Previous Challenge Entry (Level 4 – Masters)
Topic: START (02/25/16)
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TITLE: Cody's Opus | Previous Challenge Entry
By Amy Gaudette
03/02/16 -
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“Good morning, Cody.” The quiet, gentle voice penetrated his defenses. “I see you wore your favorite red shirt today.” His mom's voice always meant good things. It was a gentle breeze on a hot summer day.
As she approached slowly, she offered her hand out to him.
“Would my handsome man like some breakfast today? Steaming pancakes with blueberries and warm maple syrup.” She added an audible prayer, “God, let this be a good day.”
Cody assessed the floor silently and grabbed her hand. It felt warm, like the sun, like her voice. Void of expression, he followed her to the kitchen table.
A smile played on Beth's face “Thank you, Lord.” She gave thanks as her son sat at the table and began to diligently work through the pancakes.
Her cellphone shattered the peace. Beth winced and scolded herself for forgetting to put it on vibrate. Cody hated noise of any kind. The pancakes went flying and a mournful wail was unleashed.
Beth hastily grabbed her phone. “Hello?”
“Hi, Beth. This is Thomas from church. We met in the child care room a few weeks ago? I was wondering if today would be a good day for me to bring my guitar over and play for Cody.”
“Oh, well . . .” Beth cringed as Cody's wailing escalated a few more decibels. “We had a good start, but right now pancakes are on the floor, juice is on his shirt, and there's maple syrup on the cat.”
“Why don't I come anyway? If you feel at any time I should back off, just tell me.”
Flustered, Beth reluctantly agreed. Thomas used to work with autistic children. It had to be worth a try.
With the kitchen cleaned up, Beth heard a knock at the door.
“Hi, Thomas. Come on in.”
“Thanks, Beth.”
Beth glanced over his tattered jeans and scruffy brown beard, and bit her lip. Thomas could sense the doubt and hesitation growing. He gave a calm smile.
“You make the call. I'll respect your decision.”
His voice was gentle, his face compassionate. Thomas entered the living room and sat on the side of the room opposite Cody.
Quietly, he began to strum his instrument.
Beth's heart stirred in recognition. Amazing Grace. He played so skillfully she was taken aback. She watched Cody's face and at once knew he had her son's attention. He was being pulled from his private, isolated world into another, a place he had never been before. This was a language he could understand and grasp. Cody walked over to where Thomas was sitting and knelt next to him. He stared at the guitar in wonder as beautiful sounds continued to drift through the air.
Beth watched, astonished, as Cody lifted his hand and touched the strings. The music muffled for a moment, then continued. He did it again, and again, the music was garbled. A tiny smile lifted the corner of his mouth.
The next few minutes the three of them were immersed in that which only could be described as heaven on earth. Cody began to sing. Beth had no idea how he could have heard and learned Amazing Grace like that. He sang it perfectly, one verse after another. Then Thomas joined him in his own quiet voice, and as he did, Cody began to sing harmony. Their voices lifted every dark moment she'd ever had and washed it away.
Beth's eyes filled with tears and she placed a hand over her mouth. Angels were singing with them.
Suddenly, Cody stretched out his hands and placed them over the guitar strings. The music came to an abrupt halt.
“Mom, can we have some cookies and milk?”
Beth stood still, shocked.
“More, please?” Cody looked directly at Thomas.
“Sounds good to me.” And Thomas played on.
~ ~ Cody still returned to his private world from time to time. But that day marked a new beginning for them. Music would draw him back again, and with Beth and Thomas's help, he learned to how to manage and eventually master what was going on inside of him. He also mastered music. He composed his first symphony at only 15 years of age.
Fiction
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The only thing I did not care for was the very last sentence. To me, it seemed to take a giant leap in to the future, where I think a softer hint of the future would have not made the conclusion seem so abrupt.
Even so, I hope and believe this will do well.
Blessings~