Inspiring, heart-felt stories for you 2

The Magic Music Box

The two parents sat in the doctors office, either not understanding or not accepting the doctors words. For a long moment, neither one of them moved.

Brooke, their little girl, was almost two now and even though she hadnt spoken a word yet she was still adorable. She had blonde, curly, wonderful hair and big brown eyes that always reminded Mark of a puppy dog. For the past couple of months though, her parents, Bethany and Mark had began to notice that she didnt respond to words, or noise of any kind. So they had brought her to a doctor. This doctor was kind of young but he had kind eyes and a gentle, quick smile. But the news that he had just told them was almost beyond imaginings.


They had wondered what could be wrong with little Brooke but now they knew. Now they had their answer. After the moment of shock wore off, Bethany finally closed her eyes slowly.Mark opened his mouth and then frowned and closed his mouth again. He had heard the word speechless before now, but he had never understood it completely. Now he did.The young doctors eyes held sympathy for them. After a long moment, the doctor lifted his shoulders in a sympathetic gesture.


Mr. and Mrs. Williams, Im sorry. I know this is terrible shocking news but ..


Mark shook his head.


Cant we do anything to help? Anything at all?


The doctors lips tried to smile but he couldnt manage one.


Unfortunately, not ..


But -


I know this is a shock, but your daughter was born like this and we just didnt catch it until now.


Like-


She was born deaf. She can hear absolutely nothing. Nothing at all. He lifted his hand and sliced it through the air to emphasis his point.


Bethany had managed to keep her tears at bay until the doctors next words came out in a rush.


Mr. and Mrs. Williams there are wonderful schools out there that could help your daughter to learn to communicate with other people. She is not helpless. She is just deaf, but that is an unfortunate problem that can be helped.


He went on to explain about how the child need only stay in a school for two years to learn how to read lips and everything else she needed to know *****rvive. But the only things either Bethany or Mark had heard was their daughter - their lovely wonderful Brooke was deaf.


Come to Mommy, Honey. Bethany said keeping her mouth turned toward Brooke, so that the six-year-old child could read her lips.Brooke smiled and started running toward her mother. Her mother heard her and laughed. It was Brookes birthday and everyone was in a wonderful mood. Even though they hadnt wanted to Bethany and Mark had decided to put Brooke in a special school very quickly. Brooke was a very quiet did, who didnt speak a lot even though she could. As a rotten of fact, Brooke had never spoken one word. Not one word, ever.

Mark and Bethany showered lots and lots of love on their child, but as of yet their efforts hadnt worked. Bethany hugged Brooke and told her that it almost time to open presents.Brooke nodded, and then ran back to her friends. Bethany sighed and shook her head. All of the experts had told her that it might take awhile, for Brooke to speak. They had also warned them that if Brooke ever did speak her words would be garbled and not like everyone elses, but that didnt matter to them.

They only wanted to hear their daughter speak.



That night, after the birthday party was over and Mark had gotten Brooke in bed, Bethany came in.


Sweetie? She asked, pushing back a strand of dark hair.


She knew that because the lights in the room were out, it was too dark for Brooke to be able to read her lips but she had said it anyway. She leaned down and sat on the edge of her daughters bed. Gently she put a hand over Brookes hair and then smiled.


She tipped Brookes head up so that she could see her and then started to sing the song that they sang every night.They had always sung, The Wind beneath My Winds for as long as Brooke had been alive, almost.


Brooke had been out of the deaf school for four years and Mark and Bethany had come to see her every weekend, and on every holiday while she had been in the school. Every time that Bethany started to sing the song, Brooke got a dreamy look in her eyes and sometimes she even smiled. When Bethany had finished the song, she smiled at Brooke and saw that she was asleep.


Gently she kissed Brookes forehead.


Gnight, Sweetheart. As Bethany stood and headed for the door, she saw Mark standing there with his arms crossed over his chest.


He put his hands on her shoulders and leaned forward to kiss the top of her head.


Shes okay, Bethie. Shes perfect.

Bethany nodded her head and turned to hug him.


Come on. Lets let her sleep.


The minute that he saw Bethanys face, Mark knew something was wrong.


Bethany? Whats wrong, honey? He asked with a frown.

Bethany numbly sat down on the couch beside him. A look of disbelief and shock and denial were written in her eyes. Slowly she turned her head to look at her husband.


Grandma died.


Instantly the concern fled out of his eyes and was replaced by regret.


Oh no.


Bethany nodded her head.


She - she had a heart attack.


Oooohh. He made a face, leaned back in his chair, and shook his head.


Brooke had been very, very close to her grandmother. This was going to simply tear her heart out of her little body to learn that she had died.


Neither of the two adults wanted to have to tell her. Tears filled Bethanys eyes.


I thought we were so close, Mark. So close to finally have her say something. This will set her back. Way, way back.


Mark nodded.


Late that night, Mark picked Brooke up and sat her on his knee.


Honey, He began quietly and Brooke tipped her head to the side, to watch his lips.


Honey, he exhaled and looked up at Bethany for help. She bent down and placed a hand against her daughters blonde hair.


Honey, Grandma had an accident.


Brooke frowned.


Brooke, Grandma died. She had to go up to live with the angels.


Silence.


Brooks frown deepened and she looked from her father to her mother.


Bethany nodded her head.


She died.

Without a word, Brooke managed to get herself up out of her daddys arms and she didnt hear her parents calling after her as she ran to her room.

Bethany knew how horrible Grandmas funeral was going to be for Brooke. She didnt want Brooke to have to endure it, but she knew she couldnt refuse to let Brooke come along. Brooke wore a little purple dress. It was dark purple and it had lace at the edges of the dress.Bethany had put Brookes hair up in a ponytail and for once, Brooke hadnt yet pulled it down.


All during the funeral, Brooke clung to Marks side. But when Mark told her he was going up to Grandmas casket, Brooke had had a tear fall from her eyes and she had moved back away from her father and sat on one of the chairs. She had folded her hands in her lap quietly and looked down.Bethany stood to one side, looking at her daughter. She felt someone touch her sleeve and turned her head to see. Mark smiled gently at her and wrapped one arm around her waist.


Shes okay. He had quietly told her and she had nodded her head. It was true. She knew that her daughter would be just fine. It wasnt ten years down the road though, that Bethany was worrying about.Later that night, not long after Bethany had put Brooke to sleep, after having sang her the song that they had both loved, Mark smiled at her.


I got something for Brooke. Well give it to her in the mornin.


What is it? Bethany asked curiously and Mark showed her a simple little, brown music box. On it was a picture of the three of them and Brooke was laughing.


Open it up. Mark instructed Bethany and so she did. When one opened the box, the music from The Wind Beneath my Wings filled the air and it brought tears to Bethanys eyes. She knew that even though Brooke probably wouldnt be able to hear the music, she would be able to enjoy the gift. They would have to give it to her early the next morning. Bethany looked toward Mark and shook her head. She wished that her daughter would be able to hear the music. She got up and walked over to the window where she looked up at all of the stars in the sky. Just because she felt like it, she made a wish. That, just for the moment, just for one moment, Brooke would be able to hear the music.



Early the next morning, Mark smiled at his daughter as she walked down the stairs, dressed for school. Her hair was once again, up in a ponytail and she looked adorable. Her eyes said very little and she didnt speak a word, but at the same time she didnt look especially sad either.Mark picked up the wrapped gift and picked Brooke up and sat her on his knees.


Here you go, Sweetie. This is yours. From Mommy and me.

She unwrapped the gift and looked up at him with a smile. She looked back down tipped her head as she lifted the lid of the top.


She heard nothing. But her daddys gentle hand raised her face to his so that she could understand him.


It plays music. He said gently and she smiled once more, and then her eyes lit up, in understanding. Even though she couldnt hear the music, she could always use her imagination.


She took her new gift to her room, that afternoon, after coming home from school and tipped her head. She gently lifted the box and, much to her surprise she saw a little, green elf! He was wearing a green and red outfit, with pointed green shoes.


She gasped and he held out his hand and shook his head, telling her not to be afraid. Then he stepped back and all of a sudden, she heard the most beautiful sound shed ever heard! The elf gently touched her hand, and smiled.


It twill last but a second. He warned and she nodded. She didnt care.


She listened to the beautiful music the box was making until the music began to fade and fade and fade and then she could no longer hear it. The elf wiggled his fingers at her in farewell and disappeared! Just like that! But the melody heard by the box was still in her ears. It helped her, and she realized the melody needed words. Suddenly she gasped and put the box down. Then she ran down the stairs and into the living room where she saw her mother and father, sitting. They were reading the newspapers.


When they heard her enter, they both looked up and she smiled tentatively and looked to her mother.

She moved her lips several times before the words came out. Song. You - your song! she exclaimed.

Dumbfounded, Bethany and Mark sat there for a second until Bethany got tears in her eyes.


Brooke frowned. Bo -box plays - your so - song.

Bethany hugged her daughter, with tears in her eyes and Mark did the same. Both of them wondered how shed known that but it didnt matter to either of them.


Later, once Brooke had started to talk as much as everyone else, she told her parents about the elf and the music - that beautiful music that she knew shed heard. Whether they believed the elf was real or imagined, it didnt matter. But Brooke knew that the elf in the magic music box was real and always hoped that one day, hed come back to see her!

Tiffini Johnson

Chân đất mắt sõi