Eventually, after a few more rock classics, Ellen was coaxed into singing.
“Black Velvet,” she said with a smile towards Scott.
Sitting swaying gently on the swing seat, Lori smiled as she watched the three musicians play. Across the deck, she saw Jethro and Dr Marrs whispering to each other and guessed they were sharing a similar thought. No stage, no fans, no setlist, no pressure just three musicians relaxing with friends and family and enjoying an acoustic jam session.
“A bit warmer than the usual beach sing-a-longs I’m used to,” joked Taylor a short while later as he carefully laid his borrowed guitar down. “I hate to break up the party but I’m beat. It’s been a long day.”
“Lord, I forgot!” squealed Ellen, looking sheepish. “You must be exhausted.”
Her bandmate nodded, “My body’s telling me it’s about 4 am.”
“Let’s call it a night,” said Jake softly. “Plenty time to continue this another time. We’ve 4th July and Jesse’s birthday coming up. Plenty of opportunity.”
“I think Maddy’s doing 4th of July this year,” interjected Lori. “But still an opportunity to play. You know how her parties go.”
“Do you kids need a ride back into town?” asked Jethro as he got stiffly to his feet.
“That would be great, thanks,” accepted Ellen.
“If it doesn’t take you out of your way,” added Taylor with a yawn. “A lift sounds good.”
“Right, let’s make a move before you’re asleep on your feet, Mr Rowe,” said Jethro. “Lori, thank you for another fabulous day.”
“Pleasure as always. And thank you for Melody’s gifts. You’ve spoiled her,” replied Lori warmly.
“Glad she liked them. The lady in the store said those dolls are all the rage with kids just now. Those ones were new. She was just putting them out on the shelf so I picked up one of each.”
“One would’ve been enough.”
“Nonsense. Miss Melody needed the full set,” declared the band’s manager. He looked on the various band member’s children like grandchildren and spoiled them every chance he got.
“I’ll walk you all out,” said Jake, stretching his hands high above his head to ease the kinks out of his back. “I’m stiff from sitting on that deck.”
“You’re just getting old,” teased Lori with a giggle.
Compared to the summer heat outside, it was cool down in the basement. Keeping half an eye on his daughter, Jake rummaged in one of the desk drawers for some of his old lesson plans from his days as a music teacher. He had invested in a low stool for Melody to sit on and bought some jewel-coloured picks, hoping that the bright colours would help keep her focussed on the strings.
“Found it,” declared Jake eventually.
“Found what?” quizzed Melody curiously.
“Your first music assignment, Miss M,” he replied with a grin. “Now, a few ground rules before we start. We’re going to have fun but you also need to pay attention and do as I tell you. You need to practice what I show you to toughen those little musical princess fingers up. But, the most important rule is still that you do not come down here on your own. OK?”
“Yes, Daddy,” replied Melody. “But why not?”
“It’s too dangerous for you to be down here alone,” began Jake firmly. “Plus, there’s a lot of equipment you could accidentally damage. If you want, you can keep your guitar in your own room but be careful your brother doesn’t get his hands on it.”
“He’s not allowed to touch it!”
“I understand,” sympathised Jake. “I feel the same about a couple of mine.”
“But Todd fixes yours?”
“Only some of them,” revealed Jake. “There’s a couple that I don’t like anyone touching. Another reason you’re not to come down here on your own.”
“Yes, Daddy.”
Picking up his own beloved acoustic guitar, Jake said, “My Mom bought me this for my eighteenth birthday. This guitar is very special to me.”
“Is it the most expensive one?”
Jake shook his head, “Some of the others are worth a lot more money but this one is priceless to me because my Mom bought it for me.” He paused, lost in a memory, then said, “Now, are you ready for your first lesson?”
“Yes! Yes! Yes!”
“Ok, let’s start with learning about the different parts that make up your guitar. Do you know what they are all called?”
Patiently, Jake talked his young daughter through the “anatomy” of her half-sized instrument and was more than mildly surprised when she knew most of the names of the various parts before he told her.
“Where does it plug in?” she asked as she inspected the endpin.
Laughing, Jake said, “Yours doesn’t.”
“Awh,” sighed Melody, looking a little disappointed.
“Right, Miss M, do you know the names of the strings?” quizzed Jake.
The little girl shook her head.
“See this skinny one. It’s E. Next is A, then D then G then B then back to E,” he explained, plucking each one in turn.
“Like the letters I learn at daycare?”
“The very same only these don’t spell out words. These are the letters that are the names of the note that the string plays when it’s in tune and you aren’t pressing down on it. When it’s open.”
“E, A, D….” began Melody, plucking the strings. “What was next?”
“G, B and E,” repeated Jake. “Think of it like this. Eddie Ate Dynamite. Good Bye Eddie.”
“Boom!” giggled Melody.
With a smile, Jake realised he was going to need every last ounce of his patience and teaching skills to keep his young daughter focussed. Eventually, the lesson picked up a bit of pace as he taught her the finger positions for three basic chords. Without being shown, the little girl strummed rhythmically while holding down an A chord then repeated the action
