She reached out tentatively to hand me a water-color drawing she had made. She being a 6th grade student who had been in the first class I performed for that morning.
“I just had to do this. When you told the story about the two sisters with one’s name like mine and the harp made of bones, I had to draw this.”
What a picture: there was my harp, me, and three of the stories I’d told! She’d heard, she’d listened, she’d thought.
No wonder I do this.
When I was in Juvenile Detention last week, the jail facility for kids under age eighteen, I was in the library waiting for my first class of kids. One of the boys saw me from the hallway and snapped, “Oh f—.” Not the usual response when kids see me, I am happy to report, however, it was his that morning. The boys trooped in and sat down in the semi-circle of chairs facing me. He pulled his tee shirt up to below his eyes, crossed his arms, and looked down at his feet, legs stretched out in front of him. Thirty minutes of stories and music later, he was sitting up asking questions, and forty minutes later he was telling me how he would have changed one part of the folktale from Ecuador I had just told them. After the Haitian tale, “One My Darlin,” he made a comment about forgiveness, which started a discussion among the boys.
No wonder I do this.
Jill Johnson, an accomplished writer, teacher, storyteller, and actor, wrote about when she was telling to and with elders in Auckland, New Zealand in February of this year, that when she saw the elders tell family stories, the youth listening, and the priceless connection being made, she said, “THIS …. is why I do this work.”
I get it more clearly every time I perform lately – telling and making music for elementary school kids, incarcerated kids, or my neighbor. The connecting, the re-discovering the truth that people have common elements of being human be they from China, Patagonia, Egypt, Saskatchewan, or Iceland. You never know what will reach someone. My part, and privilege, is to deliver the story, keep out of the way the best I can, and let the story spin out its storyness.
Meg Philp
June 18, 2018 at 2:05 amGood news, Mary.
Mary
June 18, 2018 at 2:14 amThank you, Meg. Hope this finds you well, and taking more lovely photos. Best to you~
Allison Cox
June 18, 2018 at 2:42 amBringing back memories for me – so glad they are happening to you too!
Mary
June 18, 2018 at 3:50 amThank you~ It sure is.
Lynda Condon
June 18, 2018 at 3:18 amLove you and your ‘storyness’, Mary 🙂 You are appreciated everyday!!
Mary
June 18, 2018 at 3:49 amHug to you~~
Damon
June 18, 2018 at 5:25 amHow wonderful. Thank you.
Deanna
June 18, 2018 at 5:47 amSo great to see that the kids are engaged in your storytelling! What a gift you have. And your young artist is very gifted as well. I love that she HAD to do it!
Char Seawell
June 18, 2018 at 1:14 pmLove this Mary… having watched you work your magic in person with those kids, I can totally see why these kids respond the way they do. I remember how when you started to strum your harp, an entire class of wiggly 12 year olds settled in without a word from you, and the young man in the back who, when you asked for feedback, said it made him feel calm. You have a gift!
Judith Alexander
June 18, 2018 at 2:08 pmWhat a gift, and so glad you share it. Our children need our stories, our values, our attention.
Thanks, Judith
Naomi
June 18, 2018 at 3:14 pmBeautiful. Thanks for your story and especially for touching lives and making positive changes in the lives of these young people.
Michele Ohge
June 18, 2018 at 3:48 pmHi Mary!! I love it when I can read or tell stories to the 5yr olds and younger and they listen so early and there will be that “something” and their body language and facial expressions change.
Joy Ross
June 18, 2018 at 6:17 pmSo well said about offering story and the magic when it happens. There are some mighty fortunate kids out there that get receive your gifts.
Donna Rudiger
June 25, 2018 at 11:11 pmHere is another example of opportunities you were not aware of….what a blessing to receive such validation and heart-warming feedback! Thank you for sharing this story!