Joyce Carol Thomas |
When the Nightingale Sings |
a novel for young adults |
But when Melissa took the lead, she sang almost seductively. You had to have sharp ears to hear the hint of just a little too much sweetness, and as she was singing she was also looking over at Sweet Jimmy. There's a man in my life He's the sweetest savior I know Good Lord I love him so He's my friend in deed He's everything I need There's a man in my life After all three had sung the final chorus, the audience applauded as the singers exited behind the curtain. About a minute later a loud commotion could be heard breaking out behind the curtain, upstaging Regina Redfield and Her Daughters, who were standing at the microphone with their mouths open. In the back, the three sisters continued raising Cain. Ruby Lee said, "Aha! Just as I thought. Get your hands off my husband. I saw you back yonder making eyes at each other. My own sister!" "Just a friendly little kiss," said Melissa. "A little too friendly," said Ruby Lee. |
"I'm willing," said Marigold. "You must believe," said the Nightingale, "that you have the song within your heart. You must believe with all the belief you can muster; you must believe that you can sing it all, not some. And when you start to sing, you must sing from your heart and trust that the song will come." "I don't know," said Marigold, a little hesitantly. "Another thing, I just remembered," continued the Nightingale, encouraging her. "While you sing from your heart, a nightingale must sing from his heart to yours. You see, the music and the lyrics of our heart's song go to the darkest regions of the deepest parts of our soul. If we don't let it out enough, sometimes it can't find its way back. But when the nightingale sings the right song to your heart, a clear path is lit for the song to return." Marigold started to sing slowly, trying hard to believe, while the Nightingale whispered in her right ear (the oppressed ear) and then later in her left ear, alternating as Marigold continued to sing. |
Text © 1992 Joyce Carol Thomas. Cover © 1992 HarperCollins Publishers. |
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