I on the other hand spent most of my time practicing.
Chapter 12
My rendition of the Prokofiev was taking shape; I was able to put some finishing touches on the Beethoven; and had even started work on the Liszt. By the time we left, Mom and Cindy were actually getting along. I wasn’t sure whether I should be thrilled, or terrified.
The trip to Cindy’s parents meant it was my turn to sweat. I mean from their perspective, what exactly was there about me that they might see as positive?
First of all I’m a musician, which the vast majority of the time is synonymous with taking a vow of poverty. As a concert pianist I will no doubt spend most of my life traveling, meaning I won’t be home much. And if that wasn’t enough to make her parents hate me as a potential son-in-law, there is always simply the fact that I wear women’s underwear, no matter what the reason.
The bottom line was that there were very few instances in which I would be considered a good catch. With all those thoughts running through my mind, it was no wonder I was feeling some trepidation about the trip.
Since Cindy’s parents both worked we were taking a taxi from the airport to her family’s house, where we were to wait for her parent’s arrival shortly after six that evening. Once we’d arrived at the house Cindy spent a few minutes digging around in her purse before reaching the conclusion that she’d forgotten her key, so she found the spare under this ceramic frog statue that sat on the front porch and we let ourselves in.
“I know exactly what you want to see first,” she said to me as I closed the front door behind us. She headed toward a huge room straight ahead with me following close behind. In that room sat what I often consider the most gorgeous piece of furniture that could grace a home…a full sized concert grand piano.
Despite having been dusted on a daily basis, this particular specimen had obviously not been played in quite some time and as a result was in desperate need of tuning. I played a few notes before going back to my bag, where I retrieved my tuning kit. There had been a few who thought it silly of me to take “Introduction to Piano Tuning and Maintenance” as a freshman, but at that moment I was certainly glad I had.
While I got to work on the piano Cindy wandered into the kitchen, where she found a note from her mother telling her that there was a roast all ready to put in the oven sitting in a pan in the refrigerator. She dutifully heated up the oven and put the dinner in to cook before returning to my side, where she sat with me while I worked on her childhood instrument.
She stuck with me a lot longer than I expected, but even true love has it’s limits, and in the second hour of ‘stick the felt strip between these strings…hit this key…twist the tuning hammer…repeat…’ she left my side saying, “I think I’m going to go watch a little television, okay?”
I paused what I was doing, looked up at her and replied, “Okay. Sorry, I just sort of started this and I hate to quit halfway through.”
“I understand, really. Once you get it in tune, promise you’ll play for me?”
“You know I will.”
As she left the room my attention returned to the piano in front of me. After three passes through the entire instrument I finally had it back up to concert pitch and in tune, so I started playing. I went through the Mozart, Beethoven, Prokofiev, much of the Liszt, and even reached back and pulled the Chopin Mazurkas back out before I realized I had acquired an audience.
As I brought the fourth Mazurka to a close, I happened to hear Cindy whisper something and turned to see what was going on. That’s when I saw my future mother-in-law for the first time.
“Um, hi. I’m Kyle,” I said timidly as I held out my hand toward her.
“So you’re the young man that’s stolen my little girl’s heart?” she said in an almost accusatory tone.
Nervously I replied, “I suppose I am, yes.”
Apparently they could hold it no longer as Cindy and her mother both broke out in fits of giggles. Finally Cindy got enough control of herself to say, “You should have seen your face!”
After allowing a moment or two for things to settle back down, Cindy’s mom said, “Seriously, call me Kate. Unless I’m off base here I think there’s something you two want to tell me?”
Stunned, I just looked at her. I didn’t think Cindy had said anything to her mom about the engagement yet, but she certainly sounded like she knew already.
Finally Kate added, “I noticed the ring right away.” Then directed toward Cindy she asked, ‘May I take a closer look?”
Cindy held up her hand to show her mother the ring. Her mom commented, “Lovely, dear. Tell me Kyle, where did you get it?”
Before I had a chance to regain the use of my vocal cords Cindy answered, “It was his grandmother’s ring Mom. Isn’t it beautiful?”
“Absolutely. So how soon do we need to plan the wedding?”
Finally able to string a few sounds intelligibly together I answered, “We haven’t really talked about that yet, ma’am.”
“Kate, remember?”
“Kate.”
“That’s better.” She looked at Cindy, “You’re staying for a few days, correct? We have to spend some of that time talking weddings.”
I just sort of looked at them as if I had no idea what was going on while Cindy and her mom drifted off together chatting about seasons, colors, flowers, and who knows what else. I eventually returned to the piano and played through the Rachmaninov Sonata, followed by some of the Chopin Etudes before I heard the front door close followed by the familiar squeal of Cindy’s voice as she excitedly greeted her father.
They came into the piano room, as I’d mentally started to refer to this area, and Cindy introduced me to her dad. “Dad, this is Kyle. Kyle, my dad.”
I held out my hand toward him and he shook it vigorously, saying, “Welcome Kyle, welcome. I see you’ve made yourself at home there.”
“Sorry sir, I just…”
“Just nothing, feel free to use it as much as you like. I had heard you were brilliant, and from what I just heard I’d say for a change my daughter wasn’t exaggerating,” chuckling at his own little joke.
I joined in trying to be polite then said, “Thanks for letting me practice on it. I’ve got a fairly hectic concert schedule coming up and I need to cram as much time in as I can to get ready.”
“So I hear, son. If you don’t mind my asking, what are your plans further on down the road?”
I paused for a moment before responding, “Well sir, this summer I start participating in a series of competitions that offer cash prizes as well as additional paying performance opportunities. Then in the fall I’ll be returning to continue my studies at the Conservatory…”
Cutting me off he interjected, “No, I mean what do you plan to do for a living if this grand plan doesn’t work out?”
I was stunned. That was the first time anyone had ever dared ask a question like that of me and I wasn’t entirely sure how to answer it. I did finally form a response, “Teach, sir.”
“Teach, as in piano? Son, do you really think you can make enough money teaching piano to support a family?”
“I could also tune and repair pianos.”
“Well, I suppose that’s a little better, but still…”
Cindy finally jumped in, “Daddy! That’s not fair!”
“What’s not fair about it? Your mother told me the news when I called her on my way home, and I’m happy for you. I really am. But I would be remiss if I didn’t ask these questions of the young man who is intent on taking my little girl away from me.”
I answered, “Sir, I understand where you’re coming from. I do. Yes, I’ve asked your daughter to marry me, and she said yes. We have no specific plans as of yet. Marriage is still as they say, down the road.”
Just then Kate stuck her head in the door and said, “Dinner’s ready, everyone.”
Cindy’s dad turned his attention toward his wife and said, “Excellent! I could eat a half a cow all by myself!”
“Only if you don’t want to fit through the door anymore,” Kate quipped.
Dinner conversation was limited to Cindy telling her parents about her classes this past semester and them catching her up on some of her old friends and relatives. Everything was calm and pleasant, and I still couldn’t help but notice the undercurrent of hostility coming my way from Mr. Franklin.
After dinner the calm, pleasant conversation continued, though still masking some fairly negative vibes that were coming my way from my future father-in-law. Cindy and her mom drifted off into their own separate conversation, leaving her dad and I sitting there, staring at each other while neither one wanted to start the argument all over. In the end everyone turned in fairly early, for which I was grateful.
Over the next few days Cindy and I spent our days alone, either at her folks’ house or out with some of her old friends. When we were at the house, I got a lot of practice in and by New Year’s Eve was feeling pretty confidant about the Liszt concerto as well as everything else. I’d even managed to start work on both the Chopin concerto and the JS Bach. At that rate, I might just be down to adding polish to all of them by the time the winter semester started. And there was no question…that would be a very good thing.
Evenings were spent with her folks, where her mom was absolutely effervescent with her enthusiasm over the impending marriage while her dad was tactfully polite but otherwise distant.
I suppose I could understand his position. After all, here’s this artsy guy without a solid financial future asking for permission to steal his daughter away. When I looked at it like that, I could understand the hostility. I just hoped that eventually I’d be able to change his mind.
As for New Year’s Eve itself, Cindy and I had been invited to a party that was being thrown by an old high school friend of hers. So after dinner that evening, we headed out to join her friends in ringing in the New Year. I was looking forward to meeting some of Cindy’s friends, but at the same time I had never been what you’d call a party animal. Thanks to that little conundrum, I was a nervous wreck by the time we left the Franklins’.
We hadn’t been at the party, which was being held at the house of one of Cindy’s friends, for more than three minutes before I’d been dragged around to meet no less than ten people, all of who seemed to have heard about me from Cindy. I didn’t even know she’d been in contact with them.
“So this is the infamous Kyle?” asked one of Cindy’s old girlfriends.
“That’s me,” I replied.
Cindy was being rather obvious about using her left hand in such a way that anyone who happened to be looking at her couldn’t help but see the ring on her finger. Every one of her friends we encountered asked about the ring and its significance, as I’m sure she intended. As a result, each of these encounters inevitably ended with a series of congratulations and well wishes.
As we made our way through the throngs of partygoers, one of the most frequently asked questions was, “Will you play something for us?” I knew full well that this was not the environment where Chopin or Liszt was the best choice, so as we wandered around and I deflected those questions I wracked my brain trying to think of something I knew that might go over well.
By the time Cindy and her friends had somehow herded me toward the piano that was sitting in the corner, I had finally come up with a few ideas of what I could play. As a chant of “Play, Kyle, Play!” started making it’s way through the room, Cindy was escorting me to the piano bench where she sat down next to me and waited to see what I had in mind.
I raised my hands to the keyboard and felt that now familiar tug of bra straps across my shoulders and placed my foot on the sustain pedal, reveling in the sensation of panty hose rubbing against the inside of my trousers. It wasn’t until my fingers touched the keys that my mind was made up what I would play first.
I began the familiar opening notes of Scott Joplin’s “The Entertainer” and glanced at Cindy to see her eyebrows shoot up toward the roof in delighted surprise. I tried to infuse it with all the joy and energy I could muster and in the end I felt like I’d done an adequate, though not exactly brilliant job. The crowd erupted with applause, whoops, and hollers for more, which inspired me to dig out the other Joplin tune I could remember, “The Maple Leaf Rag”.
Again, I played with a great deal of energy and despite a few flubs that I attributed to not having played these pieces in a very long time it was very well received. It occurred to me that I might want to refresh my memory on some of these to keep handy, just in case I ever had need for lighter selections again.
Once the Maple Leaf was brought to a close, Cindy leaned into my ear and said, “I didn’t know you knew that kind of stuff!”
I turned to face her for a moment and replied, “Just wait ‘til you hear what’s next!” I then tore into the old Vince Guaraldi classic “Linus and Lucy” from the Peanuts cartoons. There were a number of mistakes once again, but my audience didn’t seem to notice. In the end I felt like I’d barely managed a passable rendition, but the crowd loved it.
I decided to try getting a little more serious next by playing Chick Corea’s rendition of “Monk’s Mood”. As I played it I could vividly remember the very first time I heard this piece and how it nearly inspired me to go the jazz route instead of classical. Most of my audience wasn’t familiar with the piece, but everyone seemed to enjoy it in the end, myself included.
When the applause died down after that, I spoke for a moment, “Thanks everyone! For those who aren’t familiar with it, that was a tune by Chick Corea called, ‘Monk’s Mood’. It’s been fun meeting all of you and I’d like to have a chance to speak with you all a little more. That’s why I’ll play a little more, then I’m done for the evening.”
Continuing I said, “This one is by the man who inspired that last selection. It’s Thelonius Monk’s ‘Ask Me Now’.” I began playing and remembered why I had chosen the classical route instead of trying my hand at jazz. I had the technical skill to play anything really, but Monk’s imagination was absolutely awe-inspiring. With each note I became more convinced that I’d never in a million years be able to come up with something that brilliant. Did that make me little more than a trained monkey? I wasn’t sure.
As I ended ‘Ask Me Now’ and stood up from the piano bench, the cries of “Don’t stop!” rang out as I tried to get away from the piano to allow the festivities to return to their normal state, but we were surrounded and weren’t being allowed to exit the area just yet.
Finally I asked, “If I play one more…”
I was caught off guard by the crowd’s cheers ringing through the room, asking for more. I sat back down and thought for a moment before coming up with one more song I could play. As it turned out, there really was only one other jazz tune I knew and it was Bill Evans’ version of “Elsa”. I played with the same kind of emotion that comes through when I play Chopin, and it sounded great!
As I stood this time I said, “That’s all, really folks.” Cindy and I were finally allowed to rejoin the rest of the gathered merry makers, so just to make sure I didn’t get roped into playing anymore, we headed straight for the dance floor as someone put a mix CD into the stereo.
Just before midnight we were sitting on a sofa, drinks in hand when a guy came up and gave Cindy a far too friendly kiss before acknowledging me and offering his hand to shake mine. I looked at him as coldly as I could manage as I said, “Hi, I’m Kyle, Cindy’s fiancé.”
“Oh, so you’re the one everyone’s been talking about?” he slurred drunkenly.
“I suppose I am. And you are?”
He held out his hand in as gentlemanly a gesture as he could muster given his obvious inebriation and said, “Jeff Corbin, also known as ‘the Ex’.”
As I shook his hand a look of fear flashed across Cindy’s face. I wasn’t sure what prompted it, but if I had to guess I might think she was expecting that I’d be jealous. Fortunately for me, I was able to control any tendencies I might have had in that direction and the moment passed without incident. As Jeff stumbled his way toward the bar, the look of relief on Cindy’s face could practically be heard as well as seen.
“Why were you so nervous?” I asked her once he was well out of earshot.
“Oh, nothing,” she tried to deflect my question.
“That didn’t look like nothing,” I countered.
“Look, can we leave?” she asked as she stood and then pulled me to my feet.
Confused, I looked at her for a moment before finally answering, “Yeah, sure.” Once we were heading toward the exit I turned to her and asked, “Are you sure? I mean, these are your friends after all.”
“I’m sure. I’m not feeling all that well.”
“Okay,” I said. With that we left the party and drove back to Casa Franklin.
The further away from the party we drove, the more Cindy seemed to relax. Once she appeared to be more or less back to normal I asked her, “What just went on back there?”
“What are you talking about?”
“That whole thing with your ex and you getting all freaked out?”
She sat silent for a moment before responding, “Have you ever done things that afterward you wish you could take back?”
“Well yeah, I think everyone has, haven’t they?”
“Jeff was one of those things I wish I could take back.”
“Why? Did he hurt you?”
“He never hit me or anything like that. He just always was telling me what to do, how to dress, where to go…” she paused to take a deep breath. “The entire time we were together, he treated me more like a possession than a person.”
“Okay, so what got you so scared back there? I’m not like that.”
“I know. You’re like the complete opposite of him. I think that’s part of why I love you.”
“What, so you can tell me what to do?” I said it jokingly, but it wasn’t received well at all.
“No, nothing like that. We treat each other like equals, like we respect each other’s opinions.”
“That’s the way it’s supposed to be, isn’t it?”
“But rarely is. As irrational as it sounds, for a moment there I was afraid that when you two shook hands he might infect you with that jerk mentality of his.”
I couldn’t help but chuckle at that thought. I stifled the reaction as quickly as possible and said, “Just in case there’s any question, you have nothing to worry about.”
“I know,” she said. “I love you.”
“Love you too.”
The remainder of our drive back to her parent’s house was made in a comfortable silence as we both drifted through our own sets of thoughts. Back at the house, we let ourselves in as quietly as we could and made our way to our bedroom.
As we readied ourselves for bed, Cindy caught sight of my bra as I was undressing and asked, “Why’d you have that on tonight?”
I looked down and replied, “I don’t know. I’ve just sort of gotten used to wearing it. Now it feels strange to go without.”
“I thought you only wore those things when you played?”
“Well yeah, that’s right. It’s just that…”
She cut me off, “Just that what?”
I replied as calmly as I could, “It’s just that the more I wear these things, the more used to them I become and the more I wear them even when not playing.”
“Do you have to?”
Confused I said, “Well no, I don’t suppose I HAVE to, but I like the way they feel. I thought you of all people…”
“What?” she said with more forcefulness than she intended. “Since I’m the one who started all this in the first place you assumed I’d be okay with it. Well I’m not okay with it.”
“Why not? There’s nothing threatening about it. You even bought me things for Christmas. Now all of a sudden I find out that it’s not okay after all? I’m not sure how to handle any of this. I was hoping that you…”
“That I would what, Kyle?”
In a more timid voice I replied, “Could help me figure everything out.”
In a much gentler tone she said, “Of course. You know I will. We’re both trying to figure some things out right now, that’s all.”
“Yeah, I know. It’s just that everything has been so out of control recently.”
“I know. I promise, everything will be all right. Now, why don’t we go to bed and get some rest?”
I looked into her eyes and said, “Absolutely.”
She got what appeared to be a pained look on her face as she said, “But please take those off before you come to bed?”
I wasn’t sure what was going on, but I dutifully removed my bra, as well as my pantyhose and panties before climbing into bed.
“That’s better,” Cindy purred as she wrapped her arms around my neck and began to kiss me.
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Piano Concerto No.12 in A Major, kv.414
http://server3.pianosociety.com/protected/mozart-kv414-1-bko...
Ludwig von Beethoven, Concerto No.4 in G Major, Opus 58
http://server3.pianosociety.com/protected/beethoven-58-1-hu.mp3
http://server3.pianosociety.com/protected/beethoven-58-2-3-h...
Sergei Prokofiev, Piano Concerto No.1, Opus 10
http://server3.pianosociety.com/protected/prokofiev-10-1-arm...
http://server3.pianosociety.com/protected/prokofiev-10-2-arm...
http://server3.pianosociety.com/protected/prokofiev-10-3-arm...
Franz Liszt, Piano Concerto No.1 in E flat Major
http://server3.pianosociety.com/protected/liszt-pc1-1-2-hu.mp3
http://server3.pianosociety.com/protected/liszt-pc1-3-4-hu.mp3
Frederic Chopin, 4 Mazurkas, Opus 41
http://server3.pianosociety.com/protected/chopin-41-1-breeme...
http://server3.pianosociety.com/protected/chopin-41-2-breeme...
http://server3.pianosociety.com/protected/chopin-41-3-breeme...
http://server3.pianosociety.com/protected/chopin-41-4-breeme...
Sergei Rachmaninov, 2nd Sonata in Bb minor
http://server3.pianosociety.com/protected/rachmaninov-36-1-g...
http://server3.pianosociety.com/protected/rachmaninov-36-2-g...
http://server3.pianosociety.com/protected/rachmaninov-36-3-g...
Frederic Chopin Concert Etudes, Opus 10
http://server3.pianosociety.com/protected/chopin-10-1-stahlb...
http://server3.pianosociety.com/protected/chopin-10-2-stahlb...
http://server3.pianosociety.com/protected/chopin-10-3-grant.mp3
http://server3.pianosociety.com/protected/chopin-10-4-sinadi...
http://server3.pianosociety.com/protected/chopin-10-5-kingma...
http://server3.pianosociety.com/protected/chopin-10-6-stahlb...
http://server3.pianosociety.com/protected/chopin-10-9-kingma...
http://server3.pianosociety.com/protected/chopin-10-11-levin...
http://server3.pianosociety.com/protected/chopin-10-12-kingm...
Frederic Chopin, Piano Concerto No.2 in F minor, Opus 21
http://server3.pianosociety.com/protected/chopin-21-1-odoan.mp3
http://server3.pianosociety.com/protected/chopin-21-2-odoan.mp3
http://server3.pianosociety.com/protected/chopin-21-3-odoan.mp3
Johann Sebastian Bach, Harpsichord Concerto No.1 in D minor, BWV 1052
http://server3.pianosociety.com/protected/bach-bwv1052-1-set...
http://server3.pianosociety.com/protected/bach-bwv1052-2-set...
http://server3.pianosociety.com/protected/bach-bwv1052-3-set...
Scott Joplin, The Entertainer
http://server3.pianosociety.com/protected/joplin-the-enterta...
Maple Leaf Rag
http://server3.pianosociety.com/protected/joplin-maple-leaf-...
Vince Guaraldi, Linus and Lucy
http://www.amazon.com/gp/music/wma-pop-up/B000ICLSMY001004/r...
Chick Corea, Monk’s Mood
http://www.artistdirect.com/nad/window/media/player/0,,20116...
Thelonius Monk, Ask Me Now
http://www.artistdirect.com/nad/window/media/player/0,,26039...
Bill Evans, Elsa
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vyyMM5mOK7I
Notes:
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To Be Continued...
Comments
She said yes!
I'm still pouting a little that we didn't get to watch her response to his question, but at least she accepted...
It's interesting that Cindy's dad is sending his daughter to college but expects her husband's salary alone to support the family. That old-fashioned attitude could become a problem.
Interesting "tunes" here...
... or perhaps undercurrents. A musician as son in law - not good. And why Cindy reacted so strongly to his bra? If she isn't totally on his side it will be very hard for the future father in law to accept him at all. A musician and a sissy in comparison the hometown boy Jeff is far better!
A strong chapter with some realistic reactions and also bit of a fresh wind after all "oohing and aahing" of Kyles considerable musical talents (well some of it here too, but not only it).
Hugs,
Sissy Baby Paula and Snowball (my toy puppy)
Trouble ...
... in paradise ???
"All the world really is a stage, darlings, so strut your stuff, have fun, and give the public a good show!" Miss Jezzi Belle at the end of each show
BE a lady!
Tunes
Wow, So all of a sudden she is not ok with the Bra, panties, hose bit. Interesting.
Well trouble in Paradise is an understatement. It looks like Cindy and Kyle will not have a long lasting relationship after all. Especially when Cindy is showing displeasure at the things Kyle is wearing.
I would think that Kyle is headed for pain in the future when cindy tells him toodles.
The way Cindy was showing off Kyle and the ring, it sounds like she had just recieved a trophy, and beat all of the others in some kind of unsaid competition. Is cindy just a user? Is Jeff an abuser? The reactions seem real, but it sounds like Cindy has alterior motives, after all.
Her father sure is a peice of work. Definately pissed about Kyle trying to steal his daughter away from them.
Had some of the others made mention of seeing the bra straps on Kyle, while he played and Cindy feels embarrassed about it all?
Looking forward to the next installation, but see much heartache on the horizon if things keep progressing with Cindy showing her displeasure with Kyle and his dressing.
musicians as son in laws
My Southern Belle daughter in law Ana has a brother and brother in law that are both full time musicians. Ana's parents are still helping to support both of them. So I can understand our character's fathers feelings. I gave up my dream of being a proffessional musician when I realized that I could never make a living at it.
In Defense of Cindy
I'm guessing that Cindy wants him to be her MAN, not her girlfriend. The idea of his dressing originally was for helping him play with his feminine being equal with his masculine (for that matter if he goes to far to the fem it will adversely affect his playing). She doesn't see the need for him to dress full-time and sees him as a normal male. However having said that, since he's been doing it all the time, you'd think she would have noticed more often..
Really enjoying the series Jillian, can't wait for more!!
Huggles!!
Alexis
You do know,
that monk wrote "Monk's Mood"? that's not the impression that I got from the story.
Great writing though. Some of the best on the site!
Liz
Yeah, but...
Maybe it's best to think that the character was referencing the version he was most familiar with?
Never let it be said that I don't enjoy the occasional delusion of grandeur