Day 10 - Write a scene focused around a musical instrument
This a Flashfic based on a prompt from ravenswept's 30 Days of Flash Fiction Meme
My 30 Days of Flashfic Index Page
Day 10 - Write a scene focused around a musical instrument
Hurrah, the scene I had in mind for this prompt went down on paper (er, electrons?) without too much trouble. With a return visit from Day 1's Alicia and Thomas.
I think I'll call this one, Music Therapy
Alicia traced a finger along the case beside her and smiled as Thomas walked in. "All finished with your homework Thomas?"
"All finished, Miss Kosti." Others might not have noticed it, but Alicia could hear the hint of pride in his voice. The assignments might have originally been written for Second Year primary school students half his age, but the pride was well deserved for one who had never gone into a proper classroom before the past few weeks
"Good, because we'll need the free time. It's just us for the next week and I've got something special planned. Hop on up here." She patted her lap, only to mentally kick herself at his sudden worried face. "It's okay, you're not in trouble. In fact, you might even think of this as a reward."
The worry was replaced with a puzzled look as he climbed up and perched on the edge of her lap. Even more puzzled as she pulled him around to sit with his back to her chest. His then eyes opening in wonder as she reached over and unlatched the battered case that sat next to her. Pulling out a smaller version of the guitar he'd seen her play most evenings. Wonder and perhaps a little worry back on his face as she sat the instrument in his lap.
"This is the first guitar I ever owned. I've seen how much you have enjoyed listening to me play. So, while Richard and Melissa are gone for next week's break I thought we would get a surprise ready for them."
Gently she took the fingers of his left hand and guided them in place for an E minor chord, then took his right hand and took them through a few strums. "There are names for all the parts and sounds and what you do. But for now don't worry about those. For now simply listen and feel."
She let her hands slip away so he could do it all on his own. After a few minutes she helped him position his fingers for another chord and had to smile at the delight openly shown on his usually well guarded face.
Six chords later she carefully shifted him over onto the couch seat beside her. "Alright kiddo, I think you're getting it. Play around with what I've shown you while I work on dinner. Just listen and feel and have fun, can you do that."
She almost laughed at the sight as he grinned and nodded quickly. "Can do that Miss Kosti. I'll be really, really careful with it too."
"Not to worry kiddo, I know you'll be careful with her. But be careful with yourself too. Let me know if your fingers get tired or sore. Dinner should be ready by then and you can have a break. Then I'll start telling you what the names are for what you're doing."
She started out as he returned to practicing, then paused by the door and looked back. "Oh, one more thing Thomas. Show me you can take good care of her and that you won't let her distract you from your homework and she'll be yours."
"Mine? To keep?"
"To keep. She was my first guitar and maybe still my favorite, but a guitar like her really is at her best in a child's hands helping them learn. But remember, only if you show me you can treat her right and keep up on your homework."
"I will! I'll take good care of her, Miss Kosti, and study extra hard, I promise!"
Alicia nodded, and listened a moment as he returned to practicing what she'd shown. Smiling then as she slipped away to the kitchen.
My 30 Days of Flashfic Index Page
Day 10 - Write a scene focused around a musical instrument
Hurrah, the scene I had in mind for this prompt went down on paper (er, electrons?) without too much trouble. With a return visit from Day 1's Alicia and Thomas.
I think I'll call this one, Music Therapy
Alicia traced a finger along the case beside her and smiled as Thomas walked in. "All finished with your homework Thomas?"
"All finished, Miss Kosti." Others might not have noticed it, but Alicia could hear the hint of pride in his voice. The assignments might have originally been written for Second Year primary school students half his age, but the pride was well deserved for one who had never gone into a proper classroom before the past few weeks
"Good, because we'll need the free time. It's just us for the next week and I've got something special planned. Hop on up here." She patted her lap, only to mentally kick herself at his sudden worried face. "It's okay, you're not in trouble. In fact, you might even think of this as a reward."
The worry was replaced with a puzzled look as he climbed up and perched on the edge of her lap. Even more puzzled as she pulled him around to sit with his back to her chest. His then eyes opening in wonder as she reached over and unlatched the battered case that sat next to her. Pulling out a smaller version of the guitar he'd seen her play most evenings. Wonder and perhaps a little worry back on his face as she sat the instrument in his lap.
"This is the first guitar I ever owned. I've seen how much you have enjoyed listening to me play. So, while Richard and Melissa are gone for next week's break I thought we would get a surprise ready for them."
Gently she took the fingers of his left hand and guided them in place for an E minor chord, then took his right hand and took them through a few strums. "There are names for all the parts and sounds and what you do. But for now don't worry about those. For now simply listen and feel."
She let her hands slip away so he could do it all on his own. After a few minutes she helped him position his fingers for another chord and had to smile at the delight openly shown on his usually well guarded face.
Six chords later she carefully shifted him over onto the couch seat beside her. "Alright kiddo, I think you're getting it. Play around with what I've shown you while I work on dinner. Just listen and feel and have fun, can you do that."
She almost laughed at the sight as he grinned and nodded quickly. "Can do that Miss Kosti. I'll be really, really careful with it too."
"Not to worry kiddo, I know you'll be careful with her. But be careful with yourself too. Let me know if your fingers get tired or sore. Dinner should be ready by then and you can have a break. Then I'll start telling you what the names are for what you're doing."
She started out as he returned to practicing, then paused by the door and looked back. "Oh, one more thing Thomas. Show me you can take good care of her and that you won't let her distract you from your homework and she'll be yours."
"Mine? To keep?"
"To keep. She was my first guitar and maybe still my favorite, but a guitar like her really is at her best in a child's hands helping them learn. But remember, only if you show me you can treat her right and keep up on your homework."
"I will! I'll take good care of her, Miss Kosti, and study extra hard, I promise!"
Alicia nodded, and listened a moment as he returned to practicing what she'd shown. Smiling then as she slipped away to the kitchen.