Music in My Heart: My Journey with Melody

I suggest we perform “Lift Every Voice and Sing.” I have that one memorized, and I don’t think I’ll mess it up. Melody says it’s perfect, and Val knows it, too. She’s chewing a fingernail, like she has second thoughts, but she doesn’t say so. So the three of us start walking towards the stage. When Melody squeezes my hand, I get a burst of courage, too, and march forward.

My legs shake as I climb the three steps to the stage. I’m glad to have a piano bench to sit on. Melody and Val have to stand in front of the microphone, which I could never do. But still, my heart is pounding as I play the first few notes. Then Melody’s sweet voice pipes out of the microphone, along with another voice. Val is singing softly, harmonizing with Melody.

I turn to look at my two new friends, and I catch Big Momma’s face in the crowd. She looks so proud. She claps her hands together and raises them toward us like she’s sending us a hug.

I keep playing, but as I near the end of the song, I realize something. I can’t play the song all the way through. If I finish it, it’ll send me home, and I’m not ready for that. But I can’t just stop playing either, because this is Melody’s big moment to shine. I don’t want to ruin it for either her or Val. A trickle of sweat runs down my back. What am I going to do?