Chapter 15 - Page 207 - The Village Has A New Name

   Rhasha’s mother began crying. Seeing this, several people became subdued. Tears ran down their cheeks. A hush fell over the crowd. Everyone began to cry. Jim looked up at Thamish and saw tears in his eyes before he covered his face with his hands.

   Jim rushed onto the stage. Rhasha and Shanha were close behind. Rhasha stopped on her way up the stairs to hug her mother and kiss her on the forehead, then rushed to catch up with Jim and Shanha. Rhasha hugged her dad and told him everything would be OK.

   Jim slipped the microphone from Thamish’s hand. He looked across the crowd. He couldn’t see one person who wasn’t crying. The mood overtook Jim and tears flowed from his eyes too. He knew he would miss these people. He quickly composed himself and looked at Rhasha and Shanha. They were both crying. Jim leaned over and whispered in Rhasha’s ear. She stopped crying and whispered the same words in Shanha’s ear.

   Jim took his guitar off his shoulder and asked Rhasha to hold it. Two more microphones were brought out. Jim placed the microphone he held in its stand and arranged all three microphones at the front of the stage. He slid one microphone down to Shanha’s height. Then he took his guitar from Rhasha and stood in front of the first microphone. Shanha and Rhasha stepped up to the other microphones.

   Thamish figured out what they were doing and left the stage. Jim began playing his guitar. He, Rhasha, and Shanha began to sing.

   “This little light of mine, Lord, I’m gonna let it shine. This little light of mine, Lord, I’m gonna let it shine.”