Soon it was time for the tea ceremony. I was sitting in a chair in the middle of the room, everyone's attention directed at me. The guests would sit and enjoy their tea while I would have to entertain them.

I took up my flute before lightly putting it on my lips and started playing. Soon my nervousness disappeared. I loved playing the flute and loved the sound of it. Closing my eyes, I let the sound take me far away, to a peaceful place. Now and then I would hear some people praising me through my haze, and they applauded when I was done.