Do You Hear What I Hear? by Margaret Brownley

Author:Margaret Brownley
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Swerve

Chapter 9

Late that afternoon, Sally entered the school’s multipurpose room and spotted Mrs. Greenwell at the old upright piano, her head nodding up and down in time to the music. A group of children including Toby stood on stage, their thin high voices raised in song.

Do you hear what I hear?

Sally chose a chair at the back of the room so as not to disturb the singers. Sitting there was like stepping back in time. The room had the same nondescript-colored walls and floor she recalled from her youth. Similar dark curtains hung on either side of the stage. Even the piano looked and sounded familiar.

Mrs. Greenwell hadn’t seemed to change much, either. Her hair was now completely white, but she still wore it in a tight knot on top of her head. Sally couldn’t be certain but it sure did look like the same granny shoes pumped the pedals of the old piano.

The song ended and Sally rose to her feet, clapping. Mrs. Greenwell turned. At first she didn’t seem to recognize Sally, but then suddenly her eyes lit up.

“Why, Sally Cartwright. It’s about time you showed your face around here. Come over here. Let me look at you.” Mrs. Greenwell greeted Sally with a warm hug.

“I told Toby’s grandmother I’d bring him home,” Sally explained. “Is he done for the day?”

“We have one more run-through, but it shouldn’t take long. I don’t think I’ve ever had a child so determined to get his part right.”

“I know. He practices all the time.” She hesitated, not sure how much she should say. “His father is in Colorado.”

“I know. Poor child.” Mrs. Greenwell’s eyes had a faraway look. “Toby reminds me of someone else I know.”

Sally blushed at the memory. She was only ten the year her father walked out on the family. When she took the stage that long-ago December dressed in her angel costume, she searched for him in the audience. When he wasn’t there she burst into tears. She still felt guilty for causing such a scene.

“I ruined your whole pageant and I’ve never forgiven myself.”

Mrs. Greenwell’s expression softened. “Actually, you didn’t ruin anything. In fact, that was one of the most successful pageants I ever had.”

“I don’t know how you can say that.” Standing on stage, she had sobbed so hard she scared the younger children to tears. The pageant halted for nearly half an hour until everyone calmed down.

Mrs. Greenwell smiled. “Do you remember Johnny Hauser?”

“Wasn’t he the klutzy one who fell off the stage?”

“Yes, indeed. At the time of that pageant, his mom and dad were getting a divorce. But when they saw what your parents’ separation did to you, they decided to work things out.”

“Really?”

“It’s true. As a matter of fact, they recently celebrated their thirty-fifth wedding anniversary. Now you know why I call that my most successful pageant.”

“I didn’t know.” Sally shook her head in wonder. “I’m glad something good came out it.”

“Come to think of it, nothing good ever happened when everything went right.

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