20 Dear stranger, what exquisite music!

"What was on your mind when you played it? Cherie asked.

"My childhood. Sometimes I think of the incoming storm, cleansing away all impurities. But sometimes nothing comes to my mind." I said.

Cherie and I headed back to rearranging returned books on the shelf. She had called me her volunteer assistant.

"I won't be here next month. The municipal council is to retrench me and close the library." Cherie said, in a little voice.

She told me then that due to the lack of people coming to the library, the council decided that they would just do away with the library. There was a grand, main one in the city and the suburbs need not have a library of its own.

"How awful! I am sorry to hear that. You love working here." I said.

Cherie looked at me thoughtfully.

"Paid membership to borrow books had been decreasing over the years. I do not have many visitors and you are one of the regular ones. You come every other day. I have looked forward to your visits. You make my days more interesting." She said.

"Thank you Cherie. I do enjoy going to the library and chatting with you here." I said.

"This is an idea of mine to raise funds for the upkeep of the library. I want to organize an event here, and can I count you in?" She asked.

"Of course. What event are you organizing and how can I help?" I asked.

"Piano gala concert for five thousand people." She said.

"No. I'm not good enough." I said.

I was not going to play the piano for a crowd, not even two.

"I can't think of anything else." She said.

I looked at her. I did want to help her more than I had wanted to save the library. But surely there was something else that we could do. Not everything revolved around music.

"We have lots of rich businessmen in the suburbs. The concert tickets would be based on donation, and I think we can collect quite a bit. And people get to enjoy your beautiful music. Then we will present an appeal to the municipal council based on all the support we get." She said.

I heaved a big sigh.

"If you're sure this would work, then I'm in." I said finally.

Cherie gave me a big bear hug and immediately served me another cup of bergamot tea on the house. I thought of my repertoire to sustain an hour long concert.

It was six in the evening when I finally realised the time. I took leave of Cherie and walked quickly home. I still had to have my dinner and then it also took some time for all the make-up and hair to be done. I would later take a cab to Mr. Boardmann.

Cherie and I were so busy talking about the finer details about the event. I did not even see the lone tourist upstairs. He pretty much minded his own business. We both did not realize when he took leave from the library. At closing time, we had both gone upstairs to check for people and there was nobody there.

Only a scribbled note lay on one of the tables next to one of the many computers. It gave me a confidence boost. I omitted to tell Cherie about it, feeling that it was rather childish.

"Dear stranger, what exquisite music! Thank you."

I read the note, folded it into my jeans pocket, and genuinely smiled for the first time in ages. Oh, the loves of my life! Just the simple things are enough. No people, just things. A fleeting moment in time. A treasured appreciation. No complications. Just like the scent before rain...