Music in My Heart: My Journey with Melody

I really wish I had chosen another song. But it’s too late to choose something new. But then, I flash back on the afternoon at Big Momma’s, when Melody and I jammed at the piano with Dwayne. I remember how the song changed into something new with the end, and how Melody just kept singing, and the rest of us went along with her. I wonder if I can do that again. Can I create something new by myself?

But there’s no time to think about it. Melody’s about to sing the last line of the lyrics. So I begin the last few bars of the song, and take a deep breath—and a big chance. I close my eyes and play from the heart. I let my fingers glide across the keys, not toward the finish, but towards somewhere new altogether. I don’t tell them what to do, it’s like they have a mind of their own. Is this what Ms. Stricker meant about making my song my own? The music swells for a minute, and then I start to bring it down, closing with a few sweet notes.

When I turn, Melody is staring at me in wonder, her jaw hanging open. And then, the crowd starts to applaud. Pride surges through me. That was fun. That was really fun!

There are more people on the lawn than there were before. Did they come just to hear us perform? Two of the Miss Sepia contestants are standing in front of the stage, cheering loudly. They’re even more beautiful up close. And I feel beautiful right now, too. I don’t need a fancy hairdo or pretty dressed for that. I just need to let my talent shine.

Melody must feel the same way. Her face is glowing as she gestures me toward the microphone to take a bow with her and Val. And as I stand up, I realize something. Thanks to Melody and her family, the next time I can’t find a song that speaks to me, I’ll create one of my own.