Sierra’s Show

Sierra had managed to borrow a violin from the university music club for a week. It took her a day to figure out the notes of her song and another two days to match the beat. The violin felt familiar with the song, so she continued to play it, even during her work break.

"I didn't know you played the violin," commented Miles as he entered the breakroom. He and Ramona had arrived for the evening shift.

"Learned last week. Well, I did play when I was younger, but I picked it up again last week."

Her younger coworkers raised their eyebrows in amazement.

"I'm what some would call a music prodigy. I'm capable of learning almost any musical instrument within a matter of days…”

"Unless it's any other song," added Anita as she left the changing room. Miles and Ramona looked in confusion from the floor chief to the chef.

"Yep, as we learned, I cannot play any other song as well or at all. A theory to be further tested at a later date."

Sierra brought the bow up to the strings and began to play her song.

"Taft! Stop that racket!" yelled Cyrus from his corner office.

"I need to see if it's my song," she yelled back, lowering her bow and the violin as she did.

"Then, do it when it doesn't bother the customers!"

Sierra pouted, looking to her coworkers, who were scampering off to change. The song on the violin felt so familiar. Yet she still couldn't place the tune probably because Cyrus had cut her performance short. And she couldn't perform at home considering she had gotten off work at nine and the neighborhood noise curfew was ten.

"Your music sounds good," encouraged Ramona as she exited the girls’ locker room.

"Thanks, wish I could have played it all the way through, though," Sierra grumbled. She set down the instrument on the table and pulled out its case.

"Cyrus is a grouchy man; every noise bothers him," assured Miles as he exited the changing room.

"I'm sure anyone else would be happy to hear you play," encouraged Ramona. She followed after Miles to begin their work.

Sierra paused her packing, clearly thinking. She wasn't a bad player; Cyrus had a little patience and low sound toleration. And if she played for more people, it would help her find her song. With that thought in mind, Sierra picked up the violin and bow and marched out of the breakroom.

If it bothered Shasta that she hadn't returned to work yet, he didn't show it as she made her way to the front of the restaurant. The floor was mostly empty - a couple of groups scattered around - but more sitting at the bar. She took a deep breath then set the violin against her shoulder. She rested her chin on the rest and positioned the bow against the strings. A couple of people had noticed and were turning to face her.

Miles turned off the overhead radio, silencing the room as Sierra began to play her song. Tormino's froze at the sound of the violin, everyone watching the small cook play her song. Not a note out of place or snapping of a string. Sierra kept her eyes closed as she played the song she knew by heart. The song filled her with a feeling of peace despite the forgotten words. As she drew the song to a close, the room held its breath; everyone was a little stunned that the cook could play so well. When she had finished, the room thundered with applause. Sierra bowed in appreciation while smiling at her coworkers. Even Shasta had stopped cooking for her song.

With a final bow, Sierra headed back to the breakroom to put away the violin. She found a chair stuck underneath the doorknob of the manager's office. Uncertain who would do that, she moved to unhook the chair from the door.

"I told you to stop that racket," Cyrus yelled.

"It's not a racket if everyone else likes it," she hollered back. She left the chair in place and headed to the breakroom to put away her violin. She had more important things to do.