Song of the Mockingbird: My Journey with Josefina

I can’t resist the mockingbird’s tune. I grab Josefina’s hand and tell her to run with me. We can’t let him get away. Josefina looks surprised. As I pull her along, she asks what’s wrong.

I tell her that nothing is wrong. We should just run because it’s fun. The mockingbird flits ahead of us as if he’s teasing us, always a few feet out of our reach. The brisk wind blows against my face. It’s scented with adventure. I scramble up on a rock, my basket over my arm. The mockingbird is balancing on a branch just ahead. Sombrita springs up on the rock behind us.

I tell Josefina to jump as far as she can. I leap off the rock, my arms outstretched, and land on the soft ground below. Josefina does the same, and I catch a glimpse of Miguel standing a short distance away, his mouth open in surprise.

Josefina rubs some dust off her cheek and asks if we lost the mockingbird. I say no, he’s there. I point to the branch with the mockingbird still balancing, watching us. Josefina glances quickly at Miguel. She whispers we should sit on the rock and catch our breath. We set our baskets down beside us, and Sombrita sniffs around our skirts.

Just then, the mockingbird starts to sing again. I slide my flute from my pouch and run my fingers over the smooth back. Josefina gently asks if I heard mockingbirds during captivity. I once said that their songs have special meaning for me. I swallow and say they do. I remember my loneliness when I was sitting on my boulder outside my house, just before I came to Josefina’s world. Josefina comments that I probably have many memories of the past that are powerful. We should make the mockingbird’s song into a different one. That way when I hear it, I’ll think of our adventure instead.

I smile, and I raise my flute to my lips. I play a few notes. I must be careful not to play the time-traveling tune in front of Josefina. She might be a little surprised if I were to vanish before her eyes.

Josefina sings the mockingbird song again, longer, her voice trilling up and down the scale. I play the notes on my flute and the song appears, winding its way through the piñón trees and floating on the breeze toward the more distant hills.

When we’re done, I comment that that was an amazing song. I’ve never composed anything before. Maybe we should do a duet. We could play it for Josefina’s family tonight. Josefina’s forehead creases, and the confidence fades from her face. She said she loves to sing when she’s by herself, but she gets nervous singing in front of other people. I reach out and touch her hand. I say that I love performing, and our song sounds wonderful. We can play and sing together, and it won’t be scary. Performing is always easier with a best friend beside you.

Josefina nods slowly. She says she’ll feel braver with me there. Just then, I hear the crack of snapping twigs behind us. What was it that Señor Montoya said about enemy Indians in the area? I whirl around.

Relief floods me when I see Tía Dolores coming towards us. She and Francisca are hiking up toward the hill, baskets at their sides, with a servant trailing behind. Tía Dolores says she’s come to find more yucca root for the laundry. But what are we doing? She says she doesn’t see any rabbit-brush near here.

I break in and say that we were chasing a mockingbird. We heard his song and I felt like I had to follow him. And then we composed a tune of our own. Francisca raises her eyebrows and tells us to play it for them. I turn to Josefina and tell her that we should play it. She is reluctant. I encourage Josefina softly. Finally, she nods. I turn to the others and clear my throat. I greet everybody loudly, and announce that Josefina and I would like to sing a song we’ve composed to celebrate our friendship.

Tía Dolores smiles and she and Francisca sit down on a log nearby. Miguel leans back against the tree. Josefina’s forehead is a little sweaty, and my stomach feels a bit fluttery, too. I always get butterflies before any performance. I turn to Josefina and she takes a deep breath. I raise my flute to my lips. Then, our mockingbird song fills the air, soaring up to the striking blue sky. As I play, Josefina’s voice gets stronger and steadier.

I feel my heart lifting along with the notes on my flute. Happiness fills me. Maybe music and friends aren’t just back in Chicago. I feel like maybe, I can finally feel like Birdy again. Audrey flashes through my mind. Maybe she likes musicals, too. Maybe we’ll try out for the Skit Club together. Tomorrow, I’ll tell Josefina I’m going home. But I know I’ll never forget this day, or her.