*
There was a huge, excited crowd gathered outside of Cymball's when Anna, Mother, and Mister Jeremy finally exited. Comprised primarily of teenaged girls and their parents, the crowd shifted in a frenzied fashion around one, young, handsome, blond gentleman, who wore a flashy, modern suit and carried a diamond encrusted cane.
"Justin! We love you!" the crowd chanted—at least, those in the crowd that were still capable of speech.
"What is going on?" Mother asked, when she saw the commotion.
But then Mother spotted him—the young gentleman upon which the crowd's attention was centered.
"Wait, is that Justin Steelrose?" Mother asked, although it seemed unlikely she expected either Anna or Mister Jeremy to respond, "The famous singer? Yes, I think it is! I can't believe it! What luck! I'll invite him to perform at the estate for the Winter Festival. And just think about what the ladies at the club will say then! Here, Jeremy, take Anna. I'm going to go get Justin!"
And with that, Mother dove head-first into the swimming crowd and stroked straight towards the aforementioned popular performer.
Mister Jeremy and Anna were left standing on the sidewalk, trying their best to maneuver around the onslaught of additional avid fans who rushed to join the crowd. Anna was experiencing some difficulty avoiding all the over-enthused onlookers, and so Mister Jeremy soon took her into his arms and held her aloft as they made their way further down the sidewalk.
Mister Jeremy placed Anna upon the ground again a short distance away, where they could both find calmer footing. The crowd was surging off the sidewalk now, and even traffic had come to a halt. It was then that Anna spotted something unusual on the other side of the street.
There, sitting on a doorstop across from Cymball's, sat a frail, hungry-looking old man. He had a simple wooden box propped up on a small pedestal between his skinny legs. The old man was cranking a small lever connected to one side of the box with a look of wearied determination.
No one else seemed to notice the old man. Indeed, people on that side of the street seemed to almost unconsciously avoid him.
"Mister Jeremy," Anna asked, "do you know who that man is over there, with the wooden box in front of him?"
Without looking, Mister Jeremy said, "That’s the Music Maker, child."
Anna could not hear any sounds coming from the wooden box—all she could hear was the cacophony for Justin further down the street. So she did not quite understand Mister Jeremy's response, and told him so.
"Can't you hear him?" Mister Jeremy responded, "Well, I suppose I shouldn't be too surprised if you can't—not everyone can. And, of course, with that racket, I doubt anyone could."
Anna begged Mister Jeremy to take her across the street, to hear the Music Maker. Mister Jeremy initially protested, and expressed doubts as to whether she would be able to hear the music, anyway, even if they did cross the street. But then, after taking a second look at the child, and at the hopeful glint in her eyes, he conceded, saying ,"Well, maybe you will."
Mother was nowhere to be seen, having apparently become fully melded within the crowd. And so, after a few moments, Mister Jeremy carried Anna across the street and set her down next to the Music Maker, who was still cranking his wooden box.
"Can you hear the music, Anna?" Mister Jeremy asked, after a while.
Anna shook her head, no, even though she was standing right next to the old man.
"Close your ears, child," Mister Jeremy said, "And listen with your heart."
Anna did not know how to close her ears. But she did know how to close her eyes, and as she did so, she wished with all her heart that she could hear the song.
At first, it was only a slight tinkle; a solitary chime between the riot and ruckus of popular opinion across the street. But soon it became a simple melody, as the voice of the masses faded. And as her heart and mind opened further, the song transformed into a beautiful symphony. A multitude of instruments came together in perfect harmony, playing a song still simple, and yet so profound. The melody spoke to Anna of long days gone, before she even existed. It spoke of heartbreak and of love. And before much longer, Anna's whole being resonated with its sound.
Anna looked up at Mister Jeremy, with tears in her eyes.
Mister Jeremy handed her a handkerchief, smiling, "I am so glad you could hear this song."
"Anna!" Mother called, having finally detached herself from the crowd, "Anna! Anna! Where are you?"
"Oh, we better go to the Missus," Mister Jeremy said. He waved over at Mother.
Mother caught sight of them then, and stormed across the street.
"Jeremy," Mother said, when she had arrived, "What were you thinking taking my child over here without my permission? I was scared senseless!"
Mister Jeremy started to apologize, but Anna interrupted:
"Don't be angry, Mother," she said, "I begged Mister Jeremy to bring me here to hear the music. Isn't it beautiful?"
Mother, however, apparently could hear neither song, nor her child, as she continued to scold Mister Jeremy in a very angry and accusatorial tone, without interruption.
Anna sighed. She turned to the Music Maker, wanting to listen to the music again and drown out Mother’s yelling. But the Music Maker had stopped cranking and was staring lopsidedly at Anna.
"Please don't stop, Mister," Anna said, "I would love to hear more."
The Music Maker coughed and considered the little girl. And after a moment, he drew out a small wooden box from a bag at his side. It was delicately carved and inlaid with gold filigree. It also had a small gold lever on one side, with a handle made out of freshwater pearls.
"Here you are, my dear," the Music Maker said, offering her the music box, "One to take home with you. And it matches that pretty little pendant you're wearing."
Anna accepted the music box and held it against her chest.
"But I have no money to pay you," she said.
"That's perfectly fine, my dear," the Music Maker said, "I'll tell you a little secret. I put a little piece of my heart in each one of these boxes, because I wanted to share my heart with others. And so all I ask is that you try to love this little piece of my heart, because it was out of love that I made it. And because it is out of love that I am now giving it to you."
"Oh, thank you, Mister Music Maker," Anna whispered, with sweet sincerity, "I will."
Mother's one-sided confrontation with Mister Jeremy had apparently reached its peak, and then abruptly ended. She sent Mister Jeremy to bring round their transport.
Mother grabbed Anna's hand and said, "Come on, Anna. We're going."
"Wait just a moment, Mother," Anna said.
Anna took out the package of food Nanny had given her earlier that day and offered it to the Music Maker.
"Mister, will you please accept this as a gift from me, for your beautiful music?" Anna said.
The Music Maker smiled, and said, "Now that is too big a present. After all, you need to eat, too. I won't accept the whole meal, but maybe I will accept that delicious looking apple you have there, if you would like to share it."
Anna was happy to share her apple. And, with the conclusion of this exchange of gifts, Mother dragged Anna off in the direction she had sent Mister Jeremy, and before long, they were on their way out of the Market.
Anna tried to get Mother to listen to the music box on the ride home. Mother insisted that the box must have been broken, as she did not hear the music, and felt it was foolish of Anna to offer that “dirty homeless man” something to eat, because then “He would never learn.”
Anna sighed and put the music box carefully away in her little package. She was hungry then, and so ate the slice of bread and cheese on the way home.