“I suspect his brain sees words like music.The words on paper probably sing in his head.The big sign, probably a billboard, was for the Rolling Stones.He wants to be called Jagger.”
“Jagger it is then,” laughed Luke.“Let’s take him to the cafeteria with us.We’ll introduce him to the other children.”
As they approached the cafeteria, they could clearly see the other children inside.Tailor and Alec, both over six-feet-seven, were seated cross-legged in front of the children as they play their instruments.
“Well, we might have our answer,” smiled Luke.“None of them look like they don’t want to play.”
“Let’s just ask to be sure,” pleaded Ace.
“Of course, brother.”They opened the doors and walked inside, everyone who was eating their lunch was silent, listening to the children.Gaspar, Ghost, Ian, and Nine walked toward their sons and the others.
“Whatever those kids need, give it to them,” said Ghost.“I’ve never been so moved by music in all my life.That’s all they wanted to do.When they were seated and the teachers gave them their lunch, they cried.Alec figured out why.They wanted the instruments beside them.”
“We were worried that they’d been forced to play and they might think they had to play for us,” said Luke.“I guess this tells us they want to play.”
“That’s all they want to do,” said Ian.“Faith, Erin, and Grace had to make a deal with them.Eat first, play second.I never saw kids eat so fast in all my life.”
The four senior statesmen turned to see the boy with Keith and then turned to Luke and the others with look of dark, determined death on their faces.
“Who did that to that boy?” growled Nine.
“The doctors and nurses at the hospital,” said Cam.“We found it and found some interesting things, including a dozen or so dead bodies of kids.The coroner took them all and will tell us what happened, but we’re pretty sure we already know.”
“Jane and Riley said that they opened that boys head and then tossed him in the same room as the others.By some miracle, by the grace of God or the Easter bunny or whatever, that boy’s head healed.He writes music,” said Eric staring at him.“He writes the most beautiful music ever according to Bull and Erica.”
They all stilled, watching as Keith signed to the other children that there was someone else who had been at the hospital.The children just smiled at him, not caring about the shape of his head or that one side of his body didn’t move correctly.
Seeing the other children with instruments, Jagger handed them his notes and they all stared at it, then up at him.Turning, Pip handed his guitar to Bull and while Erica took one of the violins.
“Can you play this?” asked Bull.
“I’m darn sure going to try,” she smiled.“You only get to play a masterpiece once in your lifetime.”
As the two began playing, it was as if the whole world stopped and stood still.The children stood as close as they thought possible, feeling the instruments’ vibrations, closing their eyes, as if absorbing every note, every sounds, every chord through their bodies.
When Erica and Bull stopped, breathless, they smiled at one another.
“I’ve never in my life played so fast,” said Bull.
“Me either,” laughed Erica.“But that was the most brilliant piece of music I’ve ever seen.”
Suddenly the music began again. They stared as the children repeated what they’d felt, what they’d seen, and in fact played it better than the professional musicians.
They were so excited when they finished, they didn’t even care that more than two-hundred people were standing and applauding.
“What the hell did we just witness?” frowned Ghost.
“One of God’s true gifts.”
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Matthew stood behind them all, glowing in his ethereal light.The children didn’t even question it.They walked toward him and smiled.As he always did, he touched each one, kissing their foreheads.
“Pops, did you know about these kids?” asked Gaspar.
“No.Not in the way you think.I knew that children like this existed but I had not met these children before.”
“They seem like they know you,” said Nine.
