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Graduation Day started out bright and warm, the perfect way to bid my high school life a fond farewell. Well, it wasn't all fond, but I guess it could have been worse.
Yet a dark cloud hung over me. Excitement over my new abilities was tempered by the fact that I might never be able to share them with my older brother, if something terrible had indeed befallen him. My parents had contacted the police last night. They explained that calling in law enforcement was a near-last-ditch effort, as they preferred to work things out on their own whenever possible. I guess going back and changing history to help Daniel wasn't an option quite yet.
In spite of our worries, we all determined to make the best of my day. And as I marched out with my class in a line clad in blues and golds, I scanned the bleachers to see where everyone was situated. Immediately, Matthew raised a large sign that read, “CONGRATS, CORINNE”. The rest of my family surrounded him, including Uncle Jonas and both sets of grandparents.
But there was one glaring omission – Daniel.
My mother had been exceedingly anxious about his absence all morning. She broke a glass, which she said was a bad sign. Patricia Greene was hardly the superstitious type, but I noticed when she was particularly stressed, she dropped back on some of the old world beliefs she'd heard from her parents and grandparents. When I observed her from afar, I could still make out the pained expression on her face. She was tightly clasping my father's hand, saying something that made him flinch.
I didn’t see Allen, and I wondered if he'd show up after our fish disaster. I really wasn't ready to forgive him. I understood he was trying to share an experience with me, and it wasn't his fault that a hungry bird had chanced upon us. But his planning had not been the best.
As Principal Marks started calling out our names, I glimpsed a large
bird of prey in one of the nearby trees. It waved its wing to me.
Allen was present after all.
***
THE CEREMONY CONCLUDED, and we all threw our caps into the air in victory. High school was over! The years never seemed as though they would come to a close, yet here I was, a graduate. It didn't even seem real, honestly. Done with high school? Me? Who would have thought it would ever happen?
The Parent-Teacher Association had set out some light refreshments, so graduates and families alike rushed over to the tables. I lagged slightly behind, hoping against hope that I would spot Daniel waltzing over. He didn't, but a monarch butterfly landed on my shoulder.
Come be a bird with me, Corinne, it requested.
I almost swatted him away. Later, Allen! I'm celebrating here.
I thought you're done. This is kind of a strange ceremony, by the way. Students throwing their hats in the air...
I would think everything we do seems weird to you, considering you're from the 1300s.
I neared the table. The butterfly clung to my shirt for dear life, but I ignored it.
I'm sorry about what happened, it finally stated. I never meant for you to get hurt. You know that.
Gazing at Allen’s colorful wings, I softened slightly. Yes, but maybe becoming a fish wasn't the best idea.
You're right. I should have made us whales.
I started laughing at the ridiculousness of his statement, picturing myself as huge, fat, and wet, and Allen seemed encouraged by my reaction. Well, nothing would touch you if you weighed tons, you know!
I can't imagine being huge like that!
Want to try it?
No more aquatic creatures, Allen! I've had enough water for a while!
“Corinne, you're standing there staring off into space. Where are you?” Matthew spoke with his face directly in mine while he stuck a water bottle into my hand. I had no idea how long he'd been standing there.
“Oh, hey! There's a butterfly on you! That's good luck!”
See! I’m good luck for you! I heard Allen laugh heartily in my mind. I'll meet up with you later, he finished, fluttering away.
“I'm worried about Daniel,” I mumbled to my brother, which was true enough. But my mind was on Allen and the adventures that lay ahead. He had offered to make me a bird! In spite of my recent setback, I was far from finished with transforming. Being a bird would undoubtedly be a fantastic experience. I just had to be more careful – and remain near the top of the food chain.
Matthew sidled up against me, making sure no one could hear him. “So, I heard we have another traveler to add to the mix? Why didn't you tell me?”
I felt bad. I was as close to Matthew as to Daniel, perhaps in some ways even more so, since we were nearer in age. “I haven't had the chance to tell you much of anything,” I answered, which was also true. After everything else that was going on, I hadn't really been focused on him.
We looked off at the rest of our family, clustered around the food. Grandpa Brian poked around a plate of donuts, grunting, “Bastards ate all the chocolate ones already, damn it.” Nonetheless, he picked up a powdered donut and cradled it in his hand.
“Listen,” Matthew said into my ear, “The police haven't come up with anything, so Mom and Julian went searching for Daniel before, and they're going to do it again later. They were considering having you and me go with them.”
I wasn't sure how I could aid my parents, but I would be happy to try. Meanwhile, I just hoped I could get away long enough to spend some time with Allen. Since I couldn’t help Daniel at this very moment, Allen’s offer to make me a bird in the meantime would be a perfect reprieve. To be able to fly... Everyone's childhood dream... My dream...
That's when the rest of the family descended upon me.
“There's the graduate!” yelled Grandpa Ron, charging up to me and dragging me over to everyone else. Grandma Robin looked like she was about to break into tears. Dad’s parents always tried not to spoil or make a big deal of me, but their faces were beaming with joy.
Clearly, my family was worried as well. Grandpa Brian, who had somehow managed to locate a chocolate donut after all, chewed mechanically while tapping Grandma Felicia and my mother reassuringly on the back. Dad spoke nervously with Uncle Jonas, whose eyes were wells of concern.
Did anyone have the slightest inkling of what had become of my brother? Most likely he was off on some time travel adventure, but he was so new, what if he had made some kind of misstep?
“Oh, Daniel,” I murmured emptily.
***
WE WENT HOME TO HAVE our family celebration. Now, since there was nothing to hide, food was simply appearing. Someone would request what they wanted, and Mom or Grandma Felicia would create it from nothing. Each time they did, it left me just as transfixed as the first time I saw Mom create a light bulb for Dad.
The doorbell rang. “Daniel?” I whispered hopefully.
Matthew jumped up to get the door, but my father came in, his hand around the shoulders of a stranger. “Hey, everyone! Look who it is!”
Jonas bounced from his chair, laughing heartily. “Mr. Smith, in the flesh! How are you? It's been a long time! Come on in and join us, Herr Mozart!”
My uncle ushered the older man inside, and I merely gaped at him. It just couldn’t be.
“Wolfgang, this is my daughter,” my mom said, winking knowingly at me.
The man bowed slightly, taking my hand. “Fraulein Corinne, it is an honor,” he said in a thick German accent. He kissed my fingers, and I emitted something between a giggle and a choke. An honor? For Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart to meet Corinne Greene? Was this really even him?
Everyone was waiting for me to say something. I didn't think I could.
“Corinne?” Grandpa Ron prompted, his eyes shining.
“Um...your...your music is wonderful, uh...Herr...Mozart,” I stuttered. Could I have sounded any stupider?
“I don't know if she believes you're Mozart,” Grandma Robin pointed out.
What's funny was, I was almost positive it was Mozart. Mom had said they saved him. It was just that he was so ordinary looking, like he walked in from off the street.
“I am he, I assure you,” replied the composer, with a gentle laugh to the others. “Come, Felicia, Patricia, let us prove it.” He led us to Mom's laptop and pulled up a website. I watched, fascinated. A man from centuries ago was computer literate. Leave it to my parents.
A portrait of Mozart came up on the screen, and the man leaned down next to it so I could compare.
And I could see it was he; yes, the crazy Mozart-hair was substituted with a neat, graying cut, and the fluffy 1700s jacket was replaced by a blue polo shirt. But the face...the eyes...
Mozart was in our dining room.
“Wow,” I breathed.
“I told you you could meet him,” Mom grinned. “He stopped by just for you. Wolfgang, are you hungry?”
He stopped by? By car? Or private jet? “Jim Smith” was well known in our own day. Musical scholars even had pointed out a striking similarity to later Mozartian works.
Heck, the man was even from Salzburg and he had the accent to prove it!
“I already dined, but I could use one of your brownies, Patricia.” As Mom set to work, our visitor turned to me with a smile. “Patricia says you played my Clarinet Concerto at a competition and you did remarkably well.”
I blushed. My mom usually didn't brag about us, but I guess it was okay when you played a famous composer's work and he was there to hear about it.
“I should like to accompany you on it someday.”
“Accompany...me?”
“I should be honored.”
There it was again. He should be honored by an eighteen-year-old. “Thank you, but why?”
“My dear, I owe your parents my life. They rescued me and cured me, allowing me to give the world more of my music. Your accomplishments are mine as well!” He clasped his hands together as Mom placed a large amount of peanut-butter brownies on the dining room table. “Ah, my favorite! Thank you for your hard work, Patricia. They are conjured, no?”
“Of course!”
“The best kind!” Mozart sat down and motioned to my uncle. “My dear friend Jonas, come join me!”
My uncle complied, and both set to devouring the treats, ending our conversation. I was grateful for Mom’s interruption, because what else would a young woman say to the creator of works like “Eine Kleine Nachtmusik” and the tune of “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star”?
I hung around a while longer, goggling our famous guest. He was like a member of the family who hadn't visited in a while, and everyone seemed to be enjoying his company. He actually had quite a sense of humor, and he liked to tell stories. And hearing a famous composer’s tales was incredible, but soon I found myself more attracted by the temptation of Allen. I couldn't wait much longer to see him.
I mentioned to my parents that I was going outside. Mom glared at me suspiciously. “Why now? Everyone's here to celebrate your grad-uation! Even Mozart!”
“I know, but it's been a while, and with Daniel and everything... I just need a little stress relief.”
She continued to stare at me, and then nodded. “Daniel...” she sighed, throwing up her hands. “Go, but don't stay out long. I don't want you out in the dark. Plus, we're considering taking you and Matthew to help us look for your brother later.”
“I don't know what we'd be able to do.”
“Every set of eyes, ears, and any other abilities you have might help.”