THE LOST CHORD

Sean was 7 years old when he travelled with his parents to Cork to visit his sick Great Uncle Seamus known affectionately to him as GUS. 

Sean was scared – his parents had told him how sick GUS was and that they must make the most of the visit. However ill GUS appeared when they arrived, Sean was not to be rude and was asked to sit and listen to his Uncle.

As the Citroen wound its way down to the small town the sun hid itself behind the clouds and Sean felt a shiver, what if he’s already dead? He’d got up 20 mins after they’d sent him to bed and parked himself half way up the stairs, this being the best place to get information when you needed to know what was going on at 7 years of age. 

Sean overheard them talking of the Cancer and how the Dr had told the family he hadn’t got long to go so Sean prepared himself for the worst even though his parents, John and Myraid, thought it best to keep him in the dark – what where they thinking!

On arriving at the grey slate house, Great Aunt Mary met them at the door she seemed resigned to the events of the day as Sean pushed past her, to take the stairs two at a time.

“Sean my boy, you’re here, great, great, said GUS as he pulled himself up with great effort as the boy threw himself onto the bed wrapping his arms around the old man. 

“Hey hey hey what’s all this, come on be brave now my boy” said GUS as he whipped away Sean’s salty tears.

“But GUS, I heard them, they say you won’t have long, are you really going to die? Please don’t leave me”.

“That I am my boy” sighed GUS – it comes to us all and I’ve had my time. Look you’ve come a long way it’s nearly time for bed and I have something for you before you have your cocoa” 

“What is it GUS” Sean was excited now.

“Over there boy” said the old man as he pointed at an aging oak chest.

“That’s right, open it up and bring me that case”

Sean lifted a triangular shaped case from the chest and brought it over to the sick man who coughed for a long time before pulling himself forward. Looking into Sean’s face he ventured “there you go my boy, open it up now, hurry there’s not much time – they’ll be up here in a minute whisking you away from me before you know it”.

Hurrying, Sean opened the case – it was lined with emerald green velvet, and inside was a harp, it was painted purple with inlets of green flowers, it was the most beautiful thing Sean had ever seen.

“What is it GUS” Sean’s eyes were wide now.

“Why it’s a harp boy – look, I’ll show you” and with that GUS took the harp from Sean and played 6 lovely chords making a beautifully magikal sound. 

Sean notices a collection of small creatures gathering at the window as GUS gently made the chords. 

“Now you try” he said, handing the harp to Sean. 

“But I don’t know how” said Sean, I need lessons GUS.

“Lessons pah, this isn’t a standard instrument boy, it’s a magik harp!  And I decide who plays it and they do. Simple! Go on now try it” and he handed the harp to Sean.

At that point the little mammals at the window shuffled closer in anticipation.  Sure enough, Sean leant the harp towards him and straight away his fingers moved by themselves creating the same sound as the old man had. As Sean moved through the six chords, the animals sat wide eyed at the window in amazement.

Chord one, deep. Chord two, less deep. Chord three, level. Chord 4, high. Chord 5 – oddly nothing, no sound came out for Chord 5. The animals at the window sighed out in unison, deflated. Then came the highest, Chord 6 provoking the animals to chatter in their own language at the window.

“Give him a chance you lot” GUS barked as he inclined his chin towards them – they jumped and looked towards Sean apologetically.

That’s great my boy, well done, you can play it, it’s yours to do go to work with”

“But GUS, the 5^th Chord, why didn’t it play for me, like it did for you?”   And as he said this, Sean tried the chords again but the 5^th chord still made no sound at all.

“GUS! What do I do” said Sean.

“Ah – my boy, number 5 is the “Lost Chord” – and you have to find it…. “   With that the old man lay back on his pillow and closed his eyes.

“Wait! GUS what are you doing! Don’t go! Don’t leave me! Where do I find it?”

GUS momentarily opened his eyes and put his hand over Sean’s shaking wrist. 

“In your heart boy, you find it…. cough… in your heart” and with that the old man gave a gentle cough and passed away.

THE LOST CHORD

Sean was 7 years old when he travelled with his parents to Cork to visit his sick Great Uncle Seamus known to him affectionately as GUS. 

Sean was scared – his parents had told him how sick GUS was and that they must make the most of the visit and, however sick GUS appeared when they arrived, he wasn’t to be rude and to sit and listen to his Uncle.

As the Citroen wound its way down to the small town the sun hid itself behind the clouds and Sean felt a shiver, what if he’s already dead? He’d got up 20 mins after they’d sent him to bed and placed himself half way up the stairs, the best place to get information, when you needed to know what was going on when you were 7. 

He overheard them talking of the Big C and how the Dr had told the family he hadn’t got long to go. So he was ready for the worst even though his parents John and Myraid thought it best to keep him in the dark – what were they thinking.

Great Aunt Mary met them at the door and he flung it back, running past her and up the stairs, two at a time..

“Sean my boy, you’re here, great, great, said GUS as he pulled himself up with great effort and the boy threw himself onto the bed and wrapped his arms around the old man. 

“Hey hey hey, what’s all this, be brave now my boy” said GUS as he whipped away Sean’s salty tears.

“But GUS, I heard them, they say you won’t have long, are you really going to die? Please don’t leave me”.

“That I am my boy” sighed GUS – it comes to us all and I’ve had my time. Look you’ve come a long way it’s nearly time for bed and I have something for you before you have your cocoa” 

“What is it GUS” Sean was excited now.

“Over there boy” the old man pointed at an oak chest.

“That’s right open it up and bring me that case”

Sean lifted a triangular shaped case from the chest and brought it over to the sick man who coughed for a long time before pulling himself forward. Looking into Sean’s face he ventured “there you go my boy, open it up now, hurry there’s not much time – they’ll be up to take you away from me to your bed soon”.

Hurrying, Sean opened the case – it was lined with emerald green velvet, and inside was a harp, it was painted purple with inlets of green flowers, it was the most beautiful thing Sean had ever seen.

“What is it GUS” Sean’s eyes were wide now

“Why it’s a harp boy – look, I’ll show your” and with that GUS took the harp from Sean and played 6 lovely chords making a beautify sound. 

Sean notices a collection of animals at the window as GUS gently made the chords sing out. 

“Now you try” he said, handing the harp to Sean. 

“But I don’t know how” said Sean, I need lessons GUS!

“Lessons pahh, this isn’t a standard instrument boy, it’s a magik harp – I decide who can play it – and then they do,  simple – go on try now” and he handed Sean the harp.

At that point the animals at the window shuffled closer in anticipation. Sure enough, Sean leant the harp towards him and straight away his fingers moved by themselves creating the same sound as the old man had. As Sean moved through the six chords, the animals sat wide eyed at the window in amazement.

Chord one, deep, chord two, less deep, chord three, level, chord 4, high, chord 5 – nothing! No sound came out for chord 5! The animals at the window sighed out in unison, deflated. Then it came the highest Chord 6 – the animals chattered in their own language at the window.

“Give him a chance you lot” GUS barked at them – they jumped and looked towards Sean apologetically.

That’s great my boy, well done, you can play it, it’s yours to do with what you will – work at it boy, work”

“But GUS the 5^th chord why won’t it play like it did for you” As Sean said this he tried the chords again but again the 5^th chord wouldn’t make a sound.

“GUS! What do I do” said Sean desperate now.

“Ah – my boy, number 5 is the “Lost Chord” – and you have to find it…. “   With that the old man lay back on his pillow and closed his eyes.

“Wait! GUS what are you doing! Don’t go! Don’t leave me! Where do I find it?” Sean was trembling as tears pricked at his eyes and then, momentarily, Gus opened his eyes. Putting his and over Sean’s he spluttered “In your heart boy, you find it…. in your heart” and with that the old man gave a gentle cough and passed away.