Chsensera, accompanied by Khaehala – if one could say walking 10 metres behind the fast moving child could be called ‘accompanied’ – arrived promptly at 10 am at llhaesa and Jahrae’s flat.

A brief phrase of music signalled their presence. Jahrae was closest to the door, and so she responded, opening the door right into the upward looking eyes of a child on a mission.

“You must be Chsensera” Jahrae greeted the child. “And you know, llhaesa was right, you are really tall for your age! By the way, I’m Jahrae.” Jahrae wished this particular relationship to get off on the right foot.

For her part, Chsensera fielded the statement on her height with quiet aplomb, a statement of what is. She then reciprocated Jahrae’s greeting. “Hello Jahrae!” Turning toward her mom with an extended hand signalling the intent of her coming statement, the child continued. “And this is my mum!”

At this point, llhaesa came up behind Jahrae, gave greetings to Khaehala and Chsensera, and began to formally introduce Jahrae.

“Chsensera, this is…”

“She has already introduced herself!” Chsensera interrupted. And with that, the child threw her arms around llhaesa’s thighs, prompting laughter from the three adults.

Llhaesa bent at her knees, scooped the outgoing child into her arms, rose back to standing, and carted her off into the heart of their flat, the others following. Llhaesa chose to conduct a tour of the flat, showing their guests how they had decorated, the last two rooms were the newly constructed studio, and finally the living room.

The studio set Chsensera’s eyes to glowing, as she looked around and absorbed the fact of special acoustical tile on the walls and ceiling, numerous instruments neatly arranged, a mixing board, and countless other electronics. She was particularly impressed with the transparent front wall, and asked her mum if they could have a wall like this as well.

The last stop was the living space, dominated by the baby grand set towards the left front of the room, angled so the player might see others entering or moving about in the room. Llhaesa fell into her music, and arranging the sizeable instrument in any other way would leave her jumping every time someone touched her shoulder in greeting.

Llhaesa set Chsensera down gently and lovingly on the piano bench. “wowww” quietly emerged from the completely impressed child. Llhaesa reached out and lifted the keyboard lid, politely asked Chsensera to move over, and sat down next to her. Seated comfortably but a little off kilter from her usual place when playing, llhaesa mentally adjusted for the shift, then reached out with her hands, her fingers anticipating the touch of the keys well before they actually made contact.

Llhaesa paused, looked to Chsensera, and asked if she knew the song The Tree Is After Me, a song for children written centuries before, but which remained popular generation after generation for it was fun to sing and always triggered laughter.

Chsensera nodded affirmatively; llhaesa then asked if Chsensera would sing with her. Again an affirmative nod was sent back as reply, and so llhaesa began to play.

Standing off to the side with Jahrae, Khaehala marvelled on how llhaesa – even with a basic kid’s song – naturally moved her hands and fingers on the keyboard, as if the two were one. Khaehala had little doubt that the very gifted musician could easily play with her back to the keyboard (she was unaware that llhaesa occasionally did in fact play this way) or play whilst doing something totally different with one or the other hand.

The song finished, and everyone, including Chsensera and llhaesa, burst into applause.

After things quieted, llhaesa asked Chsensera if she was ready to learn. The child said nothing, and instead again wrapped her arms around the musician seated along side her, looking up and giving acknowledgement through the most timeless of affirmations – the trusting and enthusiastic smile of a child.