Date: 10th of April, 201M2042BC

Location: Volcaldera Bluffs, 4570 Arlington St.

Conditions: Warm, sunny.

Objective: Teach Amber how to play piano.

 

“Wrong key, Amber.”

Amber crosses her arms and looks at me. She really looks like Anon when she's angry. They scowl the same, they slouch the same, even how they cross their arms is a copy of one another. 

“How the hell do you play this?” She grumbles, staring at the keys. 

“Language, Amber.” I frown at her. “It's easy. Watch.” 

I put my fingers on the keys and play a long series of notes. I play slowly at first, making sure that Amber sees which keys I'm pressing, then I play it again and again, gradually increasing the tempo. I can already feel my tail, starting to wagging along, back and forth, back and forth.  

Having a built-in metronome is really neat. And useful. Though, I do have to stop myself before I break out into the song proper and demotivate her completely. She's been comparing herself to me too damn much, especially when it comes to playing piano. 

“Your tail, dear.” 

Her tail flicks. She looks at it over her shoulder and then looks at me. She's confused. And pouting. Raptor Jesus, she really looks like him. They both have such an adorable pout. And how she frowns, hah! As if I was looking at Anon himself   

“You can use it as a metronome, to feel out the rhythm.” I explain. “Try playing the notes I showed you. “I put my hands on my thighs and watch her play. 

Her tail starts moving. Slowly at first, as if she wasn't quite sure that I'm not pulling her leg. But, as she plays the tune again and again, slowly gaining more and more confidence, it starts to flick back and forth. Left, right, left, right. 

I look over at the couch. 

Josh is sitting there, his nose, as usual buried deep in his phone. He notices me looking over and looks up. We stare at each other for a long moment, long enough for him to break into a small smirk. I smirk too. I cannot help it. As we keep looking at one another, his face lights up with a full-on smile. 

“What?” He chuckles. “Something wrong, mom?” 

Heh. My dear boy. He has no idea how much I love him. He'll die of embarrassment if I tell him, so I just shrug, smile and look back at Amber. He snorts and starts tapping away at his phone. 

Amber is looking at me, quite expectantly at that. She's expecting praise. 

Ask and you shall receive. Especially when it's deserved. 

“Very good, Amby.” I smile. “Feel out the rhythm. Remember, use your tail.”

“Having a tail must be really convenient for playing music, huh?” Josh calls out from the couch. “You keep mentioning it so much, mom.” 

Amber turns her head and sticks her tongue out at him. 

“You're just jealous, doofus!” 

Josh snorts. 

“Yeah, having a bread roll attached to your butt must be so fun.” 

“You say that while crying about not having one.” Amber grins triumphantly. 

I look over at my tail. Huh. It does kind of look like a bread roll. Never noticed that. I look over at Josh. He's not looking at me, but at his sister, giving her the most shit eating grin a thirteen year old can manage. I swear, my dweeb teaches him the weirdest behaviors.

He may not have my tail, but he does have my eyes, even if they are a bit more round. And, praise be raptor Jesus, he has my hair. I love Anon and his shiny head, but Josh would have a hell of a tough time at school if he inherited my dearest’s baldness.  

“Drake’s tail is better.” Josh looks at Amber over the edge of his phone. “He can actually use it to lean on and grab stuff. What can you do with that damn nub of yours?”  

“Mom!” Amber whines. “Tell him something! He's being a jackass!” 

“Josh, don't be a jerk to your sister.” I wag my tail. “And to me, for that matter.” I frown at him, slightly. 

“Sorry.” He apologized, but he's still grinning. 

I have to stop myself before I shake my head at him. Like father, like son.  I furrow my brows a bit more, which makes him relent and hide behind the phone. He's a great kid, but he really should learn to keep that long tongue of his in check.

“Now that's settled…” I turn back to Amber. “Play the song again.” 

She starts to play. The beginning is slow and uncertain, she's reluctant to use her tail. I pat her on the back, and give her a reassuring, slightly cocky smirk. You got this, girl. 

She replies with a smirk of her own. That's my girl. The melody starts to flow, her fingers darting around the keys with a lot more enthusiasm, and even a bit of flair. That's it, that's it.

I smile and pat her head, to which she responds with a gleaming smile. 

“Good. Now, the second part of the song. Observe.” I start to play. It's the same as before: singular notes at first, then a bit faster, and finally, the full melody. 

Amber catches on very quickly. She still has some problems with striking the right keys, but that's nothing more lessons won't fix. She looks so happy, playing this song. She looks at me as she plays, with a wide smile on her face, eyes beaming. Her tail wags at a steady rhythm. 

“Am I playing this right, mom?” She asks, turning back to the keys. 

She reminds me of myself, way way back, way before I called myself Fang, way before I met Anon. Pure, innocent, happy. No care in the world, only music. Oh, how I wish she could stay like this forever. 

“Yes.” I nod and wipe a tear from my eye.  

What did me and Anon do to deserve such a child? We must have done something right. 

Footsteps. It's Josh. He got off the couch and now watches Amber play the piano, resting his back against it with his arms crossed. I look at him. He has a look of wonder and consternation on his face. I beckon to him. 

He leans over. I put my arm around him, and we watch Amber play until she's done with the current reprisal of the song. He rests his head on my shoulder. He's a great kid, even if a bit foul mouthed at times. But that, I blame on Anon. And, well, myself. Old habits die hard. 

“Mom?” He mutters. 

“Yes?” I look at him. 

“Can you teach me how to play music?” 

Amber freezes with her fingers pressing on the keys. She looks at him. He looks at her. Then they both look at me. 

Well, this was unexpected. 

“What instrument?” I ask.

He taps his chin with his finger. 

“Drums. Uncle Reed used to play drums, right? Maybe he can teach me?” 

Reed, teaching music. Yeah, I don't see that happening. He's so high on his own supply that I doubt he could teach anyone how to tie their shoelaces, let alone how to play drums. But I don't say anything, only nod. 

“Sure thing. But, well… we will have to find you a different teacher.” 

“I want you to teach me.” be looks me in the eyes. 

That's endearing, really flattering, but I don't know shit about percussion. Though, I did learn how to play cello for work. Drums can't be all that hard. It's all about the rhythm and timing. Can't be harder than guitar tabs and piano key diagrams, right?

“Alright.” I nuzzle his cheek with my snout. “You'll have to wait until I'm done with Amber though.” 

He nods. Then she nods. They exchange looks and snicker at each other.

Then, Amber begins the song anew. She's smiling again. Josh watches her play, leaning over the lid now. He's smiling, and nodding his head along to the melody. He's even drumming on the lid with his fingers. Huh. He's got a pretty good sense of rhythm. Never noticed that. 

We'll make you one hell of a percussionist yet, Josh. Mark my words.