13. Jazz Bar

The jazz bar 'Flying Ball' in Haltzburg was crowded with people as usual. Dark interior lighting illuminated the bar, and two bartenders alternated between both sides, handing glasses filled with ice and liquor to customers. A woman in a deeply plunging dress. A man selling smiles while alternating between looking at her chest and eyes. A bearded man taking a puff of a large cigar and exhaling hazy cigarette smoke. Candles burning in glass holders placed in the center of tables. People chattering in small groups. And on stage, the sound of a saxophone resonated.

"What can I get you?"

The bartender spoke to a man in a long coat. The man ordered a bottle of beer, and the bartender brought a glass and bottled beer to him. When he opened the beer cap and poured it into the glass, foam rose and the sound of carbonation escaping could be heard. Moisture formed on the outside of the glass from the cold temperature. After gulping down the refreshing beer, he took out a cigarette from his pocket, put one in his mouth, and asked the bartender about the jazz band.

The bartender said numerous bands appeared and disappeared at the shop. He asked about Ewan McClain, and the bartender answered he'd never heard that name. He said it was over 10 years ago, so the person who'd been here longest might know. The bartender thought for a moment, then said among the bands playing today there was a saxophonist who had played here the longest, so perhaps they might know. When Anderson said he wanted to talk with them, the bartender smiled and shook his head. Anderson showed a silver revolver from his pocket and said he was asking again. Only then did the bartender say to wait a moment, then called a young employee who was going back and forth between the kitchen and bar and whispered in their ear.

Meanwhile, a woman headed toward the microphone placed center stage. The woman wore a black silk dress with the back cut down to her waist. A silver earring chain glittered between her brown bobbed hair illuminated by the lights. When she stood center stage, the music stopped. Heavily made up, she smiled and looked at the audience with affectionate eyes.

"Everyone, do you like tomatoes? I love tomatoes very much. So I put them in salads, I eat them sliced with sugar sprinkled on top, and I also make ketchup with them. But one day this thought suddenly occurred to me. Is a tomato a fruit, or is it a vegetable? What do you think? (Laughter) Is it a fruit? (The audience laughed and shook their heads) Then a vegetable? (Another audience member laughed and shook their head) Oh, the person at the very end shouted 'vegetable' very confidently. You know vegetable and vegetable are the same word, right? (Laughter) The US Supreme Court ruled that tomatoes are 'vegetables.' The reason is quite interesting. The reason was 'tomatoes are vegetables because they come to the table as an important part of a meal, not as dessert eaten after a meal.' What do you think? Absurd? The moment I heard that story, I fell into anguish. Because I eat tomatoes both during meals and as dessert. After much deliberation, I decided to newly classify tomatoes as 'fruit-vegetables.' Like a 'whale shark,' you know."

When Clara shrugged her shoulders with an expression like she had no choice, the audience laughed saying it was funny.

"It's another good night. I'll sing you a good song. The first song is 'This Happy Madness' by Stacey Kent."

The stage darkened again, and the lights shone brightly only on Clara. Behind her, the piano slowly began accompaniment. Then from the microphone, a beautiful woman's voice resonated. People who until just moments ago had been listening to the woman making witty jokes turned their heads in unison to look at her as a completely different tone flowed from her. The woman's voice softly penetrated people's ears. Her song quietly brought out each person's hazy memories buried deep in their hearts and recalled them above their heads. Those memories met her song and created a beautiful panorama. Her voice spread in all directions and embraced people from behind. As the tempo of the song gradually quickened, people's shoulders began to sway to the beat. She too smiled while swaying her body slightly as if shy. People stared blankly with glazed eyes, as if enchanted by the alluring gestures of the smiling female singer. They loved her voice. And they loved her beautiful appearance as she sang.