Melanie's Mission

Melanie's Mission

Chapter 1The Visit

Mom said, "Please take these muffins to Mrs. Ortez.Then we'll go and play some tennis."

Melanie said, "Okay, Mom, but you have beaten me at tennis for the last time.I might not be able to sing well, but I am sure I can beat you at tennis!"

Melanie went to Mrs. Ortez's apartment.She heard music, but it stopped when she rang the bell.Mrs. Ortez opened the door. "Come in, Melanie," Mrs. Ortez said, smiling.

Melanie said, "It's okay, Mrs. Ortez. I'll come later, when you haven't got visitors."

"There's no one else here, dear," said Mrs. Ortez.

Melanie said, "That's weird. I heard music."

"I was the one who was playing the piano, Melanie," said Mrs. Ortez."I gave my piano to my son because my fingers are too stiff to play well.But I missed my piano, so my son sent it to me."

Melanie and Mrs. Ortez went to see the piano in the sitting room.

"It's cool," said Melanie.

"It is beautiful, isn't it? It belonged to my great-grandmother," said Mrs. Ortez."Would you like me to play something? You can sing along."

Melanie said, "No thanks, Mrs. Ortez. Singing is not my favorite thing to do.I don't like music very much.I'm more of an outdoors, adventurous kind of girl."

"You can like being indoors and enjoy music, too," said Mrs. Ortez."I believe that everyone can find some music they enjoy. Let me play for you."

Mrs. Ortez carefully sat on the piano stool.Mrs. Ortez's fingers were swollen and twisted. They looked painful.

Then Mrs. Ortez began to play.The music made Melanie want to dance, and she did!Melanie was carried along by the sounds of the music.

Melanie asked Mrs. Ortez what she had played on the piano.

Mrs. Ortez said, "It's dance music."

Mrs. Ortez rubbed her fingers. She said, "I have arthritis in my hands.It is extremely painful. I taught the piano for 40 years, but now I can hardly play."

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