Epilogue

Epilogue
Mona sat in David’s car, staring up at the seminary building. She was in the back seat, because Annalise was with them.
It was getting dark as they opened their respective doors and got out. David was in his suit, as always. Annalise hade risen to the occasion and put on a skirt, (mostly because she didn‘t want to look under-dressed) but Mona was the most elegantly dressed. She was wearing her Orchestra dress and for once her hair was done up in a ponytail.
She reached back into the car and grabbed her violin. Technically, for their Halloween Concert, Miss Dunne had told them that they could dress up in costume, but Mona hadn’t even thought about costumes, because her dress was perfect for her.
“I would have parked closer to the auditorium, but there are so many people down there.” David said apologetically.
“Nah.” Mona said, shrugging. “We can walk.”
The auditorium was on the other end of the campus. There was a main set of doors directly in front of the auditorium, which David and Annalise took to go find their seats, but Mona took a door that was separate from the others, that lead to the hallway in front of the Orchestra room.
When she opened the door to the Orchestra room, it was filled with people dressed in unique costumes, all holding their instruments and making a lot of noise. It wasn’t just the High School Orchestra, the two orchestras from the junior high were there too. As soon as she walked through the door, Dallas once again ran up to her, dressed in a tan shirt with a fake six pack, and started poking her repeatedly.
“Hey, don’t do that!” She laughed, trying to push him away.
“Aw, come on! It’s ‘poke Mona month’ remember?”
“But that was last month!” She protested. This stopped him.
“Oh…hm…” He looked thoughtful. “Oh, well!” He grinned and then poked her again.
“So what the heck are you supposed to be anyway?” She asked him.
“I’m Jacob Black!” He said, as if it were obvious. This made Mona laugh until she couldn’t breath.
“I should have known.” She said shaking her head once she had regained her composure.
Mona got her violin out and then tuned with the rest of the people. The high school played last, so when they filed into the auditorium, Mona sat down in the first row of seats next to Maureen.
They listened to the eighth and ninth grade orchestras play, and laughed with Maureen at how adorably bad they sounded. It was a little uncomfortable, sitting with her music folder, her violin, and her bow in her lap, but she was enjoying the moment far too much to really mind.
When it was the high school’s turn to perform, she stood up with the rest of the orchestra and walked up the stairs that were on either side of the stage. The stage was well lit, while the crowd was dark, so Mona couldn’t even see them as she set her folder on her stand and sat in rest position, with her bow pointed to the floor and her violin tucked under her arm.
She wasn’t even a bit nervous. The concert was just like a big test at the end of a class, and tests didn’t stress Mona out, because she was confident in her ability to do well in them.
She stood with the rest of her orchestra as Miss Dunne walked onto the stage. The crowd applauded politely, and Miss Dunne motioned for them to sit. She stepped up onto the podium and everyone sat up a little straighter, with their instruments on their knees or up and away from their bodies. They lifted them to their shoulders or put their bows on the strings and their fingers at the neck, when Miss Dunne lifted her hands. She moved her baton very slightly so that everyone knew the tempo and then they began playing.
Mona would have grinned because of how happy she felt if she had not been concentrating so completely. She had to watch her music, her section leader, and the conductor at the same time, while tapping her foot and counting in her head. This was sometimes challenging to do, but Mona did it naturally and enjoyed being a part of the group.
When they had finished playing all of their songs, they all stood and Miss Dunne bowed for them. Mona grabbed her folder and walked back down off stage. She didn’t see David or Annalise in the mass of people, but they did catch up with her once she got back to the Orchestra room and had packed up her violin.
“Very nice.” David said, sounding impressed. “Better than what I could have done.” Annalise pushed him playfully, laughing. Mona smiled at them and put on her jacket over her dress. David held the door open for Mona and they walked back to the car, but before David unlocked it, he pulled a letter out from his pocket and handed it to Mona.
“What’s this?” She asked and he nodded to it. She opened the already torn back, and read the first line to herself.
“To Whom it may concern,” She read. “The paperwork concerning the adoption of Miss Mona L. Carter has been received, reviewed, and accepted…” Mona trailed off, dropping her hand to her side and gaping at David and Annalise.
“I didn’t know that you had a middle name.” Annalise said. “Mona L… what could that stand for?” Mona opened her mouth to speak, but David cut her off.
“Wait… it isn’t what I think it is, is it?” Mona nodded and then cringed. Annalise looked puzzled. David laughed and shook his head as he unlocked the car and got in. He was still shaking his head as they drove away.
“Mona Lisa…Did you know that the Mona Lisa has no eyebrows?”