Music in My Heart: My Journey with Melody

I haven’t played “His Eye Is on the Sparrow” in so long, but something about that song feels right. Melody says it’s the first song we heard at Uncle Al and Auntie Josephine’s. We should do it for them.

Val doesn’t know this song, but she said she’ll cheer us on from the grass. She looks relieved to not be heading onstage with us. Melody reaches for my hand and we walk up to the stage steps. I’m having trouble catching my breath. Thank goodness I’m not about to sing.

I sit down at the piano bench, and the crowd grows quiet. Please let me remember how this goes, I think. But as I start to play the song, it comes back to me. And Melody’s singing helps. Her voice drifts off the speakers and across the crowd, and I almost forget I’m playing at all.

And then, I see a little movement in the crowd. Is Poppa pushing his way to the front of the stage? And sure enough, with Cousin Charles, right behind him, they’re carrying more trays of barbecued ribs. They must’ve heard Melody over the loudspeaker and come running. Seeing them gives me a warm feeling, like they’re my family, too. I laugh a little, and then accidentally play a couple of wrong notes. Oops!

Melody sings on, and I realize nobody cares about my mistake. They’re all too busy enjoying the music. So I keep playing, that peaceful feeling settling over me again. The song reminds me of Al and Josephine’s. It reminds me of my grandma. And now, it will remind me a Big Momma, and Poppa and those silly spare ribs.

When we’re done playing, Big Momma steps closer to the stage and leads the applause. Melody reaches for my hand, and we take a bow. When we get back to the grass, Big Momma pulls us into a warm hug and says she’s never heard this song performed more beautifully. She touches Melody’s cheek and lifts my chin towards her, too. She says we shouldn’t feel sad about Al and Josephine. We just showed the whole crowd that when there’s passion for good music and people to appreciate it, the music goes on.

I nod. Suddenly, I understand. My grandma’s gone, but when I play the music Grammy loved, it’s like she’s right there with me. Long after Al and Josephine’s performance hall is torn down, the memory of that amazing place will be with me, too. And after I go home, although I’ll miss Melody and her family, I can bring them back anytime I want with a song.