The Piano

Peeking into the living room, she saw it, pushed up against the far wall. Clapping her hands in joy, she ran across the room. It was smaller than the one she practiced on at home. Yet, it was a PIANO. A beautiful, lovely brown PIANO. Plunking her small body down on the stool, her little fingers nimbly began to play, moving up and down the keys. It felt great. At home, she had been taking lessons for over three years, having started when she was five. Every day, she practised her lessons and scales. This felt so comforting, almost like being back home with her parents. If I had my piano books, I could play something besides my scales. I would play all the time. Her smile got bigger as she played.

Aunt Martha came rushing into the room, scooped her up off the piano bench, and set her down on the couch. Surprised and slightly frightened, she looked at her aunt. What had she done wrong? Surely the scales had been correct. A quick glance at her hands reassured her that they were clean. Confused, she looked up at her Aunt.

“No one is to play the piano, except the older girls”, stated her aunt. “And they only play hymns. Now off you go outside.” Not understanding, she gave the piano a sorrowful glance as she slowly left the room. Tears tumbled down her face.

Her cousin Martha gave her a big hug. “It is ok, Jane. Dad decides who plays the piano since he is the one who paid for it. I will play with you for a while.”

Wiping away her tears, hoping the older cousins hadn’t seen her cry. She grabbed Martha’s hand as they ran out of the house together. Soon, they were giggling as they played with their skipping ropes.

One day, she was sitting outside in the shade, wishing she could play the piano. So many rules, she was thinking to herself. This is going to be the longest summer of my life.” Her aunt and uncle had gone somewhere. Where? She did not know. No one here ever told her anything unless she was doing something wrong. Such as playing the piano, skipping in the house, singing a song that wasn’t a hymn or dancing to the music in her head. Just a few of the things she had already learnt were not allowed here. Sighing, she picked up her book, deciding to read another chapter.

Hearing a commotion, she looked up to see her three cousins come rushing up to her, saying, in unison, “We are going to make you a hula skirt”. Not sure what a hula skirt was, did not stop her from smiling and agreeing. This sounded like fun. Grabbing old newspapers, they began to cut them into long strips, which they glued onto an old scarf. Giggling, she thought, What a mess. Aunt Nora is going to be mad at them, not me, this time. Soon, they were wrapping the skirt around her waist over top of her shorts. The oldest, Lois, sat down at the piano and began to play a song. This, definitely, is not a hymn, she realized. The other two girls twirled her around in circles, laughing and singing nonsense words. This is fun, she giggled to herself. Soon, the fun was over. With the evidence/newspaper cuttings shoved into the cookstove, the two oldest took off.

Martha turned to her, saying, “Well, Jane, did you have fun?

“Oh yes,’ she replied as she twirled around in her paper skirt.

“I will take a picture of you in your skirt, if you want.”

“Can I keep the skirt forever and ever?” she asked, as she twirled around the room with her bare feet dancing on the wooden floor to the music still bouncing around in her head.

“Yes, you can keep the skirt as long as you keep it in your room. Also, don’t tell Mom and Dad about Lois playing the piano and all of us singing.”

So many secrets. So many rules. She thought to herself as she nodded her head in agreement, looking very serious.

Some evenings, Uncle George would ask one of the girls, usually Ruthie, to play some hymns. As Aunt Martha and the other girls worked in the kitchen, he and Philip would sit in the room, listening to the music.

One evening, Aunt Nora announced, “While Lois plays the piano, Martha and Ruthie can wash the dishes. Jane, you will help me clean and snap the beans that we picked earlier.”

“Auntie, I have never snapped beans. Is it hard?”

The three girls snickered as their mother replied, “Jane, you are a quick learner. I am sure you will be able to help me with the beans. Since it is cooler outside, let’s sit on the step and work.

Her aunt was right. It was an easy chore, and being bored, she started to chatter. Immediately, she was shushed and told to listen to the music as she “worked”.

Why can’t they do the same as we do at home? While Mommy washes the dishes, Daddy sits in the living room reading the newspaper while my brother and I take turns playing the piano, she mused to herself.

Sitting on the step, quietly snapping beans, she made a promise to herself. If she ever got to go home, she would never complain about doing her piano lessons. Instead, she would play the piano every day with a huge smile on her face.

Sometimes, when her aunt and uncle were away, she would sit down at the piano and play her scales over and over again. Her cousins never stopped her. They probably were glad to have a break from ‘taking care’ of their little cousin.

One day, Cousin Philip had growled, “Why are you here anyway? No one wants a snot-nosed little brat hanging around getting in the way.”

“No one asked me if I wanted to be here. I didn’t have a choice. I was having lots of fun playing at the lake with Mommy and Daddy until Uncle Pete got burned. I would rather be anywhere but here. It is not my fault, my Mommy is a nurse and she has to be with him,” was her reply as she stomped out of the room.

Turning around and looking back at him, she stated,” At home, I get to play the piano every day whenever I want.