by Sarah Earlene Shere, ©2024
(Jun. 7, 2024) — The old violin lay on the auction block feeling a sense of worthlessness as the minimal bids for him were cast around the room. He turned his tear-filled gaze out the barn window and tried to feel peace from the country landscape, but all he could think of was his plight. Why would his master include him with the property to be sold? It was because he had lost his beauty; he was too battered and scarred to be of any use, of this he was sure.
The violin did not notice the sudden hush that fell in the barn, and was only aware of a familiar hand wrapping gently around his neck and wiping away the dust from his frame. He looked up at his master in surprise as the old man tenderly tightened the instrument’s pegs, then firmly placed it upon his shoulder and under his chin. The violin closed his eyes and released a sigh as he felt the pressure of the bow slowly gliding across his strings. His spirits soared as he felt his master’s fingers slide and dance upon him lovingly with ease. He looked up, again, when he felt a salty drop land on his lower bout and seep into his wood.
The elderly man stopped and slowly lowered the old violin. The instrument puffed out its shape. He no longer cared about the lack of worth others placed upon him. In his master’s hands, he felt priceless! He didn’t even hear the bidding on him suddenly taking a turn, nor the “going, going, gone at $3,000”, followed by an eruption of cheers. His gaze was locked with his master’s who whispered to him, “You are of far greater value!”