THE CHASM

By Tessa Harvey


    The first year of High School, Dylan was asked to sing the part of a crippled boy in Menotti's Amahl and the Night Visitors. The school would perform the musical for parents and the general public. It was an honor to play Amahl. At first he was very nervous, but his uncle said, "you have the talent. Do you have the character?" Dylan felt he did.
    Ariella was playing the violin in the small school orchestra. The senior mistress said Dylan had "the voice of an angel."
    The girl who played his mother was also very good as were the three kings - the Night Visitors. Baby Jesus healed the crippled Amahl!
    It was a success and Ariella gave Dylan a Bible. Reading the book, he realised Jesus really only began his miracles and healings as an adult. Trouble loomed in the person of his uncle. Fury came.
    Dylan stood, slowly pushing his chair back. He bent to put the Bible among some other books on the shelf, then realising it would be thrown out, he closed it and faced his uncle - his very angry uncle.
    To his surprise, Dylan realised he now came up to his uncle's shoulders in height. Also his voice was changing, deepening. His uncle finally stepped back, muttered something about crutches and weaklings, and left the room.
    Dylan left also to go upstairs to finish his maths homework. But first he called his new friend, Brodie. They shared a few pleasantries, then helped each other with their homework.
    Brodie was older, his voice had settled. He was excited. An uncle had come to visit from South America. He was very involved in voodoo, and teaching Brodie.

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