Mrs. Johnson told her off again. Today she was furious! Mary hated the musical school. She couldn’t play the piano, she hated learning musical notes, she couldn’t stand the angry rebukes from the teacher, who seemed to be criticizing her all the time! She burst into tears and left the building of the musical school.
-I will never play the piano again, - thought Mary, - I will tell Mom to throw it off the balcony!
She came up to an oak tree in the park and, while still crying, looked up. She saw a beautiful spring sky. The sky was blue and suddenly she heard the birds singing. It seemed to Mary that the birds were singing in a choir. A beautiful spring song of the birds made her happy! She forgot her troubles and was just listening. She even closed her eyes to be able to absorb the music better. Suddenly she heard a strange sound of someone crying. She opened her eyes and saw a beautiful big squirrel, sitting on a branch of the oak tree with very sad eyes!
-Why are you crying, beautiful squirrel? – asked Mary
- I am hungry, - said the squirrel. I have not been able to find anything edible today in the park for me and my mates.
-Oh, dear! I can easily feed you and your mates. I have got plenty of food in my school bag. I haven’t eaten lunch my mom put in my bag in the morning. Help yourself, dear squirrel! What is your name?
- My name is Liza, the musical squirrel.
- Musical squirrel! That sounds like music to my ears! - exclaimed Mary
- Yes, Mary. You see we have a squirrel band here in the park. We play different kind of music at our evening parties. Thanks a lot for the food, Mary and would you be interested in joining our musical evening party?
-Yes of course! - Mary was full of joy!
In the evening Liza, the musical squirrel, showed her an abandoned building in the park which looked pretty scary. But there was nothing scary inside the building! It was funny. The squirrels were dancing to the music of the park! Yes, it was the same lovely music Mary was listening to when she closed her eyes by the oak-tree. The music was flowing as if from the sky! It was full of energy and life! Then suddenly Mary saw a piano in the corner of the room, where the party was in full swing! Then she realized that something was missing in the room. Or someone? Oh, no! nobody was playing the piano! Liza, the musical squirrel, who looked gorgeous that night, came up to Mary and said
- Dear, Mary, dance we us! Unfortunately, the squirrel, who plays the piano, got sick and we have nobody to help us out
- But I …. can play the piano, said Mary with hesitation.
- Please, play Mary.!!! We all ask you!
Mary went to the corner and realized that she actually wanted to play the music of the park, she so enjoyed in the afternoon when she closed her eyes by the oak-tree. If only I could play so well! - she thought.
She closed her eyes and suddenly the tune of the park music illuminated her imagination and she started playing. She played so well that the squirrels were overwhelmed with joy and danced with more enthusiasm!
- You are one of us, Mary, -said Liza, the musical squirrel. – Join our band!
- But I am not a squirrel! – said Mary
- You belong to the music of our park, Mary. You don’t have to be a squirrel.
Mary didn’t give up her musical school, but since her encounter with the squirrels’ band her grades at the musical school have improved dramatically. Actually, she has taken part in several musical contests and won top prizes! And she is playing in the famous squirrel’s band in the park!
