The Piano Past

The Piano past- Gibbons

I’m Rodney Brown, I’ve been gifted with piano playing since I was a very little boy. At this moment in time it helps me cope with traumatic memories. It is the only thing that has been and stayed with me for 70 years. I somehow feel like I can connect with her, like she is the only thing that listens and talks through the keys. I’m devoted to her. This song seems like it describes what the past couple of years has been like.

I met Sheila when we were 12; we’ve had so many memories together. I learnt her piano when we were 25 and she carried on playing until February 14th when she passed away in my arms. I can still remember how she used to kiss me gently before we went to bed, how caring our relationship was, but in one blink of an eye, it’s all gone.

That brings me to 1975 (war) when I lost my brother.  Behind the wall my brother and I stood. I signalled him to go out, worst mistake ever. As a tear ran down my cheek, he fell backwards, into my arms. Since that day, I blame myself for his death.

Now for a happy memory. I were 4, my granddad and I were having a laugh. He gave me a huge blue box, my adrenaline rushed as I began to wonder what was in it. I opened the box to find the most beautiful hobby horse ever. It was the best day of my life.

Just like the piano, that got passed down until this very day in 2013, when I gave it to my grandson. I will always remember this day my grandson and I played harmony on the piano as a grand finale of Sheila’s song. At the end he looked up at me and smiled, then said “I love you Granddad!”

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