Andy stammered. He felt his face instantly get hot. “School?” he said.
“For music.”
Kelvin put a hand on Andy’s shoulder. “He didn’t go to school.”
Andy wanted to crawl under the table. Kelvin had just made it a hundred times worse. They were all going to be staring at him.
“For anything?” asked Juliet. “Did you even graduate high school?”
“Juliet,” said her father from the head of the table.
“I can’t play accompaniment with an amateur.”
“Juliet.”
Andy said, “No, it’s all right. I…excuse me.” Andy got up, placing his napkin from his lap onto the plate and left hte kitchen. He didn’t go to the music room, but went out the front door.
He sat on the stairs. He knew it was going to happen. Now they all thought he was an idiot. They were now telling Kelvin that he wasn’t worth it. He was stupid. Why go out with an idiot?
The door opened. Someone placed a jacket over his shoulders. “It’s kind of cold out here, don’t you think?” said Mattie.
“Th…thanks.” Andy gathered the jacket together. “You must think I’m stupid.”
“No, my sister’s the one who’s stupid.” Mattie sat down next to him. “Kelvin’s ripping her a new one right now.” He smiled. “Never thought he’d have it in him.”
The door opened again, and Layla came out. She climbed over her father and stood in front of Andy. “Andy? Andy, does this mean you won’t play music for me to dance to?”
“If…If you want me to. But I’ll bet Juliet will be better.”
“Juliet’s a show off.”
“Layla,” said Mattie. “Don’t go repeating what Nancy says when she’s not here.”
“I don’t want better. Her music is all fancy.”
“Well, what song do you want me to play?”
“’Let It Go’ from Frozen.”
Andy smiled. “I can play that.”
Layla’s sad face instantly broke out into a wide, bright smile. She hugged Andy. “Will you do it now?”
“We can practice.”
“Yay!”
“I’ll go get my guitar.”
He got up, went inside, and heard slamming dishes. Kelvin came out of the kitchen, heading his way. “Andy?”
“Yeah.”
“You okay?”
“I’m getting my guitar. Me and Layla are going to practice outside.”
“Don’t be silly,” said Kelvin’s dad. “Practice in here. It’s cold out there.”
Andy peered around Kelvin. “Where’s your sister?”
“Pouting.”
“Can you tell Layla to come back inside? I’ll get the guitar.”
He went downstairs to the cellar and got the guitar, meeting them in the room with the grand piano. Mattie and Kelvin moved the couch against the wall, giving Layla plenty of room to “practice.” She did some bends and stretches, while Andy tuned the guitar.
He started in with the opening chords of the song. Layla asked, “Can you sing?”
“I can’t go as high as she can,” he said, “but I can try.” He stood still. “Ready whenever you are.”
Layla took a standing position, hands above her head. “Now.”
He again played the opening chords, and Layla danced. She didn’t quite dance in rhythm with the music, and he couldn’t hold a pirouette, but she threw herself into the dance. Andy let himself flow into the song, noting that the family had stopped to gather around, watching both her and him. Even Juliet had come downstairs, and stood with her boyfriend, watching him, waiting for him to screw up.
He wasn’t going to give her the chance to notice.
The song ended, and when Layla bowed, everyone clapped, including Juliet and her boyfriend. Andy smiled and bowed.
“Encore!” yelled Kelvin’s father.
Layla looked at Andy. “Um…”
Andy smiled. “I play, you dance as best you can, okay?”
So he played his old standby, “Stairway to Heaven.” She danced slow at first, and when he started picking up tempo, she danced a little more quickly, again out of sync. The family didn’t notice her, but were watching Andy. Layla didn’t finish the dance, stopping in the middle of the chorus, exhausted.
When he finished, they applauded, looking at Andy. Layla even clapped.
Andy smiled, looking at Kelvin, who was grinning.
“Nicely done,” said Juliet. “Would you care to accompany me?”
“I don’t know any classical music,” Andy said, his face reddening.
“Can you play ‘Over the Hills and Far Away’?”
“You play the electric guitar parts, and I’ll play the acoustic guitar?”
She nodded. She looked at Brian. Brian said, “I’ll sing, though I can’t approach the gravelly voice of Mr. Plant.”
Juliet sat down at the piano. At her count, he started the song. Her father started requesting protest songs. Andy and Juliet played Jefferson Airplane, Janis Joplin, The Rolling Stones…for over an hour, they played, and when finished, Juliet had to quit first. Andy outlasted them, playing a few other songs.
“Anyone for pumpkin pie?” asked Kelvin’s mother.
“And hot cocoa?” asked Andy.
“For you,” she said, “I’ll give you the recipe.”
