The cello stands in the corner, waiting to sing her song. Who will help her sing it? My friend Manon's relationship with her cello inspired this short story.
Playing the Cello
The cello leaned against the boy and felt him drag the bow across her strings. It hurt her and she sang out in pain, "Ouch!"
Sometimes the boy's hands were dirty from playing outside and sticky from eating jam on toast but the cello didn't mind. He played her. Slowly, day by day, the boy became her friend. Slowly, day by day, the boy learned how to hold the bow and pull it across her strings so it didn't hurt. And slowly, day by day, her song became sweeter and ever sweeter. Her music was so beautiful that others listened. Sometimes, many times, the boy's mother listened.
But one day the boy didn't come to play. And that day stretched into a week, a month, a year. The cello stood in the corner of the room waiting.
"What's that thing?" Visitors asked.
"I'm a cello. Play me," the cello sang, but without her bow against her strings, she couldn't sing loud enough to be heard.
Year after year, the cello waited. Until one day someone did pick up her bow. Someone did drag the bow across her strings.
"Ouch!" It hurt her.
Had the boy come back? Had he remembered his friend?
No.
The boy's mother came--her hands smelled of soap, meals cooked, and gardens tended. Slowly, day by day, the woman learned how to draw the bow so it didn't hurt. Slowly, day by day, the cello sang more and more sweetly.
And now no one asks, "What's that big thing?" for everyone knows that she's a cello and she sings sweetly. She sings for you in lush gardens where bumble bees buzz. And she sings for me in grand concert halls where once long ago cellists in white wings and jackets with tails played. And she sings...
On the Blog in December
Sunday, December 22
Carry Me Home (children's story)
Mitten happily rests beside his brother in the girl's pocket, but then he falls... It's cold... It's dark... Who will help Mitten get home?
Sunday, December 24
Christmas Collection (short stories)
A slight change of plans. I've decided to share my collection of Christmas-themed short stories--including the one I wrote this year. I hope you enjoy reading them.
Sunday, December 29
Holiday Office Party (short story)
Holiday parties can be challenging, especially for spouses. What do you say to people you barely know but who may be important to your husband's career?
And my year-end wind-up.
