I walked down the passage, humming some melody that popped into my mind. I was returning from watching a marvelous performance, was looking forward to playing my organ some more, and generally was in a good mood. It was the evening of such a good day!

Well, so I was walking in my secret passage and humming, when I heard wild knocking on the wall just to the left of me. Maybe I was disturbing some singer who tried to sleep instead of rehearsing. Either way, being the nice person I am, I stopped singing, and even apologized for the noise.

"No, you don't understand," came the voice from the other side of the wall. It was a pleasant, harmonic girl's voice, but it was used in such a manner that her talking came out more like a shriek. She uttered that phrase and then paused, as if thinking that the brief utterance would explain everything.

"Apparently, I don't," I agreed politely. "Madam, would you care to explain?"

"I'm Christine!" she yelled. "Although you know that – because you are my angel!"

I was so taken aback that I couldn't reply. In the meantime, she continued.
"You were sent from heaven by my father! I know your voice! I never heard it, but I recognize it!"

"Pardon me, Miss Christine, but you must've confused me with someone else," I said. "I'm not an angel. I'm the Opera Ghost."

"No, no, you must be my Angel of Music! Aren't you?"

"No. I am not an angel," I said, starting to feel a little agitated. Even my fun-loving nature could only take so much.

"Who then? Who is it there standing? Father?"

"No!"

"Friend?"

"No way! I already told you, I'm the Phantom."

"So you go by many names," she continued in the same ecstatic tone that was beginning to scare the life out of me. "Just hearing you makes me want to sing!"

Before I could stop her, she indeed started singing. I won't be lying if I said that I never heard such a song in my life! It sounded like a few dozen cats had been thrown off the balcony into the orchestra pit, and landed on the violinist. Being an honest person, I spoke my mind.

"I think you seriously need some lessons!"

"Really?!" She seemed so delighted as though she took it for the greatest compliment in the world. Her next phrase, however, puzzled me. "I accept!!! Tomorrow, at 8:00, I'll be here for my first lesson!"

I stood in the secret passage, dumbfounded. Taking advantage of my hesitation, the chorus girl shrieked once more. Then I heard a door slamming and her retreating footsteps.

There wasn't a trace left of the good mood I was in a few minutes ago. Grimly I walked down to my house. Instead of a joyful melody I expected to play, my fingers produced something resembling a requiem.

I was a responsible guy. Since I now had an appointment, I would keep it, even though technically I never agreed. That stupid honor! I would keep the appointment it if it killed me.

---

Sure enough, the next morning Christine waited for me at the time she set. I could hear her talking to her maid, telling the woman to leave her alone. The young singer's voice wasn't that bad, actually. It wasn't the best voice I've heard, but it wasn't as bad as I remembered it from the day before.

When the maid left, I called out Christine's name. Her response was a shriek. Oh, my god! It wasn't as bad as the night before. IT WAS WORSE!

"Angel! You're here," she yelled piercingly. "You've come!"

"Um... Mademoiselle..." I started, trying to put it was mildly as I could.

"Yes, yes, Angel? Teach me!"

"All right. Let's start by you dropping that excited tone."

"What tone?! You presence alone makes me tremble!"

Quietly so she wouldn't hear, I smashed my palm on my forehead.