Most people didn’t see the men, women, and children that poured into Holland from Germany and Austria as anything other than a nuisance. Refugees to be shuffled off to someone else. But not Grandmother. She had always seen those less fortunate than she and was willing to use the wealth and resources God had given her to help.
A tap at the door made Chaisley turn in her chair. “Come in.”
Dr. Grafton’s cologne. What a surprise.
“I was expecting Melanie”—she stood and held her arms open—“but you’re always welcome too.”
His steps drew near and then he hugged her and tapped her nose. “It always amazes me how you distinguish who is in front of you without seeing our faces or hearing our voices.” He squeezed her arms. “Don’t worry, Mel is coming, because I’d like to discuss a few things with you both while they are on my mind.”
“Oh?” She reclaimed her seat. “That sounds serious,” she teased.
He cleared his throat. “It is. But only because I want to take precautions.”
Her smile slipped from her face. “Precautions?” She pleated her skirt in her fingers. Was the state of Europe so bad they needed such things?
“For your safety.” His voice shifted slightly. He must have turned away. “Here’s Melanie. Would you close the door?”
“Of course.” The door clicked and Melanie’s lighter footsteps approached.
A chair scratched across the floor, then another.
Chaisley wasn’t ready for anything heavy yet. “Melanie”—she held out the other letter—“would you read this for me first, please?”
“Of course.” Her friend took the letter. The paper crinkled. Mel cleared her throat. “It’s in German, so I need to translate as I go. Forgive me if I’m a bit slow.”
“Dear Miss Frappier,
“My name is Mary, I am eleven years old, and I live in Berlin. Several years ago, when I was only five years of age, my mother brought me to one of your concerts in Paris.
“It was the best night of my life. That night you opened up my heart and mind to music. It spoke to my very soul.
“You see, I was a difficult child. I constantly threw tantrums, struggling to figure out the world around me. I should probably tell you: I am blind.”
Chaisley gasped and put a hand to her throat. Never had she received a fan letter from a blind child!
Melanie continued reading.
“The world calmed down as you played. That was the first time that had ever happened.
“I told my mother I wanted to be a pianist that night.
“After that, Mother arranged for me to take lessons until things became more difficult for us here. They took her away for a while, and my piano teacher hid me. When she returned, she was broken and not the same. They performed some kind of operation on her because she is also blind. Our house was taken away.
“Ever since, we have gone from home to home to stay with friends. My mother says we must hide so they don’t take me away as well. She is afraid. My piano teacher tries to see me when he can, but I can tell by the sound of his voice that he is also afraid now. His visits have become quite rare.
“I do my best to give my mother hope by playing for her, but all she does is cry.
“I hear you are coming back here to tour, and my piano teacher is trying to get tickets for Mother and me. I think if she could just hear you again, she would once again have hope and remember what it did for me as a little girl.
“I am leaving you the address of my teacher in case you would like to write him or the two of us a note of encouragement.
“Please keep playing. I wanted you to know how much you inspired me and changed my life. We all need hope—and you gave that to me.
“I pray I get to hear you play again soon.
“Thank you for opening up the world of music to me.
Mary Beth Klein”
