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10. Piano Lessons
- Wayne State University Press
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10 153 Piano Lessons “I’m finished, Mama,” Laura announced to her mother, getting up from the bench in front of the upright piano in the living room. May Ford stood in the kitchen doorway, cradling her right hand—still red from the scalding that morning—in the palm of her other hand. “Laura, I hardly call that practicing,” their mother said. “You played a C scale maybe two times . . .” “But I was playing both hands together,” Laura protested. “Hush now, now sit back down and—” But before May Ford could finish her sentence, Jean had taken her sister’s place on the piano bench and was hammering out a C scale. “See, M-m-m-mama, I c-c-can play my C scale, too!” Jean said proudly. 154 Jean Alicia Elster “That’s good,” their mother said, “that’s very nice.” Patsy sat at the dining room table, holding Annie May in her lap. May looked over at the two girls. “Patsy, piano lessons today. You and your sisters go see Mrs. Lewis for your lessons. I talked to her last Sunday at church. She’s expecting you this afternoon.” “But, Mama, I haven’t been practicing . . . I’ve been working on my quilt,” Patsy said. “No matter,” their mother said, “Mrs. Lewis knows we’ve been out of town. Anyway, it’s been three weeks now since we’ve been home. Time to get back to your lessons.” May reached into her apron pocket and with her left hand pulled out a one-dollar bill. She walked over to where Patsy sat. Patsy caught the scent of their mother’s perfume as she handed her the money. Annie May reached over and grabbed their mother’s right hand. May winced. “You hurt your hand, Mama?” Annie May said. “I hurt it this morning, working in the summer kitchen.” Then she said to Patsy, “This dollar is for Mrs. Lewis . . .” [3.236.139.73] Project MUSE (2024-03-28 20:09 GMT) 155 The Colored Car “I wanna piano lesson, too,” Annie May said. “We’ll have a lesson, just the two of us, after the girls leave.” Annie May jumped off of Patsy’s lap, ran into the living room, and climbed onto the piano bench. “Now gather up your music books, all of you. It’s about time for you girls to get going. And watch the clock. Finish up so you’ll be home before evening sets in.” , Mrs. Lewis held open the screen door. “Welcome, please come on in,” she greeted her students. She led them into the parlor, which was sparsely furnished. There was a bench in front of a grand piano, a chair to the left of the bench where Mrs. Lewis sat, and a plush, maroon velvet sofa against the wall where the students waited their turn to play. Patsy noticed that Mrs. Lewis was wearing the same perfume as her mother. As the three Ford sisters entered Mrs. Lewis’s parlor, Laura announced, “I practiced my lessons, Jean and Patsy haven’t.” 156 Jean Alicia Elster Patsy remained silent. But Jean turned to Mrs. Lewis and said, “Yes, I d-d-did! I p-p-practiced.” Her body tensed, her head twitched to one side as she spoke. “Jean, I’m sure you did. You always come to your lessons prepared and ready to make music,” their teacher said. “In fact, let’s begin with you this afternoon.” Mrs. Lewis walked over to her seat by the piano and sat down. “But Mrs. Lewis!” Laura said, pouting. She did not say a word in response to Laura’s outburst. She just nodded at Patsy and Laura; they knew to go sit and wait their turn on the sofa. To Jean, who was now sitting on the bench, she said, “Let’s warm up those fingers by playing some major scales. Let’s start with the C scale.” Jean played the C scale. She even remembered to play the b-flat in the F-major scale. She struggled a bit through a Bach minuet, losing her place as she tried to read the notes, but Mrs. Lewis praised her just the same. “Bravo, Jean! You’re coming along so nicely.” [3.236.139.73] Project MUSE (2024-03-28 20:09 GMT) 157 The Colored Car She wrote practice instructions in the girl’s notebook for the coming week. When Mrs. Lewis called for Laura, the two sisters switched seats. “So...