Colorful Melodies

Isaac always enjoyed walking Bach in the park. He would have moments of clarity while tossing Bach's favorite fetch toy --- a weighted rubber cat. Without question, Isaac was lithe, agile, and had a strong arm for throwing and strong legs for running. He regularly sported with the boys and was always the star of the spar, but it was very clear to them all that Isaac's utmost love was music --- classical music!

The great classical composers heavily influenced Isaac. Whether he was awake or asleep, music incessantly crept into the crevices of his mind. It would be fair to say that a melody was always on his mind.

This was so when Isaac overthrew the cat into the wooded edge of the park lawn. Bach, a frisky boxer, was always ready for a challenge to run, play, and dig. "Come on, Bach, Sir! What's taking so long?" Isaac jokingly yelled at Bach, who seemed to be distracted. Well, Isaac, too, was distracted as he thought of some chords to include in a score that he had been putting together. Back eventually came barreling back with great pride as he dragged his prize that should have garnered him pat, treats, and complete adoration from his best friend. But the opposite happened... neither got what he expected.

"What's this? It doesn't look like the cat to me." Puzzled, Isaac reached for a black leather satchel in Bach's mouth, and Bach released it with a whimper. "It's okay. Good job! Here's your biscuit!" Isaac instinctively rubbed Bach's back after giving the treat.

Anxious to further explore, Isaac carefully lifted the flap on the satchel and found only a few items. A black fountain pen that appeared to be on the pricey side. A white handkerchief edged in black. A black notebook that was... just a black notebook.

Isaac quickly flipped the pages of the notebook and was immediately intrigued by a flourish of dancing colors and dots. Some of the notebook was void of colors, but the pages were printed with a dotted grid. As Isaac carefully flipped again through the pages, he could not believe what he saw beyond the colors.... He saw notes and chords and heard rich, flowing melodies periodically punctuated with pops of staccato. "Bach, Sir, it's time to go!" Immediately, Bach bolted for the woods to fetch his rubber cat. "I have got the smartest dog in the world!" Bach seemingly understood that this was about more than the rubber cat.

Isaac almost dragged Bach home, which was less than three minutes from the park. He could hardly wait to settle down to further explore the notebook's contents that evoked so many emotions. Who was the genius behind the creation of such colorful masterpieces? Were there others? How could one lose such a gem? How long had the satchel been in the park's woods?

Isaac's eyes lingered on each page; he could not get enough. He started over at the beginning of the notebook --- just to digest all the details before him. Again, the cover as unassumingly black, giving no hint of the wonder within. He noticed a previously overlooked page --- a page that was printed with an "In case of loss" notice and a space for posting a reward for the return of the the lost notebook. Sana Kiyosaki 77 Imperial Circle, T----. The blank for the reward was empty, but Isaac was not the least bit concerned about an intended reward. He reveled in the reward of the experience to have encountered the likes of such art that he never imagined could exist and knew that the owner deserved to have his work returned.

While Isaac explored, Bach snored. Aware that the Kiyosaki address was not far away, Isaac knew that his mother Isabelle would forbid him to return the find without her. She was already quite protective of twelve-year-old Isaac, especially so since his father had been killed in an automobile accident five years ago. Isaac wanted his mother to hurry home from work... no, he did not want her to hurry.... His soul was fully engaged in the little black notebook for two hours more before Isabelle arrived.

Isaac burst into the events of his, that is, Bach's find and barely hesitated to take breaths in his excitement. "Mom, I cannot believe that someone's mind can create such beauty!" He showed his mother the contents, as if they were his own to be so proud of. Isabelle was beyond impressed and was speechless. "May we return it before dark? We don't know how long the owner has been without it. I could not bear it if I were the owner." Really, the moment was bittersweet for Isaac; Isabelle could read his thoughts and feelings. She knew he was unquestionably talented but was so proud of her son for being a young man with such character and integrity.

Shortly after five, Isaac and Isabelle were standing in front of the Kiyosaki's front door. Isaac was nervously holding the black satchel that held the fountain pen, the handkerchief, and the black notebook, but Isabelle thought it fitting that Isaac should be the one to announce their arrival. He delicately tapped with the knocker, and there was a seeming pronounced delay before the door opened to reveal a diminutive, older Japanese woman, who gave a gentle smile. Encouraged, Isaac announced, "Hello, Ma'am. I'm Isaac, and this is my mother Isabelle. Today my dog found this satchel that believe belongs to you."

"Please do come in," the woman gestured. Isaac and Isabelle practiced removing their shoes in their own home and naturally removed them in the Kiyosaki home. "Please sit while I go for my husband." Isaac and Isabelle sat quietly and stood wan a tall, lean Japanese man entered.

"Sana, meet Isaac and Isabelle. This young man found your stolen satchel and came to return it." Sana released a quiet smile and stepped forward to place his hand on Isaac's shoulder and expressed his deepest gratitude for his stolen treasure.

"My name is Sakura, and this is my husband Sana. He is a man of few words and is content to express himself through his arts. He has hardly spoken since his bag was taken, but I know that today, you have made him a very happy man." With this, Sana asked Isaac what he thought of the notebook, and Isaac could not contain his excitement as he recounted all the details regarding the find and his appreciation of the art. When Isaac finished, Sana asked Isabelle if Isaac could accompany him to his studio. "Of course," replied Isabelle. Sakura looked knowingly at her husband and told him that she would prepare some tea for Isabelle.

Sana escorted Isaac down a wide corridor to another wing of the house that led to an expansive studio that was filled with grand canvases of art on the walls and easels and... a grand piano! "Wow!" Isaac's mouth was gaping wide as he admired it all. He looked at the pieces individually, and he looked at them comparatively. "Wow!" seemed to be the only word in his vocabulary. Sana silently stood and watched the young boy's amazement and appreciation. After a long moment, Sana finally asked Isaac how he liked to spend his time. Isaac divulged how he was an excellent student, who like to play baseball and football with his friends, but he spoke with bursting passion about how he lived for music. "Really? Please sit and play for me."

Isaac was honored. "I have never played a grand piano before. Mom bought a regular piano for me shortly after my father died. I think she bought it so that I could find a way to deal with my grief." At that , Isaac began to play one of the most beautiful melodies that clearly impressed Sana. With misty eyes and a voice of wisdom, Sana asked, "Where does this piece come from?"

"It comes from your art, Mr. Sana. I had a chance to study your notebook for a few hours, and, somehow, you created a form of texture in your art by using the dots on the pages. Here I see even more than I can believe to be real.... This is how I imagine your art as music. I want to explore trying to put texture and colors in my music as you do in your art."

Sana walked over to his large mahogany desk and pulled out something to write on with a fountain pen that was similar to the one in the satchel. After a moment, he folded a piece of paper. "Come," he called to Isaac. "Put this in your pocket, and do not look at it before you arrive back home." The two walked back toward the living room and heard the two ladies laughing and talking as if they were lifelong friends.

"Madam, I truly thank you for taking the time to bring your son to return my belongings. If it will be no trouble for you, I would like to invite you to visit at least every Tuesday so that my wife and I can share with you and your son." Sana humbly awaited Isabelle's response.

"Mr. Sana, that is rather kind of you. I have enjoyed your wife's company, and I think my son has enjoyed your hospitality. We would love to see the two of you about this time on Tuesday." Afterwards, Isabelle said farewell to Sakura, and Isaac thanked Sana for allowing him to see the studio.

On the short drive home, Isabelle went on and on about how she enjoyed taking tea with Sakura. Isaac was glad to see his mother so happy. Nursing required so much of her, and she devoted herself to him. He had experienced so much excitement for the day, and he felt good to see that his mother had a moment of joy on this day, too. His soul laughed within. Once inside their home, Isabelle was still talking about how Mrs. Sakura was such a wonderful woman. Before long, she caught herself and stopped to ask Isaac what he thought of Mr. Sana.

"Mom, I really like him. He doesn't talk much, but he still manages to say a lot. His art is so amazing! O, I almost forgot.... He gave me a piece of paper and told me to wait until I made it home before looking at it." Isaac reached into his pocket for the paper and opened it. He just stared at the paper, and his mouth was wide open.

"What is it, Isaac?" Isabelle knew all too well that Isaac always let his mouth gape open when he was overwhelmed.

"Mom, it is a check from Mr. Sana! A check for $20,000! In the memo, he wrote "reward for a fine, young man." Now Isabelle's mouth was gaping wide open!

Isaac and Isabelle and the Kiyosakis became the best of friends and saw each other every Tuesday and more. Sana became more of a mentor to Isaac and often picked him up throughout the week for ice cream or dinner or for play with Bach at the park. They went to baseball and to football games, as well as to musical concerts --- Sana was also an accomplished pianist and violinist --- and to museums. Isaac grew in his music and was often in the studio with Sana. Sana painted. Isaac played. Isaac learned that Sana was commissioned worldwide for his beautiful art and preferred to lead a quiet, simple life with his family --- Sakura, Isaac, and Isabelle. There was no division between Black and Japanese.

Sana soon set aside a college fund for Isaac, who continued to have melodies on his mind. Their relationship was reciprocal. Sana played Isaac's melodies in his textured, colorful art. Isaac painted Sana's art on the canvas of the piano keys. Besides... Isaac thought the melodies always sounded even better on the grand piano.