a halt, dejected. “I’m sorry. I can’t remember the next line.”
Emotion swelled in Vero’s chest. She could. And with those few words, she knew Elsie had found her anthem—one full of angst and hope and gloriously gritty melody. Bless Leonard, and bless the girl’s gut instinct for what she needed. Vero put her hands on the piano. “You’ve remembered enough. From the top, shall we?”
The look on Elsie’s face when the opening chords played nearly had Vero’s tears spilling over. “Sing with me, child. The words will come.” This much she could do—this much of a gift was hers to give. By the time the lesson was over, she would have the words etched on her student’s soul.
~ ~ ~
––––––––––––––
To: [email protected]
From: Vero Liantro < [email protected] >
Subject: Ah, my heart sings again.
––––––––––––––
Dearest Jennie,
Such a lovely girl, our Elsie—and what a heart she has for the music. It just sweeps her off her feet. Not an altogether comfortable sensation for her, but oh, such a gift she has. Not the voice—she sings adequately, and will sing rather well before I’m done with her, but no more than that.
She was, however, born with a rare talent for listening to the music with her soul. And soon enough, it will not be sufficient just to listen.
She will not fail on her journey—the music will not permit it. My heart feels certain of it now. There may, however, be some interesting detours along the way. The music will help open her, and experiencing freedom for the first time is always fraught with a few difficulties.
You might be interested to know that I believe it was Lizard who helped Elsie to find her song—that one song we all have deep in our souls that is meant to journey along with us. One by my friend Leonard, of all people. He would be amused. I’ve sent her away with some homework—to listen to the many and varied versions of Hallelujah, and then to return next week and sing it with me again. It’s a song that can evoke so many possibilities—dark, light, and everything in between. I will be most curious to see what she chooses, and how that changes as she travels. It’s a splendid song for a woman on a journey.
As for Lizard, Melvin reports that she is brushing off his requests to go visit Realm with Ginia. She tells him she has too much work to do. Is the child taking time for play? He is concerned.
I believe that’s all for now. Come visit soon—if Elsie can trust her body parts to a computer, then surely you can as well.
Love and light,
Vero
~ ~ ~
Lizard collapsed at the kitchen table, staring at the yogurt container in her hand in disgust. It was the only thing edible left in the fridge. Somebody hadn’t been grocery shopping, and she couldn’t get her brain in gear enough to remember if it was supposed to have been her.
Elsie ate yogurt, and she didn’t die, so maybe it wasn’t really white toxic waste. Lizard sniffed. Eew. It smelled like cough syrup and slightly rotten milk. No possible way could she eat this.
She stood up to go toss it in the garbage and grabbed the table, swaying. She held on until the light-headed feeling passed. Crap. No food and no sleep was a really, really bad combination. And since sleep wasn’t happening anytime soon, rotten-cough-syrup toxic waste was pretty much her only choice.
Plugging her nose with one hand, Lizard stuck a spoonful in her mouth, gagging as she swallowed. Gross—it felt like swallowing boogers. Big, slimy boogers. Totally repulsive.
She was not going to eat boogers. Even desperate witches had their limits. Making sure she had her balance, Lizard headed for the door. Time to go beg.
She didn’t even make it to Caro’s steps before the door opened and one very annoyed witch stepped out onto her porch. “What the hell is
Emotion swelled in Vero’s chest. She could. And with those few words, she knew Elsie had found her anthem—one full of angst and hope and gloriously gritty melody. Bless Leonard, and bless the girl’s gut instinct for what she needed. Vero put her hands on the piano. “You’ve remembered enough. From the top, shall we?”
The look on Elsie’s face when the opening chords played nearly had Vero’s tears spilling over. “Sing with me, child. The words will come.” This much she could do—this much of a gift was hers to give. By the time the lesson was over, she would have the words etched on her student’s soul.
~ ~ ~
––––––––––––––
To: [email protected]
From: Vero Liantro < [email protected] >
Subject: Ah, my heart sings again.
––––––––––––––
Dearest Jennie,
Such a lovely girl, our Elsie—and what a heart she has for the music. It just sweeps her off her feet. Not an altogether comfortable sensation for her, but oh, such a gift she has. Not the voice—she sings adequately, and will sing rather well before I’m done with her, but no more than that.
She was, however, born with a rare talent for listening to the music with her soul. And soon enough, it will not be sufficient just to listen.
She will not fail on her journey—the music will not permit it. My heart feels certain of it now. There may, however, be some interesting detours along the way. The music will help open her, and experiencing freedom for the first time is always fraught with a few difficulties.
You might be interested to know that I believe it was Lizard who helped Elsie to find her song—that one song we all have deep in our souls that is meant to journey along with us. One by my friend Leonard, of all people. He would be amused. I’ve sent her away with some homework—to listen to the many and varied versions of Hallelujah, and then to return next week and sing it with me again. It’s a song that can evoke so many possibilities—dark, light, and everything in between. I will be most curious to see what she chooses, and how that changes as she travels. It’s a splendid song for a woman on a journey.
As for Lizard, Melvin reports that she is brushing off his requests to go visit Realm with Ginia. She tells him she has too much work to do. Is the child taking time for play? He is concerned.
I believe that’s all for now. Come visit soon—if Elsie can trust her body parts to a computer, then surely you can as well.
Love and light,
Vero
~ ~ ~
Lizard collapsed at the kitchen table, staring at the yogurt container in her hand in disgust. It was the only thing edible left in the fridge. Somebody hadn’t been grocery shopping, and she couldn’t get her brain in gear enough to remember if it was supposed to have been her.
Elsie ate yogurt, and she didn’t die, so maybe it wasn’t really white toxic waste. Lizard sniffed. Eew. It smelled like cough syrup and slightly rotten milk. No possible way could she eat this.
She stood up to go toss it in the garbage and grabbed the table, swaying. She held on until the light-headed feeling passed. Crap. No food and no sleep was a really, really bad combination. And since sleep wasn’t happening anytime soon, rotten-cough-syrup toxic waste was pretty much her only choice.
Plugging her nose with one hand, Lizard stuck a spoonful in her mouth, gagging as she swallowed. Gross—it felt like swallowing boogers. Big, slimy boogers. Totally repulsive.
She was not going to eat boogers. Even desperate witches had their limits. Making sure she had her balance, Lizard headed for the door. Time to go beg.
She didn’t even make it to Caro’s steps before the door opened and one very annoyed witch stepped out onto her porch. “What the hell is
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