An Old Violin: A Short Story

By Melanie Schatzel, M.Ed

A teen boy is asked to speak about his mother at her funeral, and to share with others not just his thoughts about her, but about their mother-son relationship. He admits that speaking in public is difficult for him and that in the past it was his mother who helped him to prepare all presentations and talks. However, the one trick she taught him was to pray, listen, and write, or draw, what comes to mind. And then, leave the cheat sheet at home and go with his heart.

Nervous, he tries to share that the one thing he learned the most from her help was that he could always remember that stories that elaborated on the theme he had to talk on. Thus, he has decided to share with those mourning, a few stories that he hopes makes sense and depicts his strange, but oddly funny, relationship with his awkward mother.

He tells the stories by beginning with events a few weeks before her death, then a conversation a week before her death, and then something very sweet! All the while sharing that his mother was trying to convince him to pray to the Lord about his talents, gifts, and purpose in life here on the earth.

Near the end, he shares that she gave him a gift recently. She gave him a journal and some new drawing tools, She then encouraged him to draw to help him with some current challenges that she felt she was ill-equipped to deal with.

By the end of his talk, he shares: "Family, friends, ladies, and gentlemen—whomever you are, and however you knew my mom, I want you to hear this one thing and remember it. On the night that she died, I did not say a “kneel by my bed” type of prayer, but I did ask God, “What makes me me? Why am I here?” I wanted to do something nice for her. I wanted to share with her the answer."

Discover how these few stories and events at the end or her life, helps this teen boy begin his life without his mom through an analogy that will make readers smile.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Mar 13, 2024
• ISBN: 9781304552013

Book preview

An Old Violin

A Short Story

By

Melanie Schatzel, M. Ed.

Copyright

An Old Violin: A Short Story

First Edition

Copyright © 2024 Melanie Schatzel, M.Ed.

All Rights Reserved

ISBN:  978-1-304-55201-3

This is a short story based on fictional characters. There is no intentional representation of any one person, event, or otherwise by the author in creating this story.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form, or by any means, without the prior written permission of the author, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other non-commercial uses permitted by copyright law.

Dedication

This short story is dedicated to my oldest son, Trey.  He has been a great support in helping me to become a better writer.  He has encouraged me to write content for young adult readers which is a challenge for me.  It is his ideas and support that helped me to write a devotional series: From Shutter To Story’s Devotionals, that includes elements of our faith, for teen and adult readers, based on Trey’s questions.  Because of his support, I wanted him to have his own short story. 

Introduction

Because there is no section designated for reference or bibliography in my short stories, I wanted to write an important note to my readers: I reference a poem in this short story titled, The Old Violin: The Touch of the Masters Hand that was written by Myra Brooks Welch (1877-1959) in 1921 and published that same year in a February 26th edition of Gospel Messenger.  Myra was noted for having arthritic hands and she used a typewriter to type her poetry, by using erasers on pencils to push the keys on the typewriter.  I heard