I've always taught piano lessons in my spare time. Over the years I found that children have 1 musical abilities. Although I've taught some gifted students, I've also met so-called "musically 2 " pupils. One such student is Robby.

Robby was already 11 years old when his mother sent him for his first 3 lesson. I prefer that students begin at an earlier age. I 4 it to Robby, but he said it had always been his mother's 5 to hear him play the piano. So I took him as a student.

6 Robby tried very hard, he didn't have the basic sense of music. However, he 7 and he would always say, "My mom's going to hear me play some day." But it seemed 8 , and I was disappointed by his slow progress. Then one day Robby didn't come. He 9 me his mother was sick. I was glad that he stopped coming, since he was really a bad 10 for my teaching!

Several weeks later I was 11 my students for the music show when Robby came and said, "Miss Handorf, I've wanted to play." I don't know what made me 12 him to do that. Maybe it was his 13 that touched me.

The night for the show came. It went well. Then Robby came up on stage. I was 14  when he said he had chosen one of the most difficult pieces of Mozart. But I was not prepared for what I heard next. His fingers were light on the keys. They 15  danced on the keys. He played so well that everyone was 16  excitedly.

In tears I 17 up to stage. "Oh, Robby! How would you do it?" "Well, Miss Handorf, I 18 practicing at home. Remember I told you my mom was sick? In fact she had cancer and passed away this morning. And she was born 19 , she could never hear me play the piano, but tonight was the first time she ever heard me. I wanted to make it 20 ."