gig

She is only 7 years old. She was clapping along to the songs I was playing and seemed to be having a great time. She told me that she had just turned 7 the other day. I asked her if anybody had sung happy birthday to her, she said no, so I led everyone in a rousing rendition for her. She seemed pleased. I was glad. She is a resident of the institution because she has been repeatedly raped by family members, is psychologically scarred and needs help to start recovering. She is only one of so many at this place with similar stories. Another little girl was holding her ears when I began the gig because she wanted to go home and didn't want to be sitting in some room away from her family. Soon she was no longer holding her ears, but was smiling and talking to me telling me her name and age and asking for songs that I had never heard of. There is a cycle of energy that takes place between a performer and the audience. Both come away changed and you always hope changed for the better. Today I came away changed for the better for sure.