Singing for Billy

He looked thin and wasted, lying back with his eyes closed.  But Billy was fully alive with the enjoyment of music. Illness and frailty were not his whole story, not in the least.  

I had the good fortune to remain at his bedside for a long while one afternoon.  Billy took pleasure in some sips of soda through a straw.  We had bits of conversation about different tunes. We held hands.  At some point, in between Sarah Vaughan tracks, I sang something for him myself, an old standard that I knew the words to.  Not quite in a league with the Divine Sarah!  It came from a joyful place though. I used to warble all sorts of tunes when I was little but when older, I rarely sang in front of anybody.  It was his appreciation of music and song that drew out my sounds. 

Billy thanked me several times for being there.  But really it was Billy who gave me a gift.