Observations From a Church Piano Bench
Rebekah Hale
Third row, left section
Fortysomething mother of three
Big, gold loop earrings wagging in sync
With bread-loaf bosom
Large, dimpled hands clapping with the
swaying rhythm of her matronly hips.
Second-to-last row, third seat in
Six-foot-tall, dark, and handsome
Clammy hands twisting his bulletin
Lips shut like his Bible
Blank eyes fixed intently on nothing.
Fourth row, center section
Five-year-old Goldilocks in popcorn-puffed
sleeves
Honest blue eyes studying her mother's lips
Singing her own rendition of "Amazing Grace"
half a beat behind the congregation
With angelic, mock vibrato.
Front row
Lanky, pimple-faced boy
Next to Grade-A, glasses-wearing brunette
Next to chubby, brace-faced junior high kid
Just back from camp with each eye closed and
hands lifted up.
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