Short Story

Ten Words, One Note

Nancy's Notes 🖊️🎶

Written for Esther’s Writing Prompts
where the word this week is ‘voice’.
Here’s where the prompt took me.

Image by Me & ChatGPT

A number of years ago I was asked to sing for a special Mass at our church: the now late Cardinal Egan of the NY Archdiocese was going to be officiating. The piece that was selected for me to sing was short and simple … just ten words all sung on one note, in response to a verse from the first reading. I’d sung that line a hundred times before and could do it in my sleep.

Ten words, one note, easy.

The day of the Mass arrived; the church was packed with all sorts of bigwigs from the archdiocese as well as a TV crew from Catholic New York. The choir looked resplendent in robes of blue and gold and I was hell bent for leather.

Ten words, one note. I got this.

Fifteen minutes into the Mass and it was time for the response. The organist played the intro, nodded at me to begin and I opened my mouth to sing. Now, let me just say if I had choked and nothing came out of my mouth, it would have been preferable to what did come out … the scratchy squeak of a rusted out fan belt! What happened to my voice? I, a mature, confident, talented woman, had suddenly been transformed into Alfalfa from the Little Rascals!

Ten words, one note, Alfalfa.

My fellow choir members averted their eyes and I couldn’t blame them. To say I was stunned and mortified was an understatement. I just sort of slunk down into my chair and hid behind my music binder. Why is there never a rock to crawl under when you need one?

Ten words, one note, screech.

I was so damn sure of myself; this was supposed to be a piece of cake. I was ready. Did I didn’t clear my throat, drink some water or vocalize before the Mass? Nope, I just plunged into the deep end of the pool head first. Next time I want to make a big splash, I better be sure there’s water in the pool.

Ten words, one note, the end.

NAR©2025

This is I’m Through With Love” by Alfalfa

Writing Prompts

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34 thoughts on “Ten Words, One Note”

  8. awww, Nancy, … Yup, where is that rock when we need it?, … Reminds me when I was about 10 or 11, There was a couple, a man and woman who asked me to enter a competition, said they’d train me, … They bought me a dress and everything, A organza type pink thing, ( I hate pink, I mean, on me, …) But they suddenly disappeared, can’t remember why, …And I had to go and sing on my own, In front of all those people, … And I got the words wrong, (I think it was ”where the Bee sucks there suck I .” … And by golly , did I suck, … I came fourth out of four kids, … Least I wasn’t fifth, …💙

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