Validated

"Vitali, what is this?" Ms. Ruso waved the report card in front of her distraught son.

"What?" Vitali took a look at the card. "Oh, Ma! I told you Mr. Beck hates me! This is so unfair. I -"

Ms. Ruso smacked some silence into her son. "Vitali, I've had it! I told you what would happen if you had another embracing report card! What were you doing instead of studying? Hmmm?"

Vitali subtly pushed the box he was hiding with his foot. "Nothing." He said. However, he wasn't subtle enough as Ms. Ruso noticed and dragged the box from underneath Vitali's bed.

"You bought a new one..." Ms. Ruso stared at the violin in disbelief. "You weren't at Tobi's house to study... you were there to play! Admit it!"

Vitali couldn't help but look at his socks. He finally dared to look up at his mother, only to receive another slap.

"How many times must I tell you? There is no money in this thing!" She grabbed the violin by its neck. Vitali's heart stopped. "You keep wasting your time! Ruining your future! How stupid can you be?"

She threw his violin at the far wall, breaking its neck and folding it in two. Ms. Ruso turned on her son, nostrils flaring.

"If you buy a new one, you will be disowned! Do you hear me? I will throw you to the streets!"

She left, slamming Vitali's door on her way out. Leaving both the violin and her son shattered in two.

Vitali spent a long time staring into nothingness, his heart and mind battling with one another. He was confused, afraid, but above all else, lonely. Why couldn't his mother understand? Playing the violin was what he was made for... It was his life. What good would physics and chemistry do for his life?

If he didn't have his violin it wouldn't be a life worth living anyway.

If you buy a new one I will throw you to the streets!

So be it. Hearth sinking Vitali started to pack. He had no business remaining in a place that didn't want him. If his father was alive today he would understand. Vitali would send a prayer for him tonight. Right now, he couldn't afford to stop in fear of thinking things through. His heart and mind battled - and his heart won.

Vitali stored his clothes in his big backpack. He got his bathroom supplies in a smaller bag. He placed said necessity bag along with his other miscellaneous items in another bigger rucksack. He then jumped out of the window, down the fire escape, and out into the streets. Leaving his mom, his home, and his broken violin, behind.

His first stop was Tobi's. When Ms. Brown saw his rucksack and backpack she shook her head.

"Young man, if you think I will assist you running away from home you have another thing happen."

"She'll throw me out anyway!" Vitali felt the tears approaching. "Please, Ms. Brown..."

Ms. Brown seemed to consider for a moment. "Go back home. Talk to your mom." Before she closed the door she narrowed her eyes. "And stay away from my son."

Vitali walked the streets, dragging his rucksack as his thoughts and feelings went dark. He had only one option left, he didn't like it, but he was left with no choice.

"Oh, ho! He finally arrived!"

"Johny! Look who it is!"

"Ay, ay ay! Leave the poor kid alone! Vitali! Come! Sit with Uncle Johny!"

"Hey, Uncle Johny..." Vitali sat. Afraid but refusing to show it. They were at the pizza parlor, his father's pizza parlor. In the past, Vitali associated this place with joy. Now, it disgusted him that he was here.

"Look at you! You must be hungry! Tommy! Bring the boy a slice!"

A confirming Tommy answered as Vitali mumbled thanks. Uncle Johny saw the bags and the kid's expression. He sighed, rubbing his forehead.

"Finally decided to go for it, eh?" Vitali nodded, refusing to meet Johny's gaze. "And if you're here... look, kid, I promised your old man not to get you involved in this... this.... business."

"I don't want to get involved. I just want some money."

"For what?"

"To buy a new violin. I'll pay you back first thing, Uncle Jonhy! I promise..."

Johny spent a long time pondering. "Listen, Vitali. If I do this. You can't get any special privileges. You understand? You need to understand how the world works. And the world says that if you don't pay back in a month, I will find you and I will break your kneecaps."

The slice arrived, and Vitali ate with hope. He knew Uncle Johny was just posturing. Jhonny loved him more than his own sons. But Vitali didn't plan on testing that theory, he would pay his uncle back first thing as he said.

Next stop was the music store. Vitali bought his new friend and immediately started playing. His friend rang true, and Vitally thanked the clerk.

He found a little spot near Central Avenue. It was to the side and slightly inclosed. He wouldn't bother passersby, but his sound would echo throughout. Vitali had an eye on the spot for a while now.

He started playing and the world stopped.

Vitali was focused on the music, on the marriage between spirit and sound. In the back of his mind, he noted that no one had stopped to drop change into his box. He kept playing, undeterred. True talent will always be rewarded. At least that's what Pop said.

After a while, Vitali got completely absorbed by the sound. Kneecaps and money be damned, he played. And played. And played. By the time he was done, the day had gone tonight, and his stomach rumbled.

Numb, exhausted, and elated, Vitali noticed a single five-dollar bill in his little box. The tears came unbidden. For the first time in Vitali's life, he felt like he had worth...

For the first time in his life, he felt validated.

He wanted to keep going, to play until morning came then night again.

But first, food.

This was A Picture is worth a Thousand Words contest entry.

The prompt image:

Describe what you see: A street performer. | Describe what you feel: I feel passionate.

Obligatory shout-out to the 🍕PIZZA🍕 gang, 🤙 gang. 🤙

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Cover image source.

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