Reconciliation

“When a father gives to his son, both laugh; when a son gives to his father, both cry.” -Yiddish Proverb

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–Part II of The Magical Harmonica–

A mockingbird in our dogwood tree gleefully announced that the storm was over. The sun was shining outside. After falling asleep to the sound of his beautiful music, my usual night terrors had been replaced with sweet, playful dreams. 

My father’s harmonica was magical, and he sat in that rocker and played for me almost every night for the rest of that year. 

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Time passed, and I grew older. My father was busy with a new career, and my mother now stayed home to do what she loved… care for me. The two of them were no longer unhappy, but I missed my dad. And his magical harmonica. 

Adolescence struck me like a baseball bat to the head. It was awful. My father encouraged me to play sports, while my mother insisted that I focus on my academics. Sadly, I wasn’t good at either. 

My inabilities seemed to be at the center of their lives, and eventually it consumed them. On this particular evening, a small disagreement turned into a heated, loud debate. The walls of my bedroom were thin, so I fled to my father’s office. It was separate from the house, and it was quiet there. 

Sitting on his black leather swivel chair, I spun myself in circles until I was dizzy. I felt like I might faint, so I grabbed hold of the credenza, behind his desk. That’s when I saw it again. Forgetting everything else, I walked straight into our house, put that harmonica to my lips… and I played.

The same sweet sound that I heard when my father used to play for me came pouring out of nowhere. I was euphoric. Never before had anything I’d ever attempted been so perfect. So beautiful. So natural. 

My parents fell silent, and they listened. And when they were listening, there was no more fighting. My father’s harmonica was magical indeed, and I played for my parents almost every night for the rest of that year.

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READ THE STORY HERE

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My note is short today. I may take some time out before finishing the final part of the story (even though I know how it ends). I’m doing my usual self-critiquing and – while I’ll keep some of my ideas to myself – I’m satisfied with this story with one exception… I think it needs some humor.

In saying that, I’m not going to veer off the original path – but I’m making note for the next story. That’s actually a “NOTE TO SELF,” but since I share so much anyways… there it is.

I think that’s all for now!
I’ll be around soon for a little intermission before the story ends.

Until then,
Thank you for reading.
I hope you enjoyed!