The Bench in the Woods

The Bench in the Woods - Kathryn Steele (Desert Ridge Middle School, 7th Grade) 

The air is thick with humidity as Harmony trudges through the dense forest, her worn leather shoes sinking into the soft earth with every step. She's lost in thought about her family's state, the little food they have left, and the constant worry about where the next meal will come from. Her mind wanders back to her violin, nestled safely away in its case on her back. It's the one thing that brings her any joy these days, especially after her grandfather died. It's a warm summer's day and the sun filters through the canopy of leaves above, dappling the forest floor in a pattern of dancing light and shadows. She hasn't heard much wildlife this morning, but then again, she's been too lost in her own thoughts to really notice.

She finally sits down on an old bench, hidden in the midst of a small clearing, and carefully removes her violin from its case. The familiar weight of it in her hands is comforting. She takes a deep breath, closes her eyes, and begins to play. At first, her fingers fumble on the strings, but soon enough, the music flows effortlessly from her. The forest seems to come alive around her, the birds singing along with her tune, and the rustle of leaves in the breeze forming a gentle accompaniment. Beautiful, breathtaking music fills the air around her, carrying on the wind and echoing through the trees.

She plays for what feels like hours, losing herself in the music, forgetting about her troubles for a brief moment. As she plays, she can't help but feel as if someone or something is watching her. She glances up from her violin, half expecting to see a deer or a wild boar, but instead, she sees them. A group of young children, no older than five or six, are standing at the edge of the clearing, their eyes wide with wonder and curiosity. They back up slightly when they notice her looking at them, but don't run away. They just stare, enraptured by the sound of her violin.

She smiles at them. They're only kids, after all, and her heart swells with a sudden rush of empathy. She silently ushers them over to the clearing, setting aside her violin. As they approach, she notices that they're all wearing dirty, tattered clothes and have haunted looks in their eyes. They look like they haven't eaten a proper meal in days. They remind her of herself when she was young, before things got so bad.

The kids sit on the ground in front of her, watching her with big, hopeful eyes. "Where did you get that pretty violin?" one of them asks, their voice barely above a whisper.

"From my grandfather" She says, her voice soft and gentle. "He left it to me in his will, before he passed away." The children exchange glances, their eyes filling with sadness. "He used to play it all the time, when I was a little girl. It was his favorite thing." She smiles, remembering. "He taught me how to play too."

"C-can you play a song for us? We've never heard a violin play before," asks another child timidly, her eyes shining with hope. Harmony's heart aches to see them like this, so lost and alone. But she is more than eager to share the joy that her violin has brought her, even if it's only for a little while.

"Of course, which kind of song would you like me to play?" Harmony asks, carefully taking her violin from its case once more. The children exchange glances, their eyes shining with excitement. "A happy one! A sad one!" they all shout at once. Harmony laughs, and then nods. "Okay, I think I know just the song for that. It's called 'Air on the G String' by Johann Sebastian Bach. It's both happy and sad at the same time, just like life. How's that sound?" The children clap their hands together in approval.

"Alright, let me set the stage for you," Harmony says, positioning her violin beneath her chin. The children lean in, their eyes fixed on her as she draws the bow across the strings for the first time. The melody fills the air, sweet and sad all at once. It's the most beautiful thing they've ever heard. They close their eyes, lost in the music, feeling the emotions wash over them like a gentle summer rain. Harmony is also lost in the music, thinking about her grandfather and how this song was one of his favorites. She plays with such passion and skill that the children can't help but feel a sense of hope and wonder welling up inside them.

When she finishes, the children sit in stunned silence for a moment, the melody echoing in their ears. Then, one by one, they begin to clap, their hands soft and hesitant at first, but growing louder with each passing second. Harmony's cheeks flush with pleasure and pride. She has never seen such a reaction from an audience before, let alone from children. When the children stop clapping, she looks into their eyes and sees a new light there, a spark of hope and wonder that was not there before.

"You're like a forest fairy! You really do play just like one!" one of the girls exclaims, her eyes shining. "Can we come back tomorrow? To hear another song? Please?" The other children nod in agreement, their eyes pleading. "We promise we won't bother you or ask for anything else," they all chime in.

Harmony chuckles to herself. "I wouldn't ask for anything besides your listening, but if you insist...alright. You may come back tomorrow. We'll see what I can come up with for another song." The children squeal with delight, jumping up and down in excitement. "C-can we bring our friends too? They would love to see this! Please?" asks one of the boys shyly.

Harmony, feeling a happy surprise at the children's eagerness, nods in agreement. "Alright, you may bring your friends too. The more, the merrier!" She can't help but smile at the thought of sharing her music with more people, and it fills her heart with warmth. The children exchange excited glances, already imagining their friends' reactions to the beautiful music they will hear.

They run off in a group, excited to tell their friends about the magical "forest fairy" who plays the violin. Harmony watches them go, feeling a sense of warmth and purpose spread through her. She wonders if they will remember her when they grow up, if the music will stay with them as they navigate through life's ups and downs. She hopes so, because she knows that music has the power to heal, to bring people together, and to make even the saddest of days just a little bit brighter, especially for her poor family.

The next day, Harmony got up a little earlier than usual and prepared her violin for another performance. As she was tuning it, she couldn't help but feel a sense of anticipation building inside her. She wondered what song she should play today, something that would touch the children's hearts and leave a lasting impression. She decided to play something upbeat and cheerful, a song that would remind them of the beauty of life and the strength they possess within themselves.

When she got there, she felt wildly surprised. The number of children had nearly doubled, and they had brought along several of their friends, too. They immediately noticed her coming up into the distance and ran towards her, their faces bright with excitement. They were all talking at once, eager to share their stories of the day with her. She ushered them down with happy surprise in her voice, and sat down at the old wooden bench again, the children sitting around her like yesterday.

"I'm sure you've all been busy today," Harmony says with a smile, "but I hope you've all been good. Now, who's ready to hear a song?" The children cheer in unison, their excitement contagious. "Of course you are! What song shall I play today?"

"A song about... friendship!" shouts one of the girls excitedly, waving her hand in the air. "We've been talking about it all morning!" The others nod in agreement, their eyes shining with excitement.

"Friendship you say? That's a wonderful idea," Harmony says with a warm smile. "There's a song I know that's all about the beauty of friendship. It's called 'The Best of Friends'." The children squeal with delight, clapping their hands together in anticipation. Harmony takes a deep breath, closes her eyes, and begins to play. Her violin seems to come alive in her hands, the music filling the air around them, a melody that speaks of the joy and comfort that true friends bring into our lives.

The music dances through the woods, a celebration of the special bond between friends. The children's faces are lit up with joy, their eyes shining with tears as they feel the emotion of the song. Harmony's violin seems to weave a spell around them, transporting them to a world where friendship is the most important thing in the world. Even the songbirds and deer have seemingly quiet down for Harmony's performance, as if they too are caught up in the beauty of her music.

When she finally finishes, there is a moment of silence so thick it feels like a physical presence between them. The children's faces are awash with emotions, and they begin to applaud. The sound is hesitant at first, but soon it grows into a thunderous roar, echoing through the woods. Harmony smiles, and she feels a lump forming in her throat as she sees the impact her music has had on these children. They may not have much in the way of material possessions, but they have each other, and they have the memories of these moments spent together, listening to her play, just like she did when she was young.

"Can we do this again? Like tomorrow too?" One little girl asks, her eyes shining with hope. The others nod in agreement, some clapping their hands together in excitement. Harmony looks around at their faces, at the way they're all smiling and laughing, and she knows she has to come back tomorrow. "Of course! I can do this every day, I've got nothing but time." That part was true, because her family couldn't afford fancy video games or toys, Harmony often found herself bored in the evenings. This could be something to look forward to. "Let's make it a tradition, shall we?" The children squeal in delight, expressing their agreement.

The next days that followed were no different, with the number of children seemingly multiplying each time Harmony returned. They would gather around her, eager to share their stories and listen to her play. The woods became a place of joy and companionship, a refuge from the harsh realities of their lives. The music she played became a soundtrack to their lives, a constant reminder of the beauty that could be found even in the darkest of times.

Then, one day, after her daily performance and when most of the children left, a little boy walked up to her and tugged on her skirt to get her attention. He was shy, but Harmony could see the determination in his eyes. "Hey, miss... I... I wanted to ask you s-something..." He stammered. Harmony knelt down to be at his eye level, her gentle smile reassuring him. "What is it, sweetie? You can ask me anything."

"Well, I told my parents about you, and they would like to watch you play tomorrow. They said that they wanted to see the "forest fairy" for themselves." The boy smiled shyly, a twinkle in his eye. "They're not sure if you're real or just a story we tell each other, but they want to meet you. They said they'd bring some food and stuff."

Harmony's eyes widened at the thought. She'd never expected to meet the boy's parents. A wave of nervousness washes over her, but she tries to hide it with a reassuring smile. "Oh, well, I'm not really a fairy. I'm just a person like you. But I'm happy to meet them. And thank you, it's nice of them to want to see me play." She says, her voice quiet but steady.

"R-really?" The boy stammered, his big eyes widening in disbelief. "But you're so... special!" Harmony's heart almost melted when he said that. She wasn't special, she was just a girl who came from a poor family who played the violin. But she knew that for these children, she was something more. She was a ray of hope in their dark lives.

"Of course! Tell them I'd be happy to meet them. I'm just glad that my music could bring some happiness to you and your family." Harmony said with a gentle smile, patting the boy on the shoulder and giving him a caring smile before he ran off.

That night, Harmony could hear her parents arguing about the money. Again. She felt hopeless on these nights, and she knew that her father was worried that they wouldn't have enough to get by. She wanted to tell them about the children in the woods, about the joy she found playing for them, but she didn't want to add to their burdens. She knew they were trying their best. But the thought of the children and their families, struggling like they were, only made her ache for them more.

The next day, when she headed over to her usual spot, her heart skipped a beat. She saw a group of people waiting for her, and her stomach did a flip-flop. The typical multiplying group of children were there, but there were also a few adults, all dressed in worn-out clothes, their faces lined with worry and fatigue. They all seemed poor like her, and she silently praised herself for taking extra care with her appearance that day, making sure her dress was clean and her hair was neatly combed.

When she was in view of the children, they all did the typical ritual of crowding around her, greeting her in utmost excitement. It took her a moment to find her voice again as she smiled and said hello to the crowd. The children sat in their usual spots, and the parents behind them, some standing, some sitting, all watching intently. Her heart raced as she took out her violin and bow, adjusting them before she spoke.

"Welcome again, everyone!" she said, her voice clear and strong. "I'm so happy you could all come to see me play today. Now, who would like to start the music with me?" As always, a chorus of eager voices filled the air, and the children began to ask for songs about love, courage, anger, and hope. Harmony caught a request in the air for a song about power and resilience, and she smiled. That was for her. She wanted to play something that would remind them that no matter how hard their lives were, they had the power to keep going.

"How about I play Fire In The Forge by Ted Allen? It's about power and what it can bring, good or bad. But most importantly, it's about resilience and the strength we have inside us to keep going no matter what," Harmony explained, her voice steady and reassuring. The children nodded their heads in agreement, and the parents behind them seemed to perk up as well, their faces softening into appreciative expressions.

"Alright, let's give it a try!" she said, taking a deep breath before beginning the piece. As she played, her fingers danced across the strings with a practiced ease that belied her young age. The melody soared through the clearing, filling the air with a sense of hope and determination. The children's eyes widened as they listened, their bodies swaying in time to the music. Even the parents seemed transfixed, their faces softening into expressions of wonder.

The music was powerful, strong, and loud enough to drown out all other sounds. It was as if Harmony were playing directly for each person's heart, touching them in a way that words could never do. The children's faces were a mix of awe and joy, and the adults behind them seemed to be wildly surprised by the emotions that the music was bringing up inside them. They hadn't expected this, hadn't expected to see this amount of skill in one girl.

When she finished, there was a moment of silence so profound that it felt like the entire clearing held its breath. Then, as if released, a chorus of excited applause and cheers erupted from the crowd. The children jumped to their feet, clapping and whooping, their faces shining with awe and admiration. Even the parents behind them were clapping and nodding their heads, their expressions a mix of surprise and pride.

Harmony smiled, her cheeks flushed with pleasure at the crowd's reaction. She bowed deeply, first to the children, then to the parents. As the applause died down, she saw some parents get up and lead their children away, while others stayed behind, approaching her with hesitant steps.

"Oh, uh, Miss Harmony?" one of the mothers stammered. "My little Jimmy here, he's been having a hard time at school, you see? He just can't seem to focus, and he's been getting into fights with the other children..." Her voice trailed off, and Harmony nodded understandingly.

"I'm sorry to hear that," she said softly. "Music can be a wonderful outlet for children like Jimmy. It can help them express themselves in ways that they might not be able to through words." She looked at the mother with kind eyes. "You can come here any day to hear my performance. Perhaps if you bring Jimmy along, he might find something in the music that speaks to him."

The mother nodded, her eyes filling with tears. "Thank you, Miss Harmony. I don't know what we'd do without you."

Harmony had never expected her performances to have such an impact on people's lives. As she watched the mother and child walk away, she felt a new sense of purpose welling up inside her. It wasn't just about playing music for her own enjoyment anymore; it was about using her gift to make a difference in the lives of others.

When she got home, the first thing she was confronted by was her parents. The sense of happiness and pride almost instantly vanished when she saw their concerned and worried expressions. "Harmony," her father began, clearing his throat. "We need to talk about where you've been going these past few days."

Harmony's heart sank. They had found out. "I-I'm sorry, I didn't mean to keep it from you," she stammered. "I just needed a place to play, to practice..."

Her father's expression turned to confusion. "Practice? What HAVE you been doing exactly for all those hours?" Harmony hesitated, wondering how to explain. "I've been playing for a group of people in the forest. It started out as just a small group of children, then they brought friends, then their parents just today. They love music. They listen to me, and it helps them, and me, feel better."

When she looked up at her father's face again, she was surprised to see a new expression there. Not anger or disappointment, but a mixture of realization and understanding. "Harmony, I'm proud of you," he said quietly. "You've found a way to use your gift to make a difference in the lives of others, and that takes courage. I just want you to be careful. You're not just a child anymore; you're a role model for those children in the forest."

Harmony felt proudness swell up inside her. Her father was quite the protective man, especially to his only daughter, and to hear him say those words meant more to her than she could possibly express. "I will, Father," she replied, tears welling up in her eyes. "I promise to be careful. But I'm not just playing for them, you know? They're my friends too. They make me feel like I belong somewhere."

Her father hugged her tightly, his eyes misting over with tears. "I'm so proud of you, Harmony. I know you'll make a difference in this world. Just remember to stay safe, and always come back to us, okay?"

"Of course! I'll always come back to you. You and Mother are my rock, my safe haven," Harmony said, her voice trembling with emotion. She couldn't help but wonder how her parents had found out about her secret concerts in the forest. It wasn't as if she had told anyone, or left any evidence behind. Perhaps one of the children had let something slip to their parents? Or maybe someone had seen her entering the forest from a distance and put two and two together? She may never know

"Oh, and a little advice for you..." Her father paused, a mischievous glint in his eye. She cocked her head in confusion. "I was a busker back in my day, actually. Played on the street corners and in the parks. Made some extra pocket money outta it. But here's the trick you gotta do: always, always play for the person in the back of the crowd. The one who's standing by themselves, or the one who looks like they could use a little happiness. That's where the real magic happens, you know?"

Harmony smiled, feeling a warmth spread through her chest. "I'll remember that, Father. Thank you." She hugged him tightly, grateful for his wisdom and support. As she settled into bed that night, she couldn't help but feel a sense of contentment and excitement for the future. Those little kids had given her a new purpose in her life, and she wasn't going to let that go.

The next day, her mother lended her a small woven basket to possibly collect donations in. The idea both delighted and surprised Harmony, as she had never considered the possibility of people wanting to give her something for her music. As she walked through the forest, the basket in hand, she couldn't help but feel a newfound sense of pride and purpose. The children, their parents, and even a few new faces, gathered around her once she arrived and she sat down. She took the usual request, this time it was Dragonhunter by Richard Mayer, and when she finished, she placed the basket beside her in the wild applause and faced it towards the crowd, seemingly not paying attention to it.

It wasn't until everyone had gone back when she checked the basket. The little children had given her all that they had: a handful of coins, some colorful ribbons, a few shells and pebbles, and even a crudely drawn picture of her playing the violin in front of a beautiful forest. Tears welled up in her eyes as she took out each item, feeling a warmth spread through her chest. This was more than she could have ever hoped for.

She kept playing day after day, with people coming to see her daily performance, and the basket filling up with more and more offerings. The children grew closer, becoming more like a family to her. They shared stories, secrets, and dreams, and she felt like she was a part of something bigger than herself.

One faithful day, after she had finished playing her song, a man approached her. He was dressed in fine clothes and carried a leather satchel across his shoulder. He introduced himself as a talent scout, and told her that he had been watching her performances in the forest for some time now. He was impressed by her skill and her ability to connect with the crowd. He offered her a chance to play at the local music hall, and even hinted at the possibility of her performing on national television.

She was astounded, and said she'd never expected anything like this. The children had become her family, and the thought of leaving them behind, even for a chance at a brighter future, felt like a betrayal. But her father's words echoed in her mind, and she knew that this was a chance to share her music with more people, to bring happiness to those who needed it most. And, on the next day, she revealed to the children that she would be leaving for a time to pursue her dreams. There were tears, of course, but also understanding and excitement for her. They promised to wait for her and to keep practicing, so that one day they too could share their music with the world. She promised to come back no matter what.

With a heavy heart but a light step, Harmony left the forest and began her new life as a professional musician. She played in grand halls, charmed kings and queens, and even traveled to foreign lands. But wherever she went, she never forgot the children and the life they had given her. She dedicated every performance to them, and whenever she could, she would find ways to send them little gifts and letters, filled with stories of her adventures and her love for them. She even met a few of them on her journey, and every time it felt like a homecoming.

Years passed, and Harmony's fame only continued to grow. Her music reached new heights, touching the hearts of millions around the world. But no matter how successful she became, she always made sure to find time for the forest and the children who had been her first audience. She would often take a day off from her busy schedule, sneak away from her handlers, and return to the place where it all began. There, she would play her heart out for the children, just as she had all those years ago. The memories of her father and the forest would wash over her, and she would feel more alive than ever before.

The children, now grown into young adults, had also found their own paths in life. Some had become musicians, following in Harmony's footsteps, while others had pursued other interests. But they all remained close, and each time Harmony returned to the forest, they would gather around her, sharing stories of their lives and the music they had made. They would reminisce about the old days, laughing at the memories of their youth, and marvel at how far they had all come.

But the one thing Harmony never forgot was her grandfather. She often thought of him, and the stories he had told her about the old days, when the forest was even wilder and more magical than it was now. She wondered what he would think of her success, of the way she had brought joy to so many people through her music. She wondered if he would be proud.

She thinks he would.