To Charles

Round-and-Blue is a story- a love story. Sometime in the fall of 1985, while I was working on a musical composition for my youngest daughter, Elsa, Charles, my youngest son, came to sit beside me on the piano bench. Knowing that I had already composed something for my eldest son Hughe as well as a piece for Aude, my eldest daughter, Charles declared:

‘‘I would like one also.’’

‘‘One what?’’

‘‘I want you to compose a musical piece especially for me.’’

‘‘All right. But what type of music?’’

‘‘Something that will make everybody sing.’’

‘‘What do you mean by everybody?’’

‘‘Everybody, everywhere on earth, at the same time.’’

And, without giving any thought whatsoever as to how such a thing could be accomplished, I said, ‘‘Yes’’.

‘‘Promise ?’’

‘‘Promise.’’

The first page of the document ‘To Charles’ introduces my son at the age he was when I made that promise to him. The picture on the last page was taken just about 6 weeks before his death, on July 8, 2007. During those last days, I renewed that promise which was so dear to him. Charles had a terrible respiratory disease: cystic fibrosis. During his entire life, my son fought for every breath he took. Yet, he never once complained.

May hope blossom !

Nil Parent, December 5, 2007

Translated by Jennifer Makarewicz