Qabel il-kunċert

Before the concert

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Saturday evening on the market square: stalls, lights, baked macaroni. Sun, then rain, then sun again, and you are in Marija's old raincoat. You are at the café stand, and you are the cat's minder. The concert will start at eight. Then Ġorġ runs up: his mouthpiece is gone. And where is the cat?

Saturday evening, the festa in the village square: stalls, coloured lights, the band, and the smell of baked macaroni. You are at the café stall in Marija's old raincoat. Next to the stage, a big grey box with a light switch hums warmly.
Lina
Kafè, żewġ ewro. Imqarrun il-forn, tliet ewro: ħmejtu jien. Int se tieħu l-flus, u jien se nagħmel il-kafè.
Coffee, two euros. Baked macaroni, three euros: I baked it myself. You'll take the money, and I'll make the coffee.
Tajjeb. U Ċikku fejn hu? Irrid nieħu ħsiebu.
All right. And where's Ċikku? I have to look after him.
Tajjeb. U Ċikku fejn hu? Irrid nieħu ħsiebu.
All right. And where's Ċikku? I have to look after him.
Lina
Taħt il-mejda. Se jorqod sal-kunċert.
Under the table. He'll sleep until the concert.
Marija comes past the stall with her handbag.
Marija
Bonswa! Mela, kif inhu t-temp?
Good evening! So, how's the weather?
Eżatt bħat-tbassir ta' Tonio: filgħodu x-xemx, imbagħad ix-xita, u issa x-xemx mill-ġdid.
Exactly like Tonio's forecast: sun in the morning, then rain, and now sun again.
Eżatt bħat-tbassir ta' Tonio: filgħodu x-xemx, imbagħad ix-xita, u issa x-xemx mill-ġdid.
Exactly like Tonio's forecast: sun in the morning, then rain, and now sun again.
Marija
Iktar tard se jkun hemm riħ qawwi. U forsi borra.
Later there'll be a strong wind. And maybe snow.
Borra? F'Malta? Le, le! Illum mhux se jkun hemm borra.
Snow? In Malta? No, no! There won't be any snow today.
Borra? F'Malta? Le, le! Illum mhux se jkun hemm borra.
Snow? In Malta? No, no! There won't be any snow today.
Marija
Il-kunċert se jibda fit-tmienja. Ġorġ se jdoqq l-ewwel.
The concert will start at eight. Ġorġ will play first.
Marija
Jien se noqgħod fuq il-bank, quddiem il-palk.
I'll sit on the bench in front of the stage.
Marija
Ella se tkanta mat-tfal. U Tonio se jiżfen.
Ella will sing with the children. And Tonio will dance.
Tonio se jiżfen? Verament?
Tonio will dance? Really?
Tonio se jiżfen? Verament?
Tonio will dance? Really?
Marija
Għadu ma jafx. Imma se jiżfen.
He doesn't know yet. But he will.
Ten to eight. Ġorġ runs up with his trumpet, white as a sheet.
Ġorġ
Għinuni! Il-bokkin tiegħi m'għadux hawn!
Help! My mouthpiece isn't here any more!
Bokkin? X'inhu?
Mouthpiece? What's that?
Bokkin? X'inhu?
Mouthpiece? What's that?
Ġorġ
Ħaġa żgħira, hawn, ara. Mingħajru ma nistax indoqq.
A little thing, here, look. I can't play without it.
U fejn kien?
And where was it?
U fejn kien?
And where was it?
Ġorġ
Fuq il-bankarell tagħkom, ħdejn il-kafè. Għaxar minuti ilu.
On your stall, by the coffee. Ten minutes ago.
You look under the table. No cat.
Ħdejn il-kafè tagħna? U Ċikku fejn hu?
By our coffee? And where's Ċikku?
Ħdejn il-kafè tagħna? U Ċikku fejn hu?
By our coffee? And where's Ċikku?
Ġorġ
Il-kunċert jibda f'għaxar minuti. X'se nagħmel issa?
The concert starts in ten minutes. What am I going to do now?
Marija opens her handbag and takes out a small old trumpet.
Marija
Stenna.
Wait.
Ġorġ
L-ewwel trumbetta tiegħi! Bħal fir-ritratt!
My first trumpet! Like in the photo!
Marija
Żammejtha għal tmintax-il sena. Għalik.
I've kept it for eighteen years. For you.
Ġorġ
Grazzi, Sinjura Marija. Illejla se ndoqq għalik.
Thank you, Mrs Marija. Tonight I'll play for you.
U jien se nsib lil Ċikku.
And I'll find Ċikku.
U jien se nsib lil Ċikku.
And I'll find Ċikku.

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