It’s time to play “Guess that theme song.” Ready? Here it is:
Duuh Duuh da da da Duuh Duuh da da da Duuh Duuh dun-dun-dun-duuuuhhhh.
Did you get it?
Enthusiasts and non-fans alike usually recognize the Star Wars theme song when they hear it … and thousands more will likely listen to it this weekend as they pack out theaters to see the much-anticipated “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.”
Six-year-old “Z” from Westborough, Massachusetts, will be one of them.
Although the majority of Star Wars films were released before “Z” was even born, he’s a big fan.
“I like Star Wars because I like Star Wars because I like Star Wars,” he said.
And honestly, what other reason do you need?
Star Wars movies (seven, to be exact), Star Wars Legos, Star Wars T-shirts … even a Star Wars advent calendar … “Z” has it all. He loves the spaceships, and the fighting scenes are pretty cool, too. It’s hard to believe that just over a year ago, he’d never even heard of Star Wars. But, a few of his friends at school started watching the movies and “Z” told his mom he wanted to give them a try. That was all it took.
“He was hooked,” said his mother, Melissa, laughing.
His favorite character is Luke Skywalker – he even has a Skywalker costume. But, every fan knows that no Star Wars ensemble is complete without that most important piece …
A lightsaber.
At first, Melissa wasn’t sure what to do. “Z” was born with a visual impairment and uses a cane to safely navigate. She had the great idea of using the cane as his saber, but didn’t know where to start. So, she went to the Westborough Lowe’s, armed with a plastic lightsaber she’d bought at another store.
“It was on a whim to swing by,” she said. “I was just hoping someone would help me cut the top off the lightsaber so I could slide it over the cane.”
But the employees did a little more than that.
In the store, she met Jay Drayton and Courtnee Blalock. They took a look at the saber and cane, and told Melissa to “come back later” – they’d like to work on them.
Employees joined forces to transform the cane into a lightsaber. They hollowed out the plastic saber, drilled it and made it fit around his cane. They even touched it up with colored electrical tape in certain spots, just to make sure it looked like one consistent piece.
Melissa couldn’t believe how great it looked. But she was also touched by the employees’ willingness to help.
“It was really heartwarming to see people come together like that to do something for your child,” she said. “They didn’t just do it … they embraced it, and they embraced him.”
And “Z”? He loves his new lightsaber. It’s been a hit among his friends and teachers. He’s so proud of it that he refuses to let Melissa “de-saber” his cane, and continues to “battle” with it at home. And you’d better believe that it’s going with him and Melissa to watch “Rogue One.”
Because after all, what young Jedi doesn’t always carry a lightsaber?