Date: Tue, 15 Feb 2011 22:14:58 +0800
From: Johnny Kape <johnny.kape@gmail.com>
Subject: The Original Joy, Chapter 6

Before this story:

All rights reserved.

Every word of this story is fiction.  The background of this story is set
to somewhere in Asia, where I come from.  There might be some scenes, some
songs and some social and cultural things that you don't understand.  It is
welcomed to give me a mail asking for anything you don't understand in this
story.  Hope you enjoy it.

Special thanks to my editor, Matthew Templar, and my friend Pok.  They
helped me a lot with my English, gave me many good suggestions, and the
most important, help me decide the title of this story. :-) You can't see
how important this story title is until the last chapter of this story, so
I wish that you all can read on to last. :-)

Please feel free to tell me what you think about this story.  I'd be very
appreciated to get your feedbacks.  I'll answer all emails.  Thank you.

--- Johnny Kape <johnny.kape@gmail.com>



Oh, from this chapter, there will be lyrics of some songs in the story.
Most of them are *real* songs published here, so you may not know those
songs.  (If you know what songs they are, please do give me a mail!)
However, all Jay's songs are made up.  That is, those lyrics were written
by me.  For all the lyrics, I could only translate their meanings, but
wasn't able to make them more beautiful.  I've tried my best, and Matt
helped me a lot with this.  Hope you like our works.


The Original Joy -- Chapter 6


Jay followed Henry into a dimly lighted, small room in the KTV.  There were
two people singing inside.

"Hey, Henry, you finally came," a round young man said to Henry, in
greeting.

"Hi Bob.  I brought a kid with me today."

"Well, who is this little tiger?"

"My cousin," said Henry, patting Jay's head.  "His parents asked me to take
care of him for a few days."

"Ha ha, he is so cute.  Have a seat!"

Henry sat down and Jay sat beside Henry.  Another thin young man was
singing "This World".  Jay looked around the room curiously.  It was not
big, and only a TV, a song selector machine, some sofas and a table were
inside.  Henry saw that Jay was curious about the room.

He smiled and asked, "You have never come to this kind of place, have you?"

Jay shook his head and said in a low voice, "No.  I have a lot of classes,
and after classes my mom always takes me home immediately.  I don't have
any chance to play outside."

Henry smiled and patted Jay's shoulder.  He whispered to Jay, "Well, today
you can see how we normal people sing.  Just relax and watch us singing.
Do you know this song?"

"Yes.  I know it."

"Wow, it's a very old song.  You really know that?"

Jay nodded and smiled.  He looked at the young man who was singing.  Jay
felt that his voice was quite good, and his implementation of the song was
quite attractive to Jay.

"Let's fill this world with beautiful colors..." the young man sang, making
an ending.

After the music was gone, Jay clapped his hands as hard and loud as
everyone.  The young man bowed to everyone.

"Hey, Bill, you did a good job!" said Henry.

"Hey, Henry.  When did you come?  I didn't even notice you come in.  Who is
this little guy?"

"My cousin."

Bill bowed to Jay exaggeratedly.  "Thank you for clapping so hard, my dear
boy."

Jay blushed but smiled.  Bob had already started singing another song.  Jay
saw the title of the song was "Rhapsody Of A Nobody."  He had never heard
of this song before.  Henry told him that it was a very, very old song.
Jay listened to Bob singing.  He felt that the rhythm and lyrics of this
song were both very interesting and funny.

Then Bob, Bill and Henry sang several songs one after another.  Henry sang
a song named "Echo".  After Henry finished singing Jay clapped even harder.

"You all sing so well!"  Jay said as he started to relax.  He leaned his
head against Henry's shoulder.  Henry smiled at him.

The next song, Bob picked Jay's "I Want To Fly" from his first album.  Jay
blushed again and Henry patted him on his shoulder.

"Relax.  See how Bob sings your song," Henry whispered with a smile.

Jay listened to Bob singing,

    I want to fly,
    Not only fly in the dream,
    But want to be with you, hand in hand,
    Watching the rainbow in the sky.

    I want to fly,
    Watching the world from high in the sky,
    Even when it's all dark,
    I don't want to leave...

Henry could feel that Jay was singing softly too.  After Bob finished
singing, Henry and Jay both applauded Bob loudly.  Then Bob picked Jay's
adapted version of "Happy Train".  Everyone did the dance simulating the
wheel of the train with Bob.  Jay saw their dances and laughed so hard that
his mouth almost could not close anymore.

After "Happy Train", Bob handed the microphone to Bill and sat beside
Henry.

"I really like Jay Feng's songs; especially his first album.  This little
boy is really a genius!"

Henry nodded and took a glance at Jay.  Jay felt that his face was hot.
Fortunately the room was dimly lit and nobody could see him blushing.

"However, something changed in his third album.  I always feel that the
songs in his third album were 'squeezed' out.  Not any naive feelings like
in his first album anymore.  He also changed the way he sings.  He made me
feel that he was not as happy as before, but only made it look like he was
happy because he had to sing."

Jay's smile vanished.  Henry patted Jay's shoulder softly.  Bob was still
commenting on Jay.

"For example, this 'Happy Train' I just sang," Bob drank some beer and
continued, "though Jay just adapted it from the nursery rhyme, he still
added some pure and naive elements that could only be made by young kids.
So when I sing this song I always feel that I'm going back to my childhood.
That's the way Jay Feng should be!  In his later albums, he is affected by
adults too much.  Everything is changed."

"Hmm, I think he didn't want to be like that either," said Henry.

"He is polluted by adults now, so he could never have the pure and naive
feelings like before.  I went to his concert a few days ago.  His new song,
"Forgive me", the commentator said that this song was a big break from
Jay's personal style.  Bull shit!  I heard that song and thought, what
'forgive me?'  Just kill me!  Ha! Ha!"

Henry could feel that Jay's body was trembling.  He didn't know if Jay was
angry or sad.  He hugged Jay softly to try to pacify Jay's emotions.  Then
he answered Bob.

"Bob, you are drinking too much!  What are you talking about?  Maybe Jay
just wanted to try a new genre of music."

"Oh really?  You seemed to be very familiar with him.  Are you?  Ha! Ha!"

"Yes, in my dreams!" Henry replied back loudly.  He kept patting Jay's
shoulder and back, hoping that Jay would not explode.