Flute Seller

To-do-tooo-to-tutu…the flute sounded. To-do too-to-tutu again it sounded.


I leaped up from my homework and stared out between the leaves of the Mango tree that blocked the view from my window. My eyes strained, searching for the flute seller. I really loved the flute seller. He walked down the streets playing music that called us to him.

His bamboo flutes were carried in a strange pack upon his back that made him look like a human porcupine.

To-do-tooo-to-tutu! I ran out to greet him. I had saved 25 piasters for a flute. He was easy to find for he was being followed by a horde of children who danced and clapped behind him. He looked like the pied piper of Hamlin.

We all stood around him examining his wonderful flutes. He made them all himself and they were beautifully decorated. The side blowing flutes were more elaborate than the pan pipes or the twin pipes or even the kazoos. Each flute he removed from its display place in the pack was blown up to demonstrate that they worked and then he waited patiently while we tried to blow them. I really wanted the side flutes like the one that he played while walking, but I could never make the sound come out. (These flutes are not like the western counterparts whose blow hole is on the top…on a bamboo flute you must blow across the cut top of the bamboo length sideways like you would blow a coke bottle, only sideways).

I tried and tried and tried, It was hopeless. I would never have a pretty pipe.

“dis is betta for you” he said as he handed me one of the plain twin pipes. “I know” I replied as I nodded. I was really sad, the others were so pretty. I was looking down at my bare feet when I felt the flute sellers hand under my chin, lifting my head.

His eyes twinkled. He handed me a twin pipe so beautifully decorated that it almost looked like the one he played.
“For you only 5 piasters” he said

Really? "Oh thank you! Shukrun! Shukrun!!!!" I cried.

I ran all the way home with my treasure held safely to my chest so I could play it in my room.