11 July 2024, @mariannewest's Freewrite Writing Prompt Day 2430: walk through the valley

Photo taken by the author, Deeann D. Mathews, April 8, 2024

“Is is just me, or does it sound more beautiful out here this morning?”

Eleven-year-old Velma Trent had called her best friend eleven-year-old Eleanor Ludlow next door, who came onto the porch and listened carefully to the beautiful morning breeze … and then below it … and then smiled.

“That's Papa, Velma,” she said. “Papa is probably picking roses or wild fruit for Grandma somewhere in the nearest valley, and is there with God and has forgotten his voice carries about a mile around.”

“We shall walk through the valley in peace … we shall walk through the valley in peace … if Jesus Himself shall be our leader, we shall walk through the valley in peace.”

“That definitely sounds like beautiful peace,” Velma said, “although sheesh, Eleanor!”

“Yeah … he tuned up with the local birds and the breeze out here … but his voice is so low that he is letting them sing and just adding bass,” Eleanor said.

Five-year-old Lil' Robert Ludlow bobbled sleepily out to stand next to his big sister.

“It sounds really good out here today!” he said. “I feel like singing!”

Eleanor put the phone down on the porch railing and – with a profound effort – picked her baby brother up.

“Listen, Rob – you feel like singing for a reason! Listen low and deep!”

Lil' Robert listened … and then broke down crying, moved to the bottom of his little heart because his 'twin,' grandfather Capt. Robert Edward Ludlow Sr., was somewhere off in the valley overjoyed of a morning and was stretching out his voice … conditions were just right, so it was being naturally amplified and half the Veteran's Lodge, if they stopped to hear it, could.

“I don't get it,” nine-year-old Vertran Stepforth said. “I don't know why Capt. Ludlow doesn't just make a living singing – sheesh, what a voice!”

“That's just it, though – what you hear there can't be traded for money on demand,” his grandfather Thomas Stepforth Sr. said. “Now he ought to be cutting a few albums of songs like that – that he should be doing -- but Capt. Ludlow is not a performer. He has no idea we can hear him … he is walking with his Leader, and experiencing a depth of peace that exceeds his basso profundo voice.”

Meanwhile, Col. Franz Victor Wozniak, composer, pianist, and vocal coach for Capt. Ludlow, voice teacher to the Ludlow grandchildren, got a phone call from a producer friend.

“Colonel,” he said, “I know I must be losing my mind, but the valley is full of the voice I need for Hymns and Songs of Strong Comfort.”

“You are not losing your mind,” the colonel said. “That voice exists.”

“Look, I need to talk with that basso, and I gotta get him on this project. Money is no object – I gotta get him!”

“I may be able to connect you,” the colonel said. “He is on R&R for about another 10-11 days, but I can set up a call for when he gets back.”