A Simple Song Read Online Free Page B

mysteriously. “I have my ways.”
    Katrina pointed to the computer with a knowing look. “You mean that ?”
    Bekka shrugged.
    â€œYou do use it for more than just your family’s business, don’t you?”
    She gave Katrina a sheepish smile. “Let’s just say it’s my window to the world.”
    â€œBut you shouldn’t be doing—”
    â€œMy parents don’t care . . . At least they don’t care until I get baptized. Then they’ll expect more of me.” Bekka turned the monitor back on. “Right now they don’t mind as long as I get my work done. And I always get my work done.”
    The darkened screen slowly came to life, exposing a colorful image of funny little figures that suddenly started moving about.
    â€œThat doesn’t look like work to me,” Katrina pointed out.
    Bekka laughed. “That’s a game, silly.”
    â€œOh.”
    â€œLet’s google Willow Tree and—”
    â€œGoogle?” Katrina was confused.
    â€œIt’s a way to look things up,” Bekka explained as she tapped some keys and clicked on some things so quickly that Katrina couldn’t even follow it. “There,” she said, pointing to a photo that looked similar to the record cover. “Willow Tree . . . folk trio . . . Willy Brown, Laurence Zimmerman, and the sweet vocals of Starla Knight—”
    â€œThat’s her—my mammi. Starla Knight .”
    â€œSays here that they recorded a single hit titled ‘After the Storm’ in early 1966. Their only album, titled Windy Grove , was released later that same year. And then Willow Tree broke up in early 1968.”
    â€œThat must’ve been right before Mammi came to live here in our settlement.”
    â€œHow do you know?”
    â€œAunt Alma told me.”
    â€œLet’s see if we can find them on YouTube.”
    â€œYou what?”
    â€œYouTube.” Bekka waved one hand dismissively as she used the other to frantically click buttons. “I found it! Listen—listen—this is Willow Tree.” She clicked again, and suddenly, right there in black and white, a young-looking woman with long, dark hair and two bearded men, each with a guitar, began to sing—right out of the computer.
    Katrina stood there transfixed by the sound of the woman’s voice—so clear, so pure, so beautiful. By the time the song ended, Katrina had tears streaming down her face, and she wasn’t even sure why. But when she looked at Bekka, she felt a strange sense of relief to see she was crying too.
    â€œThat was your mammi!” Bekka said with passion. “You must be so proud.”
    Katrina gave Bekka a worried look. Pride was not an admirable trait, and Bekka knew it just as well as Katrina did. “I am amazed,” she admitted. “I had no idea.”
    â€œLet me see if I can find another song,” Bekka said enthusiastically.
    By the time they had listened to three songs, Katrina was so overwhelmed that she had to sit down on the stool next to Bekka’s office chair. “This is incredible.” She shook her head.
    â€œDo you know what’s even more amazing?” Bekka said suddenly.
    â€œWhat?” Katrina let out a slow sigh, still trying to take all of this in.
    â€œYou are just like her.”
    â€œLike who? Mammi?”
    Bekka pointed to the frozen image still on the screen—the dark-haired young woman smiling happily with a guitar-playing young man on either side of her. “Her. Starla Knight. You could be her twin.”
    Katrina made a nervous laugh.
    â€œI don’t mean looks, although you do resemble her. I mean your voice, Katrina. It is just as good as Starla Knight’s.”
    â€œOh, no, of course it’s not.” Katrina waved her hand.
    â€œIt is!” Bekka insisted. “I’ve heard you sing. Everyone in group singing has heard you too. They might not say