Serenity's Song by Cathryn Hein

Author:Cathryn Hein
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, Romance
ISBN: 9781952560316
Publisher: Tule Publishing Group, LLC
Published: 2020-08-08T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twelve

‘What is it with you and music?’ asked Jesse when he’d finished spluttering. He should probably be offended by the “Fuck You” reference. Instead, he was relieved Serenity was showing signs of her usual sass. Her dullness had been worrying.

Serenity was right, he didn’t know the song. He didn’t recognise the singer’s name either, but he’d sure as hell be looking both up when they got out of here.

‘I don’t know. I’ve always loved it. My grandparents used to play a lot of music when we were growing up. Old stuff, from when they were young. Sixties and seventies bands like the Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, AC/DC and Black Sabbath. They were real headbangers.’

‘Sounds it.’

‘They liked other music too. The Beach Boys, Fleetwood Mac, Dusty Springfield. They lived in Ballarat, right on Lake Wendouree. I used to spend my summer holidays with them. Every memory I have of those times has a soundtrack of old tunes.’

‘That sounds good.’

‘It was,’ she said quietly.

‘Are your grandparents still alive?’

‘They are, but they moved to Darwin about seven years ago. Couldn’t stand another Ballarat winter.’

‘I bet that was a culture shock.’

‘It was. It took a while for them to get used to it, especially the wet season, but they love it now. G-Ma sings backup for a covers band. After years of trying to learn, G-Pa is now pretty decent on lead guitar. Or so he reckons. G-Ma says otherwise.’

‘They sound like a band themselves—G-Ma and G-Pa.’

‘I usually call them the Gs. Their real names are Grant and Gloria, so it all fits. I miss them a lot. We get to chat online all the time, but it’s not the same.’ Jesse could feel her head twisting to the side on his thigh. Her voice took on a wistful edge. ‘I hope I get to see them again.’

‘Do you play music?’ he asked, steering her away from her worry.

She chuckled and her head turned back. ‘I’m like G-Pa. I do, but badly.’

‘What instrument?’

‘Keyboard. I had piano lessons for a few years as a kid and loved it. I wasn’t very good, though. When I realised that I’d never be Elton John or Billy Joel, I gave up. Then a few years ago I saw a keyboard on sale in a catalogue and couldn’t resist. I’m still terrible, but it keeps me out of mischief. And I can wear headphones so it doesn’t bother the neighbours. What about you? Can you play anything?’

‘Recorder.’

She laughed. ‘Another one who had to suffer the recorder. You’d think music teachers would come up with a better way to teach us music. Those things must have put off a whole generation of children.’

‘Probably. Miss Andersson made up for it though.’

‘You hear that?’

Jesse tensed. ‘What?’

‘That, my conceited cave companion, was the sound of my eyeballs rolling.’

‘Very funny.’ Jesse tugged lightly on a lock of her hair. ‘She was hot though.’

‘And you thought this at what? Age seven?’

‘Ten. And I was a big boy by then.’

‘I’m sure she was very impressed by your attention.

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