The Ballad of the Sad Cafe

Ryder College music professor Mr. Brook coordinates the arrival of Madame Zilensky, a new member of his department. He largely keeps to himself, uninterested in spending time with his colleagues. Though no one knows her personally, Madame Zilensky is a famed musician, and her hiring is a big accomplishment for Mr. Brook. 

A week before the semester begins, Mr. Brook picks Madame Zilensky up at the train station, along with her three young sons and their Finnish maid. They only have Madame Zilensky’s manuscripts with them; the rest of their luggage was left behind when they switched trains. As they leave, Madame Zilensky flies into a panic, claiming she left her metronome at the previous station and needs to return to get it. Mr. Brook manages to calm her down and promises to buy her a new one.

Madame Zilensky and her family move into the house next door to Mr. Brook. Mr. Brook finds it odd that they barely furnish the house, leaving it empty and unlived in. Madame Zilensky proves to be a great teacher, and the school is very happy. At night she works on her 12th symphony; Mr. Brook feels as though she never sleeps. He worries that there is something wrong with Madame Zilensky, who tells outlandish stories of her world travels. One day, she stops by his office to ask about her metronome. She wonders if she left it with a French man she was once married to—the father of one of her sons, each of whom has a different father. Mr. Brook is surprised—the boys all look alike, but not like Madam Zilensky.

As time goes on, Mr. Brook becomes more unsettled by Madame Zilensky’s stories. She makes even mundane stories about her life sound fantastical. One day, Madame Zilensky tells him about seeing the King of Finland on the street. Mr. Brook remembers that there is no king of Finland and realizes that Madame Zilensky’s stories are all lies. As he ponders why she makes them up, he understands that she devotes so much of her life to music that she has no time for anything else. These stories give her life excitement, allowing her to live in her imagination.

The next morning, Mr. Brook arrives at his office early and waits for Madame Zilensky to arrive. When he hears her footsteps in the hallway, he asks her to tell him again about the King of Finland; when she launches into the story, he stops her to say that there is no King of Finland. As Madame Zilensky refuses to admit that she is lying, Mr. Brook sees panic and desperation in her eyes. He backs off, feeling affection toward her and ashamed of acting cruelly. He admits that she was right and asks her to tell him more.

Later, at home, Mr. Brook is grading assignments when he looks out the window and sees a neighbor’s dog. It takes him a moment to realize what seems strange: The dog is walking backwards. He watches the dog until it disappears and then returns to his grading.