Update on a sweet child.

Do you remember my sweet girl that I told you about, whose brother passed away recently? She was the one playing in the wheel chair? Well, on that day I felt as though I may have missed an opportunity to reach out to her, and I was worried that the chance may not come again - BUT! Hallelujah, today is the day of the open door!!

My Theatre II class is currently finishing a Musical Theatre unit in which they are required to sing 16-32 bars of a musical theatre song (preparation for auditions, should they ever be asked to sing... could I possibly say "Musical Theatre" one more time in this sentence?) Practical, certainly. The students were allowed to choose any musical theatre song that they like, pending approval from me. This student, I remember, actually on the day when she was rolling around in the wheelchair, had a particularly difficult time choosing a song, but on that day I encouraged her to choose any song that she loved, and was passionate about, and I was sure that it would become the right choice.

I believe I told you, too, that she had previously asked me if it was okay to sing the song to someone who is dead. So, I had a feeling that this was coming, but I seemed to have forgotten all about it - but yesterday, the students had to perform the lyrics to their song as a monologue, to demonstrate acting choices that they will then transfer to their song on Friday. And let me tell you - hers was moving. I mean, really. I had read the lyrics to her song prior, but to hear her speak the words - with such truth, such honesty, such vulnerability - beautiful.

Then, today I was looking through her paperwork as I was grading the assignments, and she had written me a note - "Please don't think I'm crazy for singing to someone who is dead - I'm not crazy." No, sweet heart. You're not.

In reading her analysis, she confessed so many thoughts and struggles, and to tell the truth, it was more of a journal than a homework assignment - and I am so, so grateful. I was not sure how to approach her about it, but I did tell her that she's not crazy - because she is not. And I wrote on her assignment that her brother is a perfect scene partner for this song. Because he is.

After school today, I was helping another student figure out timing for her song, and I asked the few who were left waiting for their parents if they wanted to sing through their songs for me as well. This student said yes immediately, and performed a beautiful, beautiful, rendition of Patterns from Closer Than Ever. I have never heard the recording from the musical, but honestly I could not imagine anyone else singing it now. The maturity and love that came pouring out of that 15-year-old girl was just heartbreaking... and inspiring. "Filling" may be the only truly suitable word for how I feel.

On Friday (or perhaps Monday) she will be performing for the rest of the class - and I can't wait to thank her for her heart. To tell her that it is so beautiful and powerful to use her story and her love for her brother to make music - to make art. And that, my friends, is what this is all about. That is why we are here. That is why the arts are important - because they are a way for us to fill in the gaps in our souls, to fill them up with music and life, and to pour it out onto others. 

The arts are important, because they allow us to live. And they allow us to sing - no matter what comes, we can still sing. 

And sing, we will, sweet child. Sing, we will.