The Melody of Songbirds and Wolves

Prologue

Vera Belle Green was born on a hot summer day in Lubbock, Texas in 1998. Her mother, a sophomore in college, quietly placed her brand new baby and a short note detailing the details of Vera's birth by the front door of the local fire station. As a full-time student, she didn't believe she was in the best position to raise a baby but vowed to one day find her new daughter. She knocked on the front door and quickly hid behind a large oak tree to make sure Vera was taken inside. A tall man with light brown curls and blue eyes, skin tanned by the sun, opened the door and picked up the handwritten note placed on top of the baby. He called another man over who gently picked up the content newborn and cradled her in his arms while his friend read the note aloud. "This is Vera Belle Green. She was born on July 16, 1998, at 3:27 PM. She weighed 8 pounds and 12 ounces at birth and was 21 inches long. She is a happy baby. I have loved her since I knew of her conception. However, because I want what's best for her, she must not stay with me. Please find her a home filled with love so she can grow up happy and free. Please make sure she always knows I love her and if I could have, I would have raised her." The two men looked sadly at the baby, wondering what had led to this moment, and vowed to fulfill the anonymous mother's wishes.

"Happy birthday, munchkin! You're practically an old lady now!", came a loud booming voice from down the hall. Vera stretched her hands up over her head and rubbed the sleep out of her eyes while giggling. She said, "Daddy! I'm 6! I'm not old like you!" Her father gave her his best sad face, picked her up out of bed, and spun her around until they both got dizzy. Vera thought her dad was the strongest, funniest, best person in the whole world. She plopped on her bed with a light thud and squealed as her dad playfully fell on top of her pretending to be asleep. "Dad! You're so heavy! Did you eat an elephant?!", groaned Vera as she tried to wiggle out from under the heaviness of her silly father. After struggling for a few minutes, she decided to tickle him. Her idea worked a little too well because he let out a giant toot, which had them both rolling around laughing. It was just her and him and they were thick as thieves! Vera's childhood was filled with happiness, laughter, and as much love as one kid could possibly have. They had tea parties, went fishing, ate pizza every Friday night, and spent their summers on the lake. One of Vera's favorite memories was when she learned how to wakeboard. Her body was so sore after every lake day, but she wouldn't trade it for the world. Vera and her father, Thomas, took Vera's best friend, Lila, with them to the lake to celebrate her birthday. The two girls began to sing along to one of her dad's old country songs on the radio. Thomas noticed that Vera's voice sounded a little different. When little kids sing, they usually sound a bit silly and very off-key. Vera's was different though. It sounded pure and strong. When she sang the higher notes, she sounded like a songbird. Thomas had heard her sing many times before when they would pretend to be movie stars. He was impressed and asked if she wanted to start taking voice lessons. Vera fired back immediately, "YES! Daddy, can I go to the voice lesson now?". Thomas laughed and said, "Not today, munchkin, but I will find you a great teacher at the university when we get home.". He was pleased with himself and excited for Vera to find something she might love. Texas Tech University had a good music program, so he knew he could find a vocal student who would be willing to teach Vera lessons, plus it wasn't far from the house. Money wouldn't be a problem for them. He was paid well to be the Fire Chief.

Vera started voice lessons the following week and excelled. She never wanted to leave and became very close to her voice teacher. Allie was a junior in college and taught several other kids as well as Vera, but Vera was her favorite. When they weren't learning how to pronounce vowels or breathe properly, Allie would tell Vera about the performances she was in and what singing professionally was like. Vera knew from that point on she wanted to be just like Allie when she grew up.

As the years went by, Vera's talent grew. The university professors knew her well even though she was in high school at this point. After Allie graduated, she made sure to find a great replacement teacher for Vera. That teacher ended up being Allie's college professor, Mrs. Baird. Mrs. Baird called Vera a little firecracker, as a reference to her father's job, but also because Vera was feisty and quick-witted. She was so full of life and energy that it reminded her professor of firecrackers. Vera was now a freshman at Texas Tech University. She was accepted with a full-ride scholarship into the music program to study opera. She had always fit in and felt like she belonged and got along with almost everyone she met. People described Vera as kind, generous, entertaining, sometimes a little too confident, mostly hilarious, and always ready for an adventure. Only one person knew Vera to the very core of her being and understood her struggles as well as her strengths. Lila. Vera and Lila met at the YMCA for swim lessons when they were three years old. They have been inseparable ever since, taking ballet together, practically living at each other's houses, fighting, making up, performing in choir, theater, and show choir together, and finally living as roommates at college. They shared a love for performing, but Lila wanted to act in movies whereas Vera wanted to sing. Neither of them had any interest in dating. They went to a few parties during college, but usually just played with the resident animals and went home. They focused on their studies and had big goals for the future. Once they graduated, Lila moved to Los Angeles, and Vera accepted her new role in Austin. They had never been apart, but they texted and face-timed regularly. It was time for them to grow up, live their dreams, fall in love, and do it all in spectacular fashion.

Vera had no idea what awaited her in Austin but she was excited nonetheless. It was like a battle in her mind. She thought of this new chapter in her life as bittersweet. She was saying goodbye to the man who raised her, her best friend, and everything she had known all her life. In a week she would start rehearsals for Les Miserables. She would be making her ingenue debut with the Austin Opera as Cosette. In three weeks, the show was set to open and her new life would officially begin. In the midst of all the excitement of moving, nervousness for her new life, and of course, settling logistics of finding a house. She kept pushing back this feeling that her life was about to change far more than she expected. Something was stirring in her. Almost voice-like. Three words kept coming to her mind. The almost-voice whispered, "Change is coming".