On March 22, I witnessed the soul of this city be destroyed, and sadly I fear it was the city itself that lead to its destruction.

I cannot remember the exact day when I first heard the sweet sounds emanating from his saxophone, but I do remember my day being better because of it. He appeared most days at around 3:30 p.m., and before he manned his post between the Dollar Tree and Rite Aid in the North Auburn Shopping Center, he would first purchase a balloon and fix it to his opened saxophone case as if signaling it was OK to smile and enjoy his sounds. He would play for hours, stopping only to thank those who placed what they could in his case.

In a time when we are inundated with all that is wrong with the world, his music was a welcome respite. I am not saying his smile could fix the economy or end the war in Iraq, but it did provide an escape from the harsh reality we all face, if even for just a moment.

When the Auburn police cruiser pulled up next to him on that day, I knew how the encounter was going to end before it even began. The officer’s smile masked his intentions. He spoke with the young man for several minutes before he inevitably told him to leave. Even from a distance, I could see the disappointment in his posture. He packed his saxophone, smiled one final smile and released his balloon before he left, taking his music and his soul of this city with him.

I do not know why the officer came and stopped him on that particular day. The police are in and out of this parking lot constantly, and I am sure they were well aware of his presence. Was it a concerned citizen who stopped the music? A fellow merchant maybe? I doubt I will ever learn who stopped the music. But if the young man with the saxophone reads this, thank you for lifting the spirit of a city, even if that city did not know you did.

– Timothy McCabe