Aerosmith and Bostonian Chaplains

Larisa Waya, Staff Chaplain at the Center for Spiritual Care at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, recently submitted a reflection to the third annual writing contest “Boston in 100 Words.” Her flash story “Aerosmith and Bostonian Chaplains” was selected as a finalist. We republish her flash story with permission below:

Boston does not have night life, unless you get to Longwood Medical Area.

Even its neighbor Fenway has lights-out time.

I’m a Bostonian-trained chaplain working on-call overnight in Longwood.

When I leave after night shift, I listen to heavy rock music to keep me awake.

One night Fenway celebrated the homecoming of Aerosmith on its 50th anniversary.

Steve Tyler’s surprise appearance on the top of the Green Monster generated the force of sing-along “Dream On.”

When he stood on the top of white grand piano, the song soared above the walls.

It reached Longwood Medical Area, which never sleeps and never stops dreaming.