Twas The Day of the Concert

Twas the day of the concert when all through Sue’s house,
the sound of her reed making was waking her spouse. And the
noise from her scraping and clipping and crowing, was
causing the pain in his head to keep growing.

He said, “Don’t you think you could stop for a minute? I
keep having this dream and your reed tools are in it. The
knife keeps on yelling it’s taken for granted, the cane
tells old stories ’bout the day it was planted.”

“What more can you do at this point but pray? The concert is
only a few hours away. I’m sorry I destroyed them – I know I
didn’t listen, I didn’t think I had to ask for permission.”

“You said, ‘Get my swab.’ so I went in to look, I don’t know
for sure why I tripped on the book. It happened so quickly –
at such a fast pace, but as soon as I’d fallen, I felt your
reed case.”

“It made quite a mark in the small of my back, put a hole
through my sweater – threw my neck out of whack. I know that
your reeds are your major concern, but please rest assured
that my lesson’s been learned.”

“How many were in there? Oh, 20 you say? Well can’t you just
buy some? Wouldn’t that help in some way?” “Are you
kidding?” said Sue, “Do you think it’s that easy?” “I just
snap my two fingers and reeds come to meet me?”

The anger inside of Sue kept on growing, It got to her face
and soon she was glowing. Her lips became taut and her eyes
became small, she gazed at her husband who backed to the
wall.

“I know I need patience, in times such as these, it won’t do
me good to just panic and freeze. I do really love you,” she
said with some force, “but smashing a reed case is grounds
for divorce.”

“Just give me some time and the space that I need, to calm
down a bit and make some new reeds. I thrive under pressure,
when my back’s to the wall, I’ll play my big solo, the one
from “Amahl.”

Sue’s anger, it turns out, was too much to bear, “This
shouldn’t be happening, it just isn’t fair!” She tried to
breathe deeply, she tried to hold back, but each reed she
scraped just died with a crack.

When what to Sue’s wondering ears should appear, the voice
of her husband: “Mail’s finally here!” What he said next was
a total surprise, “For you,” he said softly with love in his
eyes.

Sue opened the package in near record time, she had a strong
hunch that she knew what she’d find. Lined up in 2 rows in
the box full of foam, were 10 brand new reeds that needed a
home.

She took one and tried it – she was so blown away. It was
just what she needed, they’d sure save the day. She emptied
the box and then found a short note, one that the owner of
the reed company wrote.

It said Dear Ms. Johnson, Tim called us and said, he needed
reeds quickly or he’d soon be dead. Rather than hear that he
suffered that fate, we did try our best to make sure they
weren’t late.

I’m glad we could help in your hour of need, the note was
signed Maryn – from MKL REEDS.

Sue looked at the note as it hung on her wall, she dreamed
of playing her part from “Amahl.” So off to the concert she
ran with her oboe, to try her new reeds and to play her big
solo.

©2010 MKL Reeds – www.mklreeds.com. All Rights Reserved.
Adapted from The Night Before Christmas by C. Clement Moore