#bergen_county

"I could teach you how to use your voice, or play an instrument. The music has to come from within."

She watches Egon quietly a long moment.

He pauses , looks to his sister, "Can we BOTH learn, or will you avoid it because I'm there?"

Egon looks at Piper, "She's better at music than I am and I like annoying her, because, well, sister and she annoys me back, but I don't want to stop her from having music cause she gave up a lot so I could run in a yard. She thinks I didn't notice but i am not as dumb as she says I look." SMUG

"Music doesn't belong to anyone. But if I can hash out a deal with your parents, I'll teach either or both of you that might want to learn. Now, important question...."

She leans in conspiritorily to the two, "Does your mom or da like babies?"

A twinge of desperation in the otherwise suave Satyr's tone.

"Oh, Dad hates'm."

"S'why he had so few."

"Well, Les says they taste too sweet unless you use the right sauce but I THINK he's joking.. .hes our oldest brother . A wilder you know?"

A slight shudder, and she makes a mental note to add a caveat to the sitting contract if it goes through.

"I heard. Or I was warned, kinda. I mean, no offense, he's your family and I'm sure he's VERY NICE..."

"Mom likes them if they do odd jobs or work as counter weights to a pully system though solar panels are her thing..."

Egon is happy to over share.

A little worried, "Does your brother want to learn music too?"

THen a grin to Egon. "That's like, science. It's educational!"

To Amity, "That's a good start! Maybe he wanted an entire Flock."

"I don't know if he does or not," He pauses "Les mostly listens to stuff that sounds like cats are being strangled while two crowbars clash."

the boy does not know the name for that particular musical type.

A sigh.

"Are there girls there?"

"Well, we can do lessons here, or at the Studio, or in the park, and I'M A girl, and they can be private or group lessons. Or there's a choir class and an acapella group that I'm trying to put together, and both of those lean pretty girl heavy."

"Girls that think electric guitars are cool?"

"Just sayin', about Les-bait."

"Well, if you prefer electric, I could hook you up with Etsie - I DO think they're cool but Acoustic is my jam."

"Oh...." Piper looks a bit baffled.

A glance to Egon, as though seeking translation?

"Les is a wilder now." Siiiiigh.

"yeah, she's a pooka so it's hard to understand her. Dad says nothing is wrong with her, it's that the world needs to earn her amazing truths by thinking it through" He does however try to translate from his past expeirences with his sister.

"I think she wants to find Les a girlfriend so he gets the stupid out of his system," The boy says unsure "Either that or she wants him no where NEAR girls his age because it will make his system stupid."

She wavers her hand. "Potato potato."

"Could I have lessons in something REALLY loud?" the boy asks, looking across at Miss McGillicudy's house, "Like a horn or drums?"

"Ohhh.... I get it. Well, I got a girlfriend, she's my wife now, and I'm STILL pretty silly, for what it's worth. So it might not work."

She harrumphs.

She looks over Egon, "Your frame works well with drums though we would need to adjust the kit, or keyboard or bass which is played standing, though where I start is generally, what do you like the SOUND of, what's the song that plays in your heart? Then from there, we learn what tool to use to let it out."

Egon says "Mom says we should accept gays and lesbians because love is love and we shouldn't let furking hate rule our hearts as it might lead to harm and violence.... oh and also because she will fry homophobes till they bake like bacon and she'd rather NOT be arrested for childling abuse so don't even start." He nods in that innocent way that childlings do then lowers his voice "Worse we ever got was a time out. I hate time outs. you got to hold still so long." Then he ponders "I do kind of like song Tequila even if I'm not supposed to drink it till I'm much older. It's an ancient song, got one word. you probably are too young to know."

"...Is the acapella group free?"

"The classes aren't free, I'm afraid. The studio has to keep the lights on. But, a few points.

She holds up fingers:

"One, group lessons are a sight cheaper than private instruction.
Two, there are no instruments, so little equipment overhead except for tee-shirts and busses for occasional events.
And... THREE,"

Piper holds up a hand to forestall any argument, "That's why I'm here. I am desperate for a babysitter. Have you ever tried to watch two kinain troll-n-satyr and a quarter Pooka blooded toddlers full time? I'm about to DIE and will seriously barter my time doing something I love, namely teaching music, vs. watching the twins, WHO I love, but need some time away from when their Mor is on duty off on the high seas."

She fidgets and looks at Egon, then back at the house.

"DAD?"

Karel comes out, Mr. Novak is a grump and has a friendly disposition, "You rang, angel?"

The piskey looks over and sees Piper, "Oh, hello."

Piper waves to the PISKEY and introduces herself. She makes a quick rundown of the proposition to the grump.

"So, bottom line is, I have two kids, you have two kids, at least, two that are interested in music, would you be willing to trade some babysitting in exchange for classes?"

She adds, "We MAY still have fees for equipment, though I can spot a rental until the sprogs decide what they want to play, but the main cost would be one-for-one."

A pause. "Oh, we might need Mom, too."

A pause, and she glances at the two kids, "IF they wanted it."

Piskey actually.

"Daa-a-ad, what about haggling?"

"Are you calling me a hag?" Hands on her hips to Amity.

She is only a LITTLE taller than the girl, ha.

"oh, right, haggling, " He ponders "Well, what if I offered to trade you a teen age redcap for one of your twins? The food bill is incredible." Then he smiles, "Or I suppose it depends on when you had need of me to watch and how long. And are they allowed to come with me on odd jobs? That would open my time up a lot to watch them."

"Ha, hag," Egon is amused.

"Better'n a nag."