by Anna Casey

Created on: July 08, 2009

Gerry looked up at the clock again. It was still 2:30. He could not help but think that when you were going to the dentist and wanted time to freeze, it seemed to move forward faster than ever, but when you were willing it to move forward it would inevitably stand still for hours. He went to the bathroom to check himself out one more time. He looked at the boy that stared back at him in the mirror. He had freckles across his nose, crooked teeth and hair that would not stay in place. But he has meticulously dressed himself in his blue button down shirt and khaki shorts this afternoon. He even made sure that his mother had ironed them the night before. He used his sister's hair gel to try and keep his hair in place, and even tried those teeth whitening strips in a fruitless effort to minimize the attention drawn to his bad teeth.

Gerry looked at himself again. He wondered what it was that she saw in him. She said he was the most talented piano player she had ever heard, and she had heard a lot of piano players in her time. She would stroke the back of his head and tell him to play her favorite song one more time. Then she would put her head on his shoulder and hum along. Maybe it was his talent that drew her to him. But his sister said he was a bore on the piano. She said he had no passion, whatever that meant. Well, whatever the reason, Gerry was no fool. He knew when he had something good and he was not going to question it.

Gerry's thoughts were interrupted by his mother. "Gerry, lets get going. We don't want to be late for piano lessons." Finally. Time had moved forward to the moment he was waiting for.

The entire walk to Mrs. Kent's house was a lesson in patience. It was everything Gerry could do not to take off ahead of his mother and sprint to his lessons. He could not wait to see her.

It was an eternity before Mrs. Kent answered the door. "Come on in Gerry. Well, don't you look handsome today. Are you ready for your lesson?" she asked. "I can't wait to hear the beautiful music you are going to play for me today." Gerry opened his mouth to speak but no words would come out. All he could do was nod his head. His throat was as dry as the desert sand. Maybe this was a bad idea. He wanted to tell his mother that he did not feel well, that he wanted to go home with her, but again, the words would not come. He stood there with his mouth gaping as his mother turned to leave.

"See you in an hour Gerry," she said. And

• 1
• 2
• Next Page >>