Purebred Heart

Short Story by Mark Ready

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Angels play music only the purest heart can hear. I can't hear it, but I know they play it because I know some can. Churchgoers sing from hymnals or have choirs. Some of the most beautiful music ever written was written for the church. It was written to imitate the music of the angels—music only the purest of hearts can hear.

When you are down and out, nobody wants to help you, and they are afraid you will ask. You make them uncomfortable. We are taught to take responsibility for ourselves. If you have anything extra, you can give it away, but only if it doesn't inconvenience you. Then I remember the widow's mite and she who gave the least but gave the most.

People live in tents a few blocks away from me. I see them standing around at 6 a.m. when I drive by on the way to my vanpool. I also see dogs. Rain or shine, they are there. How can these people care for a dog if you can't care for yourself? Why would they want to burden themselves with an extra mouth to feed? Then I wonder if the dog adopted the human or the human the dog.

The man on the corner is rail thin, wears sunglasses, and plays an electric guitar with no amp. It's safe to say he's addicted to alcohol or drugs. He's one of the least amongst us. One of the poor who will always be with us. He strums at the guitar as I drive past. I can't hear it, but I see his dog's ears twitch and know it is listening.

The man isn't an angel, and I don't know what music is playing in his head. But it's 6 a.m., and he's driven to play. His music must be beautiful because he is singing to his dog. The only companion that will stay by your side no matter what. An animal with a heart pure enough to hear music no one else can listen to—an animal with a heart pure enough to hear the music of the angels.

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Mark Ready is a self-taught writer who has written five books. His newest two are The Bishop's Knight, a Christmas Story, and The Journey to New Edgarton, a Children's Story for Grownups. They are available on Amazon. He looks at the world differently than most and sees magic in the mundane--and beauty in ordinary things.