Ha! The Dad! I can see that (especially in the great love that motivates his expressive opinions : ).

And I’m definitely going to ask you to be a reviewer for any work I publish in the big world. Such lovely descriptive words.

As for the polished parts, I can’t quite remember now. I’ll have to dig up the original to make a comparison.

It was fun to read this story again after so many years. Your voice is in full swing, light, funny, zippy with a little snark. You’ll have to tell me what parts you polished.

From Bruce Ceniceros on November 8, 2022 at 8:31 pm

I enjoyed this story, Jody. You painted a full picture of Madeleine and her family in a short time, and the pivotal moment in the restaurant left me wanting to know how her life unfolded from there. I am quite curious how you built a whole musical theater production around this character.

From Jody on November 9, 2022 at 1:44 pm

I’m so glad you enjoyed it, Bruce!
“The Music” is one story in a collection of short stories (some written and some yet-to-be-written). Each of the others focus on the lives of the people who made the requests on that Thursday night. The musical production includes scenes for the man at Table 7, Mr. and Mrs. Johnston, and the family whose 9-year-old asked for “A Whole New World.”
That theme of “all our little stories” shows up in just about all of my writing. I’m always fascinated by the idea that even the person who makes a very small appearance in the main story has a whole world of stories of his or her own in which the “main story” person makes only a small appearance.
When I remember this, it keeps me from thinking everything is all about me in the day-to-day stories I’m living, too!

From Bruce Ceniceros on November 9, 2022 at 9:35 pm

I love your perspective, Jody. I think your approach is pretty unique among writers and story-tellers. The minor characters rarely get painted in any depth. But Andrea and I can relate to your penchant for this: we often make up stories for fun about random strangers we spy in restaurants or parks based on visual cues.

From Jody on November 10, 2022 at 11:52 am

I love that, Bruce! What a lovely thing for a married couple to do together : )

From Jeanette Henneberry on November 16, 2022 at 8:39 am

I love the story, the characters and all the references to music which is so powerful in itself. Madeline chose to use the gift she had been given, even though it was not glamorous or lucrative. She did not put herself in the limelight to perform, but learned songs that spoke to her and she knew would speak to the souls of the others. Well written my friend! Beautiful!

From Jody on November 16, 2022 at 11:44 am
Ah, thank you, Jeanette. I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
And I love your comments–so well written. I hope you’ll be able to review my novel when it comes out : )

I know! The mom! How did that happen to us, Jeanette?

Richie,

What a nice thing for you and Pam to do together! I’m glad she’s encouraging you to read more fiction and super glad you two enjoyed this story.

I did borrow Mr. Schinkle’s last name from a mutual acquaintance (and his first name from another Idyllwild Elementary alum you may or may not recall). The cafeteria lunch date is purely fictitious.

Pam has been urging me to read more fiction, so we loved reading this together and I got brownie points to boot! Love how you express the thoughts of the characters, I am used to just focusing on words when I write. As I said, I’m sure Mrs. Hatfield would be pleased.

Also, does the wonderful Mr. Schinkle resemble any true personage past or present or is he purely fictitious? : )

Rich

Duly noted, Molly! I’ve posted it all in one post now.
(I’m sorry to have caused you any pain, but a reader’s desire for more sure can do a writer’s heart good–thank you for that : )

So sorry! I put it all into a single post now to keep future reader’s from such aggravation. Thanks for letting your thoughts be so clearly known. I love your enthusiasm!