Happy Mask World
Written by Dax Guerrero
- Did you see him? look what he's wearing, what a nasty guy!
- A black cat, what a devilish animal, definitely a man with no morals whatsoever.
- And that hair hanging at his sides, it looks like the cover of a beggar's armchair, a real disgrace.
- And isn't his deportment a mockery in itself, I mean look what a good imitation of a wire doll corroded by the rain in a... wait a minute... maybe...
- He's walking in this direction, I don't think...oh my goodness....
- Good evening ladies, I'm sorry to ask, but would any of you care to dance with me?
- Erm... dancing you say?
- With all my respect I have to say that both of you have caught my attention since I had the fortune to direct my gaze to this corner of the room, I wanted to know if any of you would like to join me in this piece?
- But... you... no...
- Is something wrong?
- No... not at all... I will dance with you.
The man with the cat mask took the hand of the girl with the squirrel mask and carefully led her through the people to the center of the dance floor where they began to dance in circles, it was the party at the castle of King Roquefort to celebrate peace with the neighboring kingdom, everyone inside wore masks of different shapes, some resemble a made-up human face, others imitated animals and some more had an abstract appearance, mixing shapes of everyday objects with geometric figures of all kinds.
Everyone at the party was enjoying the harmony of the atmosphere, laughing and praising the impeccable decoration, all except one, a shadow that slid down the corridor towards the gardens, the bitter silhouette of a confused man, sunk in an almost permanent nostalgic feeling that made him rave, spouting speeches to himself, this individual saw life through a two-faced mask, he judged the world with severity and was convinced that the mist that cluttered his thoughts was the seed of an exceptional being.
For a man with such a variety of opinions about others, Zobash was very unsure person, always marginalizing himself, always running away from danger, “what if I try and make a fool of myself? I will be the mockery of everyone!” he lamented while another voice in his mind told him “and what do they matter, they are just scum, all of them, if they laugh it is because they are hyenas that take advantage of the weakest, they have nothing of value and that is why they make fun of those who do have it like me”.
Zobash who is known in the kingdom for being a prodigious musician had been summoned by the king to perform one of his compositions live to close the event, the man had created a multitude of original works that were gaining fame, his pieces began to be heard first in inns and bars, also some squares and over time people began to ask for them more and more, reaching the point where they were performed in the most prestigious theaters, the king attended one of the presentations at the "Astres" theater and was delighted by his music.
What the king did not know was that Zobash was not the one who performed the songs, he never did, he always asked other musicians for help because he was too afraid of being judged by the public, although he saw himself as a genius who understood what no one else could appreciate about life, when it came to live it in the flesh he became a blank book, a subject without personality, a coward.
Now he was between a rock and a hard place, if he did not play for the king and his court he would surely be severely punished for making a fool of his majesty, but if he did, the one who would be made a fool of would be him, he knew that his nerves would betray him and the laughter would soon explode, stoning him and his prestige, this was a nightmare.
In the back garden behind a circular rose bush he sat in front of a large black rock, sighed heavily wiping the sweat from his forehead and said aloud to himself:
- How could I have been such an imbecile, I should have made up an excuse, anything would have done.....
- What could an excuse have been good for?
Answered a voice on the other side of the bush.
- I... sorry, I'm talking out loud.
Said Zobash who was already getting ready to leave the place when the mysterious voice said:
- You sound distressed, if you want to tell me what excuse you would have given if that makes you feel better.
- Forgive me, I didn't know there was someone else... I'm just a little nervous....
- That's your excuse?
- ...What?
- We all are sometimes, aren't we?
- Well... yeah but... it's different.... I don't want to bother you with my....
- Why should it be any different, you and I are both human right, I'm afraid of some things too?
- I have never done this, never... I don't want to look like an idiot in front of everyone, you just don't understand, I can't make you understand just like that.
- Well, maybe you don't have faith in me, but... that's the thing.
- What do you mean?
- You think I can't help you, so that means... I can't help you.
- Ummm...?
- Right, because in order to do something you have to believe that you can do it, right?
- Look... no... I guess, but....
- What if I were you, would that change anything? if I were you and I believed that everything was going to be all right then I could make it? maybe it's just a matter of having some faith
- I know I'm going to fail, I'm sure of that, I don't feel good, I'm not prepared, when it happens the whole town will see me as a failure... one more loser in the pile, a mockery, a fool...
- But you're not a fool are you?
- ...
- If I failed trying something I wanted to achieve very badly... I would feel very happy really.
- Happy? How could such a humiliation make you feel happy?
- Because for me it wouldn't be a humiliation, it would just be a funny anecdote, one more step on my path.
- I have a prestige, people....
- People see what you give them, if you see yourself as a failure that is what they will see.
- But I want to succeed
- So succeed
- But I know I will fail, understand!
- ...
- I know you must be thinking, “this man is a pessimist, he is locked in his suffering and cannot see beyond”, well you are wrong, I do know what is real, I know what will happen, what you say is nothing but fantasies, nobody will applaud me for failing, nobody will understand my pain and sorrow and nobody will help me....
At that moment the person on the other side of the bush stood up and approached Zobash, it was a woman with a blue moon shaped mask that covered only a part of her face, the exposed part revealed a face with droopy eyes and brown hair smiling kindly, once in front of Zobash the woman said:
- My great-grandfather says that the magic of enjoying life... even when things seem to become difficult.... is in what you believe, if you believe that something is special then it is special for you and it will be so as long as you believe it, everything you are, what you believe you are can change, you can be the one who triumphs even when you are wrong, the one who will go ahead and learn from his mistakes so, in fact, you will always triumph, we all have to believe in something because if we stop believing then we stop existing, and if making excuses will prevent you from believing in yourself, from facing your fears, from living... well... maybe you do not need them.
Then the woman removed the mask from Zobash's face and gave him a tender kiss, then she slowly walked away through the gardens saying:
- I'll see you at the party
Zobash was perplexed by what had just happened, never before had someone challenged his thoughts in that way, after this his mind had cleared, now he could only think of her and her words, feeling revitalized, with his face up, he headed towards the great hall where he crossed the sea of masks until he reached the stage where he would make his stellar presentation.
After a few minutes, Zobash, who was holding a mandolin, gestured to the king, who asked for silence. The king's spokesman gave a few introductory words, and everyone applauded. The moment had arrived. Still nervous but determined, Zobash got into position when he suddenly saw the woman with the moon mask smiling at him in the crowd. After this, he also broke into a smile and began to play his piece entitled "Dreamstorm."
Everything had started well; the notes were played gracefully and masterfully, the tonality was in perfect harmony, and suddenly, CLANK! One of the mandolin's strings broke.
Ignoring this, Zobash continued playing the piece, which now sounded slightly shaky, but retained the sweet and pleasant melody. This was followed by a fast-paced section full of bizarre arrangements using ascending and descending note progressions. After a dizzying movement in a complicated figure, DOING!, another string gave way. destabilizing the performer's hand and leaving behind a high-pitched, squeaky sound.
The musician smiled even bigger and continued without stopping. The crowd then began to whisper to each other, but Zobash wasn't distracted. The piece continued on its course with slight changes in chord positions. The confidence with which he played maintained the melody... until... ZAP! Like a lightning bolt that struck three times, it had now brought double the misfortune. It wasn't one, but two strings that were destroyed when the chord changed from B minor to F major.
The atmosphere began to fill with voices. The crowd was astonished by the scene. Zobash, baring his teeth, watched them as he continued playing the piece. The melody was barely understandable. The arrangements had been simplified to the bare minimum. A slow section came along that lessened the load of notes. There was just a little more and the piece would end, just a little more before he emerged victorious... and then... the hand of fate took its scissors and one by one cut the four remaining strings
The musician ducked his head, people were watching him, hundreds of looks, hundreds of minds, everyone thought he would burst into tears and run off the stage in shame....
Zobash let out a laugh so loud that even the crystal hanging from the chandeliers shook, seeing this the people began to smile and then joined in his laughter, all of them, even the king began to laugh, after this there was a big ovation, the performer who feared he would lose everything had won over the audience... failing!
Zobash then turned his gaze to the audience and saw her, the woman who had helped him, who had made him see the magic of life, had taken off the mask
The end.
Prompt used: Facade