{"id":5507,"date":"2022-05-23T11:42:50","date_gmt":"2022-05-23T17:42:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rescotcreative.com\/?page_id=5507"},"modified":"2026-01-24T04:23:38","modified_gmt":"2026-01-24T10:23:38","slug":"borod-in-class","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.rescotcreative.com\/br\/fiction-fridays\/borod-in-class\/","title":{"rendered":"“Borod”-in Class"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Prequel to A Change in Tune<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jerry Chang flicked his bow over the cello strings to Haydn String Quartet No. Five Million, Two Hundred, and Whatever. For the next several lines, or pages for that matter, all he could see were repetitive notes, with an occasional rest or slow note thrown in for good measure. Could this song get any more boring?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A flourish of fast notes jolted Jerry from his stupor. Well, maybe it wasn\u2019t boring for Mr. I\u2019m-better-than-everyone Franklin Curtis, the pale guy in skinny jeans and a beanie sitting opposite him. Why did Hadyn give all the fast lines to the first violinist, leaving the monotonous accompaniment part to the rest of the string quartet? Couldn\u2019t the composer share the love to the other instrumentalists every once in a while? This year, his junior year of college, all he\u2019d played in chamber music class were Mozart and Haydn String Quartets, which he\u2019d practically memorized.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jerry glanced at the girl seated next to him. Nineteen-year-old violist Adrienne Pearson leaned back against her chair, tan legs crossed and bouncing her golden stilettoed foot up and down to the beat. With her blonde pixie haircut and short dress, she stood out like a Van Gogh painting in a Renaissance art museum. The dazed look in her hazel eyes suggested she\u2019d tuned out as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Across from Adrienne, her older sister, Victoria Pearson, sat perched on the edge of her seat, bow held tightly in a firm grasp. Every facial feature burned with intensity, from her deep brown eyes to her taut red lips, as though the weight of the world depended on a perfect execution of the repetitive accompaniment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jerry smiled. If anyone deserved to be first violinist, it was conscientious, dedicated (not-to-mention attractive) Victoria. Not uppity Franklin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

###<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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            \u201cExcellent job.\u201d Mr. Vatchev, their teacher, applauded at the close of the song. \u201cFranklin, you played the runs with impeccable precision. Bravo.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Franklin\u2019s nose rose several inches in the air. \u201cThanks, Professor. My privilege. As the first violinist, I\u2019m always <\/em>happy to lead the quartet in our performances.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Adrienne rolled her eyes. \u201cThis is a college chamber music class. Not a concert in Carnegie Hall.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAnyway,\u201d Franklin shot Adrienne a glare, \u201cI was wondering what we should play next? What do you think, Mr. Vatchev?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The teacher stroked his chin. \u201cHmm, today you played the Hadyn String Quartet, Opus 20, No. 5 in F minor. Next, I would suggest the String Quartet, Op.20, No. 6.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jerry groaned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cExcuse me.\u201d Mr. Vatchev arched his eyebrows. \u201cJerry, do you have a problem with my selection?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYes,\u201d Jerry blurted. \u201cThe cello parts are so repetitive, they all sound the same.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI agree.\u201d Adrienne ran a hand through her golden hair. \u201cIt\u2019s a total ennui <\/em>to play for the viola.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jerry nodded. \u201cIf I spoke French, I\u2019d totally agree with you, Adrienne. What does ennui<\/em> mean?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s boring<\/em>. Look around.\u201d She gestured to the rest of the students seated in the recital room. \u201cThey\u2019re all bored in class.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mr. Vatchev frowned. \u201cBorod-in class?\u201d His thick Eastern European accent colored his words. \u201cWhat do you mean?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            \u201cThat\u2019s it!\u201d Jerry exclaimed as excitement pulsed through his veins. \u201cWe should play the Borodin String Quartet.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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