Life is a Melody
by
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PROLOGUE
I hand her my journal, now creased and weathered with age. Anxiously, she turns to the first page, smiling faintly, her face intent in reflection of that time long ago. I watch her, in the shadows, just as I had done so many years ago.
“Every passion has its destiny”
--Billy Mills
CHAPTER 1: THE ESCAPE
As I reflect on my life, my most vivid memories are moments when I was overcome by passion. The most pleasurable and most painful experiences are forever etched in my mind because of passion. Historically, creative works of art and literature, or heinous crimes, have been designed by passionate individuals. Without passion, we are devoid of a purpose in life and may not ever find our destiny.
This manuscript (compiled from my journal entries) pays tribute to a girl who briefly touched my life. Before her, I had never experienced passion about anything. As a writer, when I begin to compose, I think about the characters and what stirs their inner passions. And I never begin any of my writings without reflecting on the day I met Melody.
That night, I went into Melody’s room. Fortunately for me, Aunt Eve seemed to understand that I still needed Melody’s things untouched. Her clothes still hung in the closet, perfume and a hair brush still on the dresser. On the side of the dresser was a picture of Melody and Samantha. Taken when Sam was a toddler, mother and daughter were sitting in the bright sun, an orange kitten by Melody’s side. And right next to that picture, was a crumpled note that I had written to Melody one night after dinner.
Dear Melody,
You are in your room asleep and I am in the next room, but sleep will not come. This has been the most incredible summer of my life and I will treasure it for always. The best thing to give someone you love is time spent together. From the first day I met you, whenever I am in your presence, you have had my undivided attention and always will. For me, life is a melody...you.
I Love You,
John
Chapter 3: The Chairs
My father’s most prized possessions were two rocking chairs that had been handed down from generation to generation in the Tierney family. They were made of thick oak wood, stained with coat after coat of mahogany colored varnish. These two family heirlooms were my father’s pride and joy. Under my mother’s prudent care, these chairs were polished and dusted daily and became the focal point of the Tierney
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About the Book
Romantic, evocative and suspenseful, Life is a Melody, weaves an unforgettable collection of memoirs, based on a young man’s journal entries during the summer of his eighteenth year. Set in Virginia in the late 1970’s, John Tierney has journeyed from his hometown of Burlington, Vermont to his aunt’s house in Elkton, Virginia to come to terms with his future career plans versus his parents pre-determined ideas for his future. A sensitive, intuitive young man, John is torn between loyalty to his family and his personal beliefs that his father, the owner of a textile mill, has exploited the factory workers. The novel starkly contrasts the deplorable working conditions of the factory workers versus the management personnel.
During his summer internship, John meets Melody, a beautiful yet mysterious young woman. As their relationship evolves, Melody inspires him to become his own person and to follow his dreams. Yet, Melody has a past that threatens both their relationship and their lives. Their entire summer is overshadowed by danger that constantly lurks in the shadows. Author Betsy Munson weaves a poignant story that demonstrates how passion can either enrich or destroy lives and how choices made long ago can haunt us forever.
About the Author
Betsy Munson, is the author of several short stories and novels. Life is a Melody is her first published work. As a child, Ms. Munson’s mother, a single parent, worked in a local textile mill. The author would often listen to her mother’s conversations about the deplorable conditions and treatment of factory workers. Ms. Munson also visited the factory with her mother and heard the constant humming of the machines and felt the intolerable heat that her mother endured to provide for her five children.
Currently, Ms Munson lives in rural