On the day that Ellen’s daddy died, instruments appeared all around She was the only one

ne who could see them. She was the only one

her, like an orchestra. who could hear them.
Cymbals smashed. Violins screeched.

Tubas boomed.

Drums pounded.

It was a horrible, chaotic noise.

Ellen tried to hide under the covers but the orchestra followed her. She turned on the TV to drown out the sound but the instruments
just played louder and louder.

She locked herself in the bathroom but the instruments came too.

No matter what she tried, the orchestra played on.

After a while, Ellen began to hear tunes among the noise. On some days, the wind instruments played a quiet, slow tune
that made Ellen’s eyes fill with tears.
On some days, the brass instruments played a loud, fast tune that
made Ellen’s head feel like it was going to explode.

The music made her angry. The music made her sad.
On some days, the string instruments played a quick, scurrying One day, the percussion played a single beat over and
tune that made Ellen’s tummy feel strange. over again.

It made Ellen feel lonely and like she was the only one
The music made her worried. in the world with an orchestra.
“Are you OK?” asked Shaan as Ellen watched the other “I thought I was the only one,” said Ellen. “I’m sorry that you have
children play. one too. It makes everything harder.”

“No,” said Ellen. “My orchestra won’t leave me alone. I just “Yeah, it’s horrible,” said Shaan. “But mine is quieter now than it
want everything to go back to how it was.” used to be. Maybe yours will get quieter one day too.”

“You have an orchestra?” asked Shaan. “I have one too! It

appeared when my sister died.”
That night, Ellen told Mummy about Shaan. “Will the music ever become quieter?” asked Ellen.

“I have an orchestra too,” said Mummy. “It will when you are ready,” smiled Mummy. “And, eventually,
you will learn to conduct the orchestra.”
“Does everyone have one?” Ellen asked.

“Not everyone,” said Mummy. “But lots of people do and

everyone’s is different.”
As time went on, the instruments played lots of different tunes. Ellen
wished they would go away but at least she didn’t feel like she was the
only one with an orchestra any more.

On the days that the music was too much for her to bear, Ellen
talked to Mummy, her teacher or her friends.
Then one night, a conductor’s baton appeared alongside the Suddenly, the orchestra played a springy, playful tune. Ellen liked
instruments. the new music.

Ellen snuggled up to Mummy and they talked for a long time

about Daddy. They looked at photos of him and Ellen
remembered all of the fun times they had spent together.
“Talking about Daddy has made my orchestra play something “Like a conductor,” said Ellen.
happier,” said Ellen.
“Like a conductor,” smiled Mummy.
“Mine too,” said Mummy. “Sharing how you feel can sometimes
help to control it a little.”
That night, the orchestra played more quietly than normal. Ellen She went to sleep feeling ready to cope with whatever music the
knew it would always be there but she had her conductor’s baton next day would bring.
to use on the days when she felt strong.
And no matter what the orchestra played or how much control Ellen’s ...like the love she felt for her daddy and all the happy memories
baton gave her that day, she knew that some things would never she had stored inside her heart.
change...