Short Story

The Piano Lesson

Nancy's Notes đŸ–ŠïžđŸŽ¶

Denise at GirlieOnTheEdge
has challenged us to write a
Six Sentence Story and
include the word “task”.
This is my response.

Not having practiced the piano at all that one week, I called my instructor who was waiting for me at the church and declared into the phone “Mrs. Ridgeway, it’s Nancy and I can’t make it to my lesson today because it’s raining”; I was quite proud of myself for coming up with such a creative and foolproof excuse.

In her clipped New England-accented voice, Mrs. Ridgeway replied “You’re not a sugar cube and won’t melt in the rain”, then went on to say “Surely you have an umbrella you can use”; I was quick to inform her that I had left my umbrella on the school bus, adding that no one was at home with me to lend me an umbrella and my mother didn’t approve of me walking unprotected in the rain to which my piano teacher replied “Well then, I’ll just come to your house for your lesson”.

You could have knocked me over with a feather because I certainly was not expecting that response and, true to her word, ten minutes later Mrs. Ridgeway appeared at my front door, ready for the task at hand; I dilly-dallied as long as I could looking for my book of Schirmer’s Library of Musical Classics – Selected Piano Masterpieces, setting up my metronome, cracking my knuckles and swinging my arms a la Ed Norton and shifting butt cheeks searching for the most comfortable position until Mrs. Ridgeway’s patience reached the breaking point and she barked “Enough!” which nearly made me jump off the piano bench in a panic.

Shaking like the last leaf on a branch in a windstorm, I opened my lesson book to the appropriate page and began playing Beethoven’s FĂŒr Elise while Mrs. Ridgeway sat next to me, staring over my shoulder and glaring; I played as though I was wearing boxing gloves and, being the master sleuth that she was, Mrs. Ridgeway saw right through my brilliant plot.

Angrier than my sister the day she discovered I had ripped off all the heads on her Barbie dolls, Mrs. Ridgeway exclaimed I had wasted her valuable time and she doubled my lessons for the next week which would have been tolerable if she hadn’t reported to my mother who got so mad because of my lack of responsibility, she withheld my allowance for the next two weeks and took away my TV privileges 
. even Dr. Kildare.

Hoisted by my own petard!

NAR © 2024

Sunday’s Six Sentence Story Word Prompt!

This is what FĂŒr Elise is supposed to sound like; you’ll notice Lang Lang is not wearing boxing gloves (but I bet he’d sound just as good even if he was).

The incomparable Jackie Gleason and Art Carney in a clip from the Honeymooners – Suwanee River. How could I possibly resist?

This portfolio (including text, graphics and videos) is copyright for The Sicilian Storyteller, The Elephant’s Trunk and The Rhythm Section and is not for use by anyone without permission. NAR © 2017-present.

44 thoughts on “The Piano Lesson”

  3. I suspect that (‘Miss’ if we can infer a point in history, both chronological and cultural) Miss Ridgeway was having a bad week.
    (Full Disclosure: have never been an actual teacher, but, alas a bully-is-a-bully no matter the context)

    Excellent Six!

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply

  7. I remember Dr Kildare too, though not really a fan.
    Piano lessons were ” interesting ” as it took my tutor two years to cotton on why I asked him to play my new piece before I attempted it. He was OK about it though and told my Dad he couldn’t teach me. It wasn’t that I didn’t want to learn, but if I was forced, I’d never play at all and my natural gift of playing by ear could be lost.

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply

      1. It’s the only way I know how really and it used to drive my sister nuts as she would struggle to read the music and I only had to hear it once or twice. I don’t play as often as my hands hurt too much, but on a good day, I can sit down and still bash out a tune or six!

        Liked by 2 people

        Reply

    1. She was a wonder and no “spring chicken” either but both she and her husband loved their professions and took them seriously, performing with great pride and dedication.
      I remember to this day Doc Ridgeway drove my parents, sister and me with all our luggage to Kennedy Airport for our 1965 trip to Italy. How many family doctors (who made house calls and was a friend to all in our church) would do that today?
      Doc & Dorothy Ridgeway were special people, a rare breed!
      đŸŽ¶ đŸŽč

      Liked by 3 people

      Reply

    1. Unless you know in your heart and soul that you’re life’s ambition is to be a musician, especially a good one, you’re going to hate music lessons. I love playing the piano and organ but I hated the lessons which is why I write stories and posts about music instead of performing. It’s the old adage: “Those who can, do. Those who can’t, teach (or write!)”.

      Liked by 3 people

      Reply

      1. I understand my grandmother (Mom’s mother) could play the piano by ear. Drove her piano teacher nuts. The teacher would play a song and my grandmother could play it, transposing it and everything. All the time I wasted with the teacher could have been time spent learning songs…

        Liked by 3 people

        Reply

      1. Lucy is one of nature’s wonders such a beautiful child.
        Sam , I say this meaning no offence , is a force for good too he is such an enthusiastic, honest and truly giving person too 💜💚

        Liked by 4 people

        Reply

Leave a reply to Chris Hall Cancel reply