“That’s where the Bird Man lives,” Art said softly to Jacob as they stood on the sidewalk staring up at the gigantic brick mansion. There was movement inside. Different colored birds flew in and out of view but there was not a person to be seen. “He’s old and creepy and only comes out at night.”

“He comes out?” Jacob asked, his eyes widening. “I’ve lived next door all my life and I’ve never even seen the guy, how do you know he comes out?”

Art shrugged, “That’s what they say.”

Jacob sighed. The accuracy of the gossip around town was not something to be boasted of. He stared up at the house in wonderment. There must be something that could make the Bird Man come out of his house. The boys continued to stare up at the house until Miss Marley shooed them away.

Miss Marley was the town gossip most of the time. She was a blond haired and blue-eyed beauty and everyone tried to play matchmaker with her. She knew what she wanted and Jacob knew she would make her own decisions whenever she wanted to. He sometimes felt that he would like to marry her, but then thought otherwise when faced with the challenge of his age.

He parted with his schoolmate and entered his house to his room, staring out the window toward the house next door. The tall brick house in which there was no doubt a beautiful piano with a genius player. The sun was setting and Jacob knew that it was almost time. It was almost time for the best of the best to start his performance. It was almost time for Jacob’s favorite thing to do.

Soon the music started and Jacob sighed in ecstasy, smiling and closing his eyes in a type of happiness that could only be described as euphoric. If only he could play like the Bird Man, if only he could play like that and make it his own. If only he could just see the Bird Man, if only he could touch him and have that talent rub off on him, if only it wasn’t just wishful thinking.

This is my prologue, for now...I replaced the old one because I didn't like it.