{This is my response to a prompt from Friday Fictioneers for a 100-word piece. Thank you, Rochelle and all the wonderful people who participate in this writing exercise!}
In the foyer, the owner small-talked and flipped pencils. He waxed persuasive on instruments and auto-pay. The captive parents’ backs dripped against the glaring glass.
The strip mall storefront suffered from inadequate sound-proofing.
Cramped with instruments, sheet music, and stools, the room barely accommodated one. Yet my little half-pint, overjoyed to make noise, always managed to fit, squeezing her teacher in, too.
That first time her curls disappeared behind a firmly shut door, I imagined horrors. Only after years of tuneless guitars and grating drums, did I learn the truth.
She had the voice of an angel.
I’m not familiar with lesson being given in music stores but that could be useful when I travel to Seattle later this year. Your story is very well-written, lovely descriptions and the ending’s wonderful.
I don’t know if it’s true in Seattle, but certainly in Florida there seem to be more strip malls than we know what to do with. I imagined this to take place in one of these storefronts, converted into a kind of a one-stop-shop for music lessons. Thank you for your kind words.
So pleased to read a happy ending!
Thanks Ellie. If at first you don’t succeed…
Closed doors and children trigger all sorts of fears for parents. We have to learn to let them grow amidst our fears. I love that she discovered she had a singing voice!
Thank you Fatima. Yes, it is a gradual process of letting go. Kids tend to tell you when it’s time. 🙂
Lovely ending.
Thank you Lisa! A lot of people seem relieved that this did not take a sinister turn.
My daughter took music lessons for a couple of years. At first it was piano, then electric bass guitar. Unfortunately, neither was a real passion–it was just something to do.
I love the happy ending to this story. However, there was one line that made me stumble, The captive parents’ backs dripped against the glaring glass.” I get the captive parents’ part, but unsure of what I’m suppose to reap from “their backs dripping against the glaring glass.” Maybe I’m just too dense to pick up on a subtle clue.
Russell thank you so much for letting me know where my writing was not clear.
The explanation is: i live in Florida. If you sit in chairs with your backs to a storefront plate glass window, the sun warms your back, causing it to sweat, often quite profusely. This is the discomfort i was trying to describe.
Music lessons are a memory shared by many, and even when they dont seem to “take”–I was “fired” by at least one piano teacher, myself, for not practicing–I think they still profoundly enrich the lives of those who are lucky enough to endure them.
Awwe, that is so cute.
Thank you Anurag!
A sweet story and often parents are the last to appreciate their little ones talent 🙂 I also loved the descriptions in the beginning which immediately and vividly set the scene.
Thank you Dahlia! So true about parents, although i dont think its out of any meanspiritedness. I think most parents are just tired all the time and sometimes they miss stuff! Just keeping a kid alive and healthy can be a full time job. Thanks again for your kind words.
Ah, a happy ending 🙂
Have you ever wondered what an angel’s voice actually sounds like? I have. I like to imagine the possibilities.
No doubt our imaginations do not do them justice! Perhaps the voice only seemed angelic after the more demonic instrumental performances that preceded it. ?
A very nice story, Andi. I like the descriptions of the waiting parents!
Thank you Penny. Parents often find themselves in situations that are less than comfortable.
I liked the determination the child had to fulfil her dream. Sweet story
Yes some children know their own minds!
Dear Andrea,
Every pot finds her lid. Loved this story. Reminded me of sitting in the waiting area of a percussion store waiting for my son to finish his lessons. Fortunately, he’s a talented drummer.
Shalom,
Rochelle
Thank you Rochelle. You can tell from the picture and your comment above that you believe in indulging the musical interests of those you love. That is one of the purest expressions of parenthood and marital love that i can think of. Especially when drums are involved!?
Not the ending I expected and all the better for it! Excelent.
Click to read my FriFic tale
I aim to please. Thank you Keith!
Ah, not able to play music but to sing! Perfect.
Thank you!
So would she have sung more around the house without the lessons?
I know some unschoolers who would think so.
Ah, sweet ending 🙂
Thank you Iain!
I think I would have been petrified to let my little child in behind closed doors too…
All’s well that ends well, though!
Yes i hoped the parents or those inclined to be parents, would pick up on the predator insinuation.
She found her musical forte in the end 🙂
So often, weary parents would prefer pianissimo!