for the next part
Please tell me to stop wowing to myself bedside I know u can't hear me....
I can't wait for the rest of the story this really caught my interest
After a long time i find out you @donkeypong, how are you dear,,
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OMG you are a born creative writer. I like the way you create fiction & showed your talent & knowledge.It took me into real. Thank you very much and keep posting & writing such fantastic stories. .Thumbs up for you
Thank you @donkeypong this very good fiction. I like it.
Your description for their play is quite clear enough to captivate the readers @donkeypong
I was wondering about those marks on the pianist though, could be a birthmark.
I have been looking forward to this piece. As soon as I read "It was a dark and stormy night" I let out a chuckle and knew I should continue reading with a smirk on my face.
This was a great bite-sized chunk to start with. I am a fan of old radio dramas and presenting this in installments give that same type of "tune in next time" feel.
I will be tuning in for sure.
Congratulations @donkeypong!
Your post was mentioned in the Steemit Hit Parade in the following category:
It was a dark and stormy night. I love me a lil' thickly spread sarcasm :)
Killer (?) heffalump bees. Who knew? :) And I love that there was the smell of peanut butter and honey in the humid air haha
Looking forward to the rest of this tale!
Easy and melodious narration. You talk about music, and the text itself seems to me musical. The author is very good at his skills. I especially liked the description of organ music. In fact, the sound of the organ is something fantastic, unearthly. I heard on the once in a lifetime, but the impression stayed with me until now.
Always scared of the bees lol. I take a guess, the love story is between the guy and the violinist. First time read your fiction, seems interesting, looking forward to read the next 5.