“…Eyeballs…” Book II: 30. Ken’s No Strings Attached

Hey! You Got Eyeballs In There?

By Kate Chamberlin

As Grace grows up, some of her stories are happy, some trying, some enlightening, and a few themes are sad, but, they’re all the warp and woof of what goes into the tapestry of life we call Family. The daily living skills and techniques demonstrated by the fictional characters in these stories are valid, tried and true.

Book II:  The Teenagers

#10. Bad News

#11.  Grace’s Day One

#12 Knight With Shining Flatware

#13. The Locker Fiasco

#14. Lost In Thought

#15. The Musician

#16. Day Two And Beyond

#17. First Date

#18. The Zipper Creep

#19. Making Up

#20. Mall Cruising

#21. And More Questions

#22. Homecoming Dance

#23. Loyalties

#24. Sea Dragons

#25. Guide Dog Chronicles: Puppy Raisers

#26. Guide Dog Chronicles: The Training Center

#27. Guide Dog Chronicles: Grocery Shopping

28. Guide Dog Chronicles: Hit By A Car

            #29. Guide Dog Chronicles: Smells like A Church

#30. Ken’s No Strings Attached

Sunday morning, Grace heard Ken’s Stang long before he pulled into her driveway. She could hear Joe and Edie laughing at something as Ken got out of the car to ring her doorbell. Sandy opened the front door.

“Hi, Junior,” Sandy said. “That’s quite a ring Grace has hanging around her neck. I certainly hope your intentions are honorable.”

“That’s enough, Sandy,” Grace’s Mom said, walking into the foyer. “Hello, Ken. Grace is getting Crackers into her harness and will be here in a minute. Isn’t the Memorial this morning at the Holy Cross Church?”

“Yes. It is,” Ken said. “I’m going to play my guitar for part of the service.”

Grace was within earshot and relieved to hear that they’d be in a familiar church, where Crackers had already been trained.

“I haven’t heard you play your guitar,” Grace said, trying to keep Crackers from jumping on him. “I think she is really happy to see you. It feels like her tail is wagging her whole body. Have you played for the Memorial before?”

“Yes. I like to play for the Memorial each year. Two of my cousins died in the military. It is my way of saying ‘Thank you for making it possible for me to have the freedom to play’. Someday, I hope to play in a military band.”

“I’ve never seen a Classical Guitar in the military band,” Sandy said.

“Right,” Ken answered. “I also play the trumpet and trombone.”

“Impressive,” Sandy mocked, clapping his hands. “I just play the hands.”

“With that applause,” Ken said affably, we’ll be going. Ready, Grace?”

During the short ride over to the church, Grace explained, “Our church building is over 100-years old. It used to be a one-room school house. The original bell is still in the belfry and we use it every Sunday.”

“Don’t the neighbors complain about the bell?”  Joe asked.

“After the school was abandoned for many years, the church moved in. During the renovation, they found the bell, re-tied the rope and tried it out,” Grace said, relating more church history. “One of the elderly neighbors heard the bell and toddled over to ask what the emergency was.”

“Oh, yes,” Edie said. “I’ve read that in small towns, whenever the school, Town Hall, or church bell rang, it was to summon help from everybody.”

When they arrived at the church, Crackers did a good job getting Grace and her friends to the pew they usually sat in. Ken sat with them until it was time for his soli.

The congregation was very quiet as Ken began the Allemande, from Lute suite No.11 by Sylvia’s Leopold Weiss.

“Oh, my,” Grace said softly, as the somber, reverent sounds from the strings of Ken’s Classical Baroque Alto Guitar filled the church. It was a very moving tribute to the men and women who paid the ultimate sacrifice in service to our country.

“It’s beautiful,” Edie sniffled and blew her nose.

Tears streamed down Grace’s cheeks. She could hear Joe and several others near her quietly trying to clear their throats.

Ken’s second solo, Lute Sonata #2 also by Sylvius Leopold Weiss, was a tune that replaced the tears with smiles. Ken’s guitar reminded everyone of the hope the future would bring.

Traditionally, the congregation doesn’t applaud for prayers offered during the service, whether said or sung or strummed. But, everyone was so moved by his offerings, they did applaud.

Ken came and sat next to Grace. He leaned over and gently kissed her cheek, which was still wet and flushed with emotion.

Crackers got up from under the pew and put her head on Ken’s lap when he sat down. She seemed to say:  I’m glad you’re our new friend. Friends are forever.

(Music Source: Allemande, from Lute suite No.11 by Sylvius Leopold Weiss:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MM3beCev_i4 and Lute Sonata #2 by Sylvius Leopold Weiss:

www.youtube.com…Silvyus Leopold Weiss Suites N 1,2,3,Michel Cardin)

kathryngc1@verizon.net