Bells

The bells calling the villagers to the fair sounded so joyful. It was hard to ignore the festive sound. In my mind’s eye I could see Johnathan pulling on the ropes in the bell tower.

Johnathan was born with Down’s syndrome but had always been an adventurous child. He was fascinated by the sound of the bells. Father Mullany watched him with  interest. When Johnathan was eight years old the father offered to teach him bell ringing. This would be the youngest person that Father had ever trained. He was also a bit worried that it might be too much for a child with Down’s syndrome.

Johnathan excitedly pulled his mother to the church on the afternoon of his first lesson. Father Mullany had arranged a table with a set of hand bells. Johnathan proudly counted them and turned to smile at his mother.

“Mom there are 8 bells. Father why are these bells so small? Are the ones in the tower this small?”

“No, Johnathan, The bells in the tower are very big and heavy so we always start off with a set of hand bells.”

Johnathan’s mom sat at the back of the church and watched the lesson. At the end of an hour, Father Mullany drew the lesson to a close.

“Johnathan we need to stop now. You have been one of the best pupils I have ever had. No one else has been able to play a tune at the end of an hour.”

Johnathan beamed. It wasn’t often that he was the best in anything.

“But can’t we do more?” he asked.

“Sorry Johnathan but I have to get ready for another appointment. Let’s plan when we can have our next lesson.”

Johnathan’s mom choked back the tears as she came forward to fetch him.

“He has got a wonderful knack,” said Father Mullany. “He has learnt so fast!”

Jonathan face was split by the biggest smile that his mom had ever seen.

Very soon he was ready to take his place with the bell ringing society. But the bells in the tower still fascinated him.

“You need to be very strong to handle those bells,” said Father Mullany.

“Why?” asked Johnathan.

“Because the bells are very heavy and you have to have strong arms and shoulders.”

“Okay. I’ll get strong,” replied Johnathan.

When Johnathan got home he asked his father to help him get stronger. Together they searched the internet for exercises. It soon became their special time, the time they spent together gathering tips and developing their shoulders and arms. Equipment was bought when they could afford it and finally when Johnathan turned thirteen he presented himself to Father Mullany. Together they climbed the stairs to the top of the bell tower and Father Mullany strapped noise mufflers onto Johnathan’s head and then put his own on. Johnathan tried the biggest bell and was thrilled when it produced a deep rolling tone. He skipped over to the next bell and then the next. He was in his element. He managed three of the bells but could not handle the other two as well. Father Mullany laughed at his disappointed face and told him that if he wanted to play tunes with these bells he needed to get some help. So together they pulled and released bells until they had a lovely harmony going.

Johnathan quickly became adept and proudly took his place as an official campanologist for the church.