The Nameless One

Marc Friedlander – July 4, 2013

I was finishing up a piece, and two women approached: a blond in her mid 60's, and her companion, who was much younger - a Caribbean Islander perhaps. The blond was in the lead, her friend a little behind. She was dressed nicely, nice hair, bright smile, bright eyes. I finished the piece, and the blond said something to the effect of:

"I've been listening to you for quite awhile, and I've heard you play many times before this. So I just wanted to tell you how much I enjoy your music, and I wanted to thank you for bringing it here and sharing it with others."

Since she said she had heard me before, I thought I'd get her name, for the next time. So I thanked her for her kind words, and then I asked her her name.

And she smiled at me, and replied, in all seriousness, and with perfect clarity and articulation: "I don't know".

I could think of nothing but smiling back, and I looked over at her aide. She just looked back and smiled too. No further words were said, and they walked off.