Thankfully the rain has ceased, but now the bright, crisp, frosty mornings come as a shock to the system. Where did I put that de-icer? I know there’s a can here somewhere…
Many thanks to Rochelle for continuing to inspire us and, this week, thanks to her husband, Jan, for the photo prompt.
Copyright: Jan Fields
Genre: Memoir
Word Count: 100
Tuneless
‘I want to learn the piano.’
‘You would like to learn the piano.’
‘Sorry. I’d like to learn the piano. Please?
‘We can only afford one lesson each week and your sister asked first.’
I remember that conversation so well, though it took place a lifetime ago. My sister was my mother’s favourite then, and could do no wrong.
I was a tomboy. I bit my nails, climbed trees, ran wild and played with the boys. Definitely not mother’s idea of a pianist.
The piano took some punishment for a few months, until my sister discovered the local ballet class.
40again's Blog 
Wonderful. Girls with long nails shouldn’t play the piano. I hope you got to learn.
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No, I never learned to play. I could have taken lessons over the years and never did… there’s still time though😀
Thanks for reading
Dee
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The fickleness of children!
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Yes indeed.
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I hope the “tomboy” got her chance to play the piano later. So frustrating when parents play favorites like that..
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Hi Joy, no I didn’t learn to play, but eventually I went to ‘elocution lessons’ I did rebel a bit, but it was during these lessons that I discovered poetry and literature, so a win-win really.
Dee
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As someone who did take years of piano as a child and never used it afterward, elocution lessons might have worked better for me too!
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Thank you Joy. I never did learn the piano, but enjoyed the elocution lessons as they led to a love of literature and poetry.
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Dear Dee,
I don’t understand parents that have a favorite child. I’m sorry that was your experience. Well written.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Rochelle
It was a shame really , but things changed as I got older and we drew closer as the years rolled by.
Thanks for reading.
Dee
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Did you get the piano lessons, or did the money go for sister’s tutu?? 🙂
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I didn’t get the piano lessons, but was sent for elocution lessons instead. I got a lot of them and discovered poetry and literature.
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I love the bias in the narrator’s perception of life, and her romanticised view of herself.
Nicely done.
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Thank you CE, glad you liked this little snippet of my early life.
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Oh how this rang a bell with me, Dee. My brother was given a bicycle when he was eight. When I reached eight, I asked for a bicycle and was told “No, we gave your brother one and he never looked after it.” To this day, I’m still trying to work out the logic, not to mention fairness of that response. Good one, even if you never did get the piano lessons.
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Oh no!” How would a child ever work that one out? Still think about having piano lessons but there’s a lot more still to discover in this life. Thanks for reading Sandra.
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Oh how important it is that you never favor a child… and boys can be pianists, why not a tomboy?… great tale on unfairness of life.
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Thank you Bjorn, I agree parents should never favour one child over another.
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Ergh. Yeah, it was like that. We tomboys just never got a fair shake; did we?
Nicely done, Dee!
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No, not in many cases. Thank you for reading Lynda
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Tomboys certainly can play the piano! Wonderful take!
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Thank you so much.
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You’re welcome!
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I bet she was far happier than the spoilt child. I’m sure playing with boys was far more fun than playing the piano!
Visit Keith’s Ramblings!
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Think you’re right there. I had lots of fun growing up. Thanks for reading Keith
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I too could never understand parents that had a favorite child. There is still time for those piano lessons, hope you go for it.
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Nor could I. As with all children, my boys are completely different and each one has lots of good and not so good points, but I could never have a favourite and never understand those parents who seem to have one. Thanks for reading Lore.
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My cousin got piano lessons and she taught me to play Chopsticks. (Not that I can do it now)
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Thanks Dawn, I can play chopsticks too, but can’t remember who it was that taught me.
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And I always thought only my parents were unfair… I don’t really understand people. Good story.
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Parents seemed to have some weird ideas didn’t they? Thanks for reading GAH.
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An engaging portrayal of sibling rivalry. I hope she got to use the abandoned piano.
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After my sister stopped having lessons, I did mess around on the piano, pretending as children do. Thank you for reading
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My nine year old grandson is taking piano lessons because he wants to learn, which is how it should be. Well observed story.
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I hope he really likes them and thanks for reading Liz.
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Good memoir, Dee. You can still take the piano lessons. I tried so hard not to favor one child over the other, but my son still thinks my daughter was favored because she was the youngest. There’s always sibling rivalry to contend with. My older brother thought I was spoiled. In truth I was a girl and more sheltered. My parents were also twenty years older when I was born. I’m so glad the lessons you had were a help to you. 🙂 — Suzanne
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Thank you Suzanne. It’s interesting your mention of your older brother thinking you were spoiled, many friends, and other family members, have similar views regarding their younger siblings especially if the younger child is a girl.
Thank you for reading and taking the time to set down your comments.
Dee
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