The Little Pianist By Brij Kothari

The story is about a little boy named Azul. He loved to play the piano and
dreamed of becoming a pianist some day. Every Sunday, he went to his piano
class, and practiced every night at home, just before going to bed. He would
never forget to play the piano.
One day, Vicki, his piano teacher told him that he would perform in front of a
large audience the following day. He was becoming an outstanding pianist. His
fingers moved like a squirrel on the piano keys, but there was something
missing. He just had to know. He really wanted to be, not just a good pianist,
but a great pianist. His teacher whispered into Azuls ear a piano teachers
secret which consisted that he should play with his heart, not with his fingers.
As always, she pulled out her box of stickers. He held out his hand and she
stuck on it, a gorgeous sticker of a butterfly. And she said that he should think
of this butterfly when he wanted to play with his heart.
But he didn't know how could play the piano with his heart if he couldnt see
him. For the first time, in a long time, he went to bed without playing the piano.
The night before his performance, he didn't practice because he didn't know
how to play with his heart. When he woke up, he looked for the butterfly sticker
but this was gone. He was nervous. He tried playing the piano, but his fingers
would just not move.
In the performance day the piano was in the middle of a round stage,
surrounded by rows of people. He walked onto the stage; he sat on the piano
bench and closed his eyes for a second. Remembering Vickis words, he
thought of the butterfly. In the quiet of the auditorium, He heard the flutter of
wings. A butterfly sat on his shoulder and started to hum a tune. His fingers
began to move by themselves and his heart began to play the butterflys song.