Music in the Dark Library

Sofia lived on Maple Street, across from the old town library. The library closed every evening at six, and after that the building was dark and quiet.

But last spring, something strange happened. One Tuesday night, at about ten o'clock, Sofia opened her bedroom window. She could hear music outside. It was coming from the library. Somebody was playing the piano in there. The music was slow and beautiful.

The next morning, she told her brother, Leo, about it. He was twelve, and he loved mysteries.

"There is a piano in the library," Leo said. "It's in the big room next to the garden. But nobody plays it. It's very old."

"Somebody played it last night," Sofia answered.

The next Tuesday, Sofia and Leo waited at the window. At ten o'clock, the music started again. This time, there was a small light in one of the windows.

"Let's go and look," Leo said. He got his flashlight. Their mom wanted to see too, so she came with them. They walked quietly across the street.

The front door was locked, but there was a big window next to the garden. Sofia, Leo and their mom looked in.

By the light of a small lamp on the piano, they saw Mr. Wilson, the librarian. He was a quiet old man with gray hair and glasses. Every day, he worked at the front desk and said "Shh!" to loud children. Now he was playing the piano with his eyes closed, and he looked very happy.

The song ended. Sofia tried to stay quiet, but the music was too beautiful, and she clapped.

Mr. Wilson jumped and turned around. Then he saw the three faces at the window, and he laughed. He opened the door for them.

"So now you know my secret," he said.

"Why do you play at night?" Leo asked.

"I love this piano," Mr. Wilson answered. "But I'm very shy. I can't play in front of people. At night, nobody listens."

"We listened," Sofia said. "And it was wonderful."

Sofia's mom had an idea. "Every summer, the town has a festival in the park. Can you play for us there?"

Mr. Wilson looked at his hands for a long time. "Maybe," he said.

Two months later, on a warm Saturday evening, there was a piano in the park. A lot of people came. Mr. Wilson walked to the piano slowly. His hands were cold, and his face was pale.

Then he looked at Sofia and Leo in the front row. They smiled at him. Mr. Wilson smiled too, and he started to play.

The park was very quiet. When the music finished, everybody clapped and shouted. Mr. Wilson turned red, but he couldn't stop smiling.

After that, Mr. Wilson played every Tuesday night with the library windows open, and half the street listened.