Chapter 3.2 New Talents Discovered

I had my first music lesson today. I was not as excited as you would think I should be. There were a couple of reasons why I was mad. First off, this music school wasn’t even at a real school. It was at some random lake house. Second, I was also mad that Mommy made me dress up in my nice clothes that are very uncomfortable. How am I suppose to play if I can’t move my arms? Last but most importantly, I was mad because I had to leave my drum set back at home. That wouldn’t be so bad, but there were no drum sets at the school. No drums at all!!! What kind of music school doesn’t have drums?!

“I’m sorry this isn’t ideal,” Mommy could see how mad I was about not having drums. “Miss Melanie is the best music teacher in town, and she is really nice. In fact I think learning the piano will make you a better drum player!”

Mommy smiled at me to try to cheer me up, but I didn’t understand. What does learning piano have to do with being an awesome drum player? I wanted to leave and never return.

Then she answered the door and I saw her.

 

I took one look at Miss Melanie and I fell in love. She is the prettiest person I have ever saw, and she smelled like roses. And Miss Melanie is really really nice and smiles at me all the time. The best part of the music lesson was that Miss Melanie sat right next to me on the piano bench as she taught me the different songs!!

And even though playing the piano isn’t as fun as playing the drums, it was just as easy. Miss Melanie started out teaching me what she called a “simple tune”. I was able to learn that song super fast. I only had to look at the sheet music once before I was able to play the tune by heart. We moved on to a “harder” song, but to me it was just as easy. The hour flew by and before I knew it Mommy was back to pick me up.

 

“I have never had a student who was so naturally talented.” Miss Melanie told Mommy. “Lincoln had no troubles playing the same piece that I use for my advanced class.”

Mommy and Miss Melanie went outside to talk about me and my first day of lessons. They thought that I was eating a cookie in the kitchen. But I could still hear what they were saying about me.

“Do you really think that he is that gifted?” Mommy asked.

She was surprised, and proud that I was so good. Miss Melanie and Mommy talked about me for what felt like forever. Not that I minded at all. I liked being the center of attention. In fact, I really really liked it. I realized that I could quickly become the most popular boy in school by showing off my musical skills.

 

I brought my drum set for Show and Tell so much, that my teacher told me to stop and bring something else. That was when I got Mommy and Daddy to buy me a portable piano, and I started playing that for the class.

Hearing the other kids cheer my name gave me the best feeling in the world, which they should since I am so awesome. Finally, others are seeing just how awesome I really am. And I like the fact that other kids are jealous of me. The kids in my class see how cool and popular I am, and they all want to be my friend. And I can use that to my advantage to become even more popular, and get people to do what I want.

 

There is an older boy, Aaron, that keeps picking on Autumn. He is older and bigger than me, so I can’t fight him with my fists. But I can beat him another way. Everyday kids fight to sit by me at the lunch table. One day I had the idea that if any kid wanted to sit with me at lunch then they would never be able to sit with Aaron ever again; forever! They couldn’t sit with Aaron at lunch ever again, and they can’t ever play with him on the playground or talk to him in class or on the bus.

My plan worked without a hitch. No one wanted to have anything to do with Aaron. He was a bigger outcast than that kid that eats worms. But it didn’t solve my problem, because Aaron still picked on Autumn. Then I had another brilliant idea. It was time to give Aaron a taste of his own medicine.

If I could get kids to not talk to him so easily, then I could get them to tease Aaron too. It would be just as easy. I told all of the kids at the lunch table that I saw Aaron at the hospital because he still wets the bed. The story wasn’t true, but since Mommy is a doctor no one questioned me. The rumors grew and spread so fast that everyone was now picking on Aaron, instead of Aaron picking on Autumn. Finally, one day Aaron stopped coming to school. I heard that he had to go to another school because he was being bullied.

And it was all because of me! Autumn was no longer being picked on by Aaron, because I got everyone to tease him instead. It was all because of me and my popularity. I learned that popularity means power. And I was the most powerful kid in school. And my popularity will only grow as I get older.

High School here I come!!

 

If any of you are a fan of Smoke ‘n’ Roses by Sempreviva then you would have recognized the lovely Rose Briar playing the part of Miss Melanie.

I have been a huge fan of this story, which was turned into a legacy, and when Sempreviva put Rose on her blog for download I knew that I had my Miss Melanie. All credit and a big THANK YOU goes to Sempreviva. And if you are not a follower of her story then I suggest you start!!