第78章Roby’sPianoLessons

第78章roby’spianolessons

attheproddingofmyfriends,iamwritingthisstory.mynameismildredhondorf.iamaformerelementaryschoolmusicteacherfromdemoines,iowa.i'vealwayssupplementedmyincomebyteachingpianolessons-somethingi'vedoneforover30years.

overtheyearsifoundthatchildrenhavemanylevelsofmusicalability.i'veneverhadthepleasureofhavingaprotégéthoughihavetaughtsometalentedstudents.howeveri'vealsohadmyshareofwhaticall“musicallychallenged”pupils.

onesuchstudentwasrobby.

robbywas11yearsoldwhenhismother(asinglemom)droppedhimoffforhisfirstpianolesson.ipreferthatstudents(especiallyboys!)beginatanearlierage,whichiexplainedtorobby.butrobbysaidthatithadalwaysbeenhismother'sdreamtohearhimplaythepiano.soitookhimasastudent.

well,robbybeganwithhispianolessonsandfromthebeginningithoughtitwasahopelessendeavor.asmuchasrobbytried,helackedthesenseoftoneandbasicrhythmneededtoexcel.buthedutifullyreviewedhisscalesandsomeelementarypiecesthatirequireallmystudentstolearn.overthemonthshetriedandtriedwhileilistenedandcringedandtriedtoencouragehim.attheendofeachweeklylessonhe'dalwayssay,mymom'sgoingtohearmeplaysomeday.butitseemedhopeless.hejustdidnothaveanyinbornability.ionlyknewhismotherfromadistanceasshedroppedrobbyofforwaitedinheragedcartopickhimup.shealwayswavedandsmiledbutneverstoppedin.

thenonedayrobbystoppedcomingtoourlessons.ithoughtaboutcallinghimbutassumed,becauseofhislackofability,thathehaddecidedtopursuesomethingelse.ialsowasgladthathestoppedcoming.hewasabadadvertisementformyteaching!

severalweekslaterimailedtothestudent'shomesaflyerontheupcomingrecital.tomysurpriserobby(whoreceivedaflyer)askedmeifhecouldbeintherecital.itoldhimthattherecitalwasforcurrentpupilsandbecausehehaddroppedouthereallydidnotqualify.hesaidthathismomhadbeensickandunabletotakehimtopianolessonsbuthewasstillpracticing.“misshondorfi'vejustgottoplay!”heinsisted.

idon'tknowwhatledmetoallowhimtoplayintherecital.maybeitwashispersistenceormaybeitwassomethinginsideofmesayingthatitwouldbeallright.thenightfortherecitalcame.thehighschoolgymnasiumwaspackedwithparents,friendsandrelatives.iputrobbyuplastintheprogrambeforeiwastocomeupandthankallthestudentsandplayafinishingpiece.ithoughtthatanydamagehewoulddowouldcomeattheendoftheprogramandicouldalwayssalvagehispoorperformancethroughmy“curtaincloser.”welltherecitalwentoffwithoutahitch.thestudentshadbeenpracticinganditshowed.thenrobbycameuponstage.hisclotheswerewrinkledandhishairlookedlikehe'drunanegg-beaterthroughit.“whydidn'thedressupliketheotherstudents?”ithought.“whydidn'thismotheratleastmakehimcombhishairforthisspecialnight?”

robbypulledoutthepianobenchandhebegan.iwassurprisedwhenheannouncedthathehadchosenmozart'sconcerto#21incmajor.

iwasnotpreparedforwhatiheardnext.hisfingerswerelightonthekeys;theyevendancednimblyontheivories.hewentfrompianissimotofortissimofromallegrotovirtuoso.hissuspendedchordsthatmozartdemandsweremagnificent!

neverhadiheardmozartplayedsowellbypeoplehisage.aftersixandahalfminutesheendedinagrandcrescendoandeveryonewasontheirfeetinwildapplause.

overcomeandintearsiranuponstageandputmyarmsaroundrobbyinjoy.“i'veneverheardyouplaylikethatrobby!how'dyoudoit?”throughthemicrophonerobbyexplained:“wellmisshondorfrememberitoldyoumymomwassick?wellactuallyshehadcancerandpassedawaythismorning.andwellshewasborndeafsotonightwasthefirsttimesheeverheardmeplay.iwantedtomakeitspecial.”

therewasn'tadryeyeinthehousethatevening.asthepeoplefromsocialservicesledrobbyfromthestagetobeplacedintofostercare,inoticedthateventheireyeswereredandpuffyandithoughttomyselfhowmuchrichermylifehadbeenfortakingrobbyasmypupil.

no,i'veneverhadaprotégébutthatnightibecameaprotégéofrobby's.hewastheteacherandiwasthepupilforitishethattaughtmethemeaningofperseveranceandloveandbelievinginyourselfandmaybeeventakingachanceinsomeoneandyoudon'tknowwhy.

thisisespeciallymeaningfultomesinceafterservingindesertstormrobbywaskilledinthesenselessbombingofthealfredp.murrahfederalbuildinginoklahomacityinaprilof1995,wherehewasreportedlyplayingthepiano.