Two are Better Than One * | Previous Challenge Entry

how it works

TITLE: Two are Better Than One * | Previous Challenge Entry
By Margo McKenzie
08/14/14
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He was a bass; she a soprano. They each had their own following on “You Tube” and at the local performance hall. Seven years ago, they had met at a concert. He sang her Barry White favorite “Just the Way You Are.” She sang Whitney Houston’s “The Greatest Love of All.”

After the show, he asked her out to the local cafe. They hit it off right away. Each had a “How I Got into Music” story to tell. The minutes passed into hours. The hours led to day after day of conversation about childhood memories, Jesus and church, poetry and politics, the sun, moon and stars.

Every night they laughed together. If not over dinner, they did so over the phone. The date at the Red Rooster marked the turning point in their relationship. Everything started out as usual though. "I'll pick you up at 7.” He was always punctual, so that night, she decided she would be too. Like so many occasions before, he rang the bell three times. She buzzed him in. He walked the three flights up to her apartment. The ra-ta-tat on her door signaled his arrival. When Bren opened the door, he asked, "Is my baby ready this time?"

To his surprise, she was, and she grabbed her jacket, exited the apartment, and they descended the stairs to the lobby and out the door.

The chill forced her to wear instead of carry the jacket. They walked hand-in-hand down 125th street, passing street vendors selling African hair- braiding services, fruits and vegetables, jewelry, even clothing.

The restaurant was packed as always. Once they were seated, their eyes met in a manner they had never met before. Prior to the glass of cold water or the arrival of the menu, he issued his plea. "Let's make music together, Bren. Let's make music together."

"We already make music."

"I don't mean that type of music,” and he reached into his pants pocket to retrieve a small black box. He opened it and removed a glittering ring. Then he took her left hand and repeated his request. "Let's make music together.”

The harmony of that moment had reached its crescendo one year later. The duet continued for years with the song of alarm clocks, rustling of slipper against floor, morning pots and pans, running water, babies crying and laughing, phones ringing, televisions blaring soothing the happy couple with familiar rhythms.

Seven years in the rhythm of life changed. He lost his job due to outsourcing, and they were forced to move into her mother’s house where the steps creaked, and the aluminum siding on the house rattled with the wind. Her mother’s constant nagging about how long it would take for him to find a new job did not help matters.

An abundance of sharps pierced his ears, his soul and spirit. Scores of flats depressed hers. Both longed for the familiar music of their yesterdays.

They felt uncomfortable in these unfamiliar measures in a key of life they had not experienced before, but they never stopped trying to sing together. Besides, the Justice of the Peace warned them that these days would come.

While unemployed, he busied himself with household chores and needed repairs. He searched the internet feverishly for work. She managed to find a new babysitter and,thankfully, continued on her job.

One day while tying his son’s shoes, he reflected on how their voices had changed over the last few months. Life had rounded out their notes--but they could still sing- and they could sing harmoniously.

“We may not be where we want to be, but we’re still singing, Bren.”

Not missing a beat, she sang a line from Solomon's song, “Brian, don’t you know ‘Many waters cannot quench love, nor the floods drown it.’?” (Song of Solomon 8: 7 (ESV)

“I know that more now than ever before, Bren. More now than ever before.”

*Eccl 4:9 NIV

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