Part 4. Christmas 2000
Mary was in her sophomore year at Western Washington University in Bellingham, twenty miles south of the Canadian border. It was the northernmost university in the contiguous United States. Her undergrad major was Literature. The family was awaiting her return for winter break with great anticipation, especially nine-year-old Itsuki. Seth and Layla’s books were selling like hotcakes, especially their new Christmas edition and Annie was in her senior year at Shorecrest.
Ever since she could remember Annie took piano lessons. Towards that end Seth and Grace had purchased a used baby grand piano for her. For the past few years she practiced diligently but seemed to lose interest. However, Itsuki was very interested and seemed to have a natural talent. So, Annie would take all of the past lesson books and teach her little brother the basics. He would dedicate himself to practice more than Annie ever did. Soon the student surpassed the teacher. Itsuki played the piano night and day and as a member of the school orchestra and Seth and Annie never missed a performance. Mary got the chance to attend the Holiday Musical Program at the school with the Gonzales family in proud attendance.
Seth finally got a call from Dr. Thompson, the music teacher at Kellogg and requested a meeting to discuss Itsuki’s apparent talent. On Dr. Thompsons recommendation Seth hired the best piano teacher in the area to provide private lessons at the house. It was as if the floodgates were opened. Any time of day or night the house was filled with grand music. Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata or Debussy’s Clair de Lune or Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue or Nocturne in E-flat Major Op. 9, No. 2 by Chopin, and of course, The First Noel.
To be continued