Lessons in the Key of Life
Viewing comments for Chapter 8 "Butterball Gottlieb"A music and dance teacher's improvization
22 total reviews
Comment from Ulla
Oh dear, that was a bit of an experience. That child seemed positively wicked along with the dog of the household. I'm sure there was bad vibes in that household that imposed themselves onto others. All the best.Ulla:)))
reply by the author on 19-May-2019
  |
Oh dear, that was a bit of an experience. That child seemed positively wicked along with the dog of the household. I'm sure there was bad vibes in that household that imposed themselves onto others. All the best.Ulla:)))
Comment Written 19-May-2019
reply by the author on 19-May-2019
-
Oh, are you ever right on the money there, Ulla!! Thanks for your validating review!! xo
Comment from Mrs. KT
Hello Rachelle!
Thank you for my smile of the day! Good Lord! Toss up between the demon child and you running for your life "in three-and-a-half-inch stiletto heels." I'm going with the heels; makes me shudder just to think!
Humorous. Well-paced. Believable. And thank goodness, you are out of range for that family and its dog!
Thank you for sharing!
diane
reply by the author on 19-May-2019
 |
Hello Rachelle!
Thank you for my smile of the day! Good Lord! Toss up between the demon child and you running for your life "in three-and-a-half-inch stiletto heels." I'm going with the heels; makes me shudder just to think!
Humorous. Well-paced. Believable. And thank goodness, you are out of range for that family and its dog!
Thank you for sharing!
diane
Comment Written 19-May-2019
reply by the author on 19-May-2019
-
Believe it or not, though, I went to another family's house a couple years later for their lesson, and they were taking care of Butterball while the family was away!!! I gasped, "What is BUTTERBALL doing here?" "You know Butterball??!!" they exclaimed. When I explained HOW, they quickly remanded the little demon to the back bedroom for the next thirty minutes. (Take THAT, Butterball!!)
Anway, I'm so glad you enjoyed this chapter. Thank you, as always, for your warm and gracious feedback. xo
-
Oh! Good Lord!
The demon dog lives!
Thank goodness he was relegated to another room!
Too funny!
-
Yes. THAT adult was at least the one in CHARGE! Not the children of the house!!
Comment from Michele Harber
FSBFF, I really enjoyed this story, and you have a way of making even the things most annoying to you sound funny and engaging. I particularly like how your voice changes with each persona you take on by necessity ("Perky Piano Teacher mode," "No Nonsense Teacher Voice"). You did an excellent job of negating the need for an expositional intro by clearly stating, in the text, who you were and why you were there. I got a big kick out of your referring to the child as "Spawn of Satan," and wondered why you switched to a different epithet. Rather than "Evil Girl," why not refer to her the second time as "SoS?" That serves the multiple purpose of abbreviating "Spawn of Satan," serving as a distress call, and referencing the abrasive kitchen cleanser (matching the child's abrasive personality). I very much enjoyed the lesson at the end, particularly the part about setting the record "in three-and-a-half-inch stiletto heels."
Just a quick proofing note on "mistress's:" when a possessive apostrophe follows a word ending in "s" or "x," you don't need the "s" after it. I'm glad someone before me alerted you that you hadn't included the piano picture when you first posted this. That was the first thing I saw when I opened the page, and I was going to mention it. It's become as much an identifying factor for this series of stories as has the fly for the "Fly on the Wall" collection.
reply by the author on 19-May-2019
|
FSBFF, I really enjoyed this story, and you have a way of making even the things most annoying to you sound funny and engaging. I particularly like how your voice changes with each persona you take on by necessity ("Perky Piano Teacher mode," "No Nonsense Teacher Voice"). You did an excellent job of negating the need for an expositional intro by clearly stating, in the text, who you were and why you were there. I got a big kick out of your referring to the child as "Spawn of Satan," and wondered why you switched to a different epithet. Rather than "Evil Girl," why not refer to her the second time as "SoS?" That serves the multiple purpose of abbreviating "Spawn of Satan," serving as a distress call, and referencing the abrasive kitchen cleanser (matching the child's abrasive personality). I very much enjoyed the lesson at the end, particularly the part about setting the record "in three-and-a-half-inch stiletto heels."
Just a quick proofing note on "mistress's:" when a possessive apostrophe follows a word ending in "s" or "x," you don't need the "s" after it. I'm glad someone before me alerted you that you hadn't included the piano picture when you first posted this. That was the first thing I saw when I opened the page, and I was going to mention it. It's become as much an identifying factor for this series of stories as has the fly for the "Fly on the Wall" collection.
Comment Written 19-May-2019
reply by the author on 19-May-2019
-
Thank you for the nice review as well as the nit with the apostrophe. I'll go correct that now. xo
-
No problem. My new corporate name will be "Nit-pickers 'r' Us."
-
Sounds like a winner to me!!
Comment from Phyllis Stewart
LOL! That student sounds like a real treasure. Surely not one family you will miss working with. I remember trying to get my daughter to practice. It always involved tears... usually mine. She had her dad's amazing talent, but just was not interested, and I found no way to change her mind.
reply by the author on 19-May-2019
|
LOL! That student sounds like a real treasure. Surely not one family you will miss working with. I remember trying to get my daughter to practice. It always involved tears... usually mine. She had her dad's amazing talent, but just was not interested, and I found no way to change her mind.
Comment Written 19-May-2019
reply by the author on 19-May-2019
-
Oy - that had to be so frustrating for you, Phyllis! Has she taken it up again in adulthood? (You know what I always hear from the adults I teach, "I quit when I was (age). My mother NEVER should have let me quit." I swear!! I hear that every. single. time. Just thought I'd prepare you. [loved the line about "always involved tears...usually mine."]
Thanks for the great review. xo
Comment from damommy
You should have used those shoes on their bottoms. Especially the kid's. Butterball would have ended up splattered on the wall. I love animals, but this would be an exception.
reply by the author on 19-May-2019
|
You should have used those shoes on their bottoms. Especially the kid's. Butterball would have ended up splattered on the wall. I love animals, but this would be an exception.
Comment Written 19-May-2019
reply by the author on 19-May-2019
-
I worry, though, damommy, that if that were the case, I'd be writing my book from prison...
Thanks for the validating review! I loved it. xo
-
Hahaha. Probably so.
Comment from Sugarray77
Rachelle, what a great story you wrote and I concur that it was time to get out of there... pronto. Great job on vivid descriptions and dramatic storytelling.
Melissa
reply by the author on 19-May-2019
|
Rachelle, what a great story you wrote and I concur that it was time to get out of there... pronto. Great job on vivid descriptions and dramatic storytelling.
Melissa
Comment Written 19-May-2019
reply by the author on 19-May-2019
-
And, Melissa, I've never missed them even one day!!
Thanks for your kind review. xo
Comment from Y. M. Roger
Okay, so that house was not a place for you anyway... sounds like training grounds for the devil in that movie 'The Devil Wears Prada'!! :) Seriously, just know those braids will transition to perfect 'do-up' one day that will be feared by all her little minions.... either that or her skin will slowing turn green and monkeys will flock to her home (and there will be this broomstick positioned right by the front door!). :) ;) Thanx for sharing, ma'am, and I think it would be worth all of the lessons' worth of pay just to see you run on those heels -- LOL! :) :) Yvette
reply by the author on 19-May-2019
|
Okay, so that house was not a place for you anyway... sounds like training grounds for the devil in that movie 'The Devil Wears Prada'!! :) Seriously, just know those braids will transition to perfect 'do-up' one day that will be feared by all her little minions.... either that or her skin will slowing turn green and monkeys will flock to her home (and there will be this broomstick positioned right by the front door!). :) ;) Thanx for sharing, ma'am, and I think it would be worth all of the lessons' worth of pay just to see you run on those heels -- LOL! :) :) Yvette
Comment Written 19-May-2019
reply by the author on 19-May-2019
-
I was pretty impressed with that feat/feet myself, Yvette!! Thanks for the positive reinforcement! xo
Comment from Heather Knight
Butterball? Seriously? What were they thinking?
Spawn of Satan! You are hilarious.
I have a lot of fun reading your stories. Thanks so much for sharing.
reply by the author on 19-May-2019
|
Butterball? Seriously? What were they thinking?
Spawn of Satan! You are hilarious.
I have a lot of fun reading your stories. Thanks so much for sharing.
Comment Written 19-May-2019
reply by the author on 19-May-2019
-
Well, he was pretty plump, so it fit. I'm glad I brought you a smile today, Maria. You did likewise with this review. xo
Comment from Debra White
Hi Rachelle :)
What a darling child!! I would've been mortified if she were mine...I absolutely love your lesson at the end - you paint a really funny picture even though I'm sure you didn't find it funny at the time! You're so glam in your heals...love it x
reply by the author on 19-May-2019
|
Hi Rachelle :)
What a darling child!! I would've been mortified if she were mine...I absolutely love your lesson at the end - you paint a really funny picture even though I'm sure you didn't find it funny at the time! You're so glam in your heals...love it x
Comment Written 19-May-2019
reply by the author on 19-May-2019
-
I was definitely NOT amused when it happened. Oy!!
Worse, one time I went to another piano family's house, and I heard a dog bark when I rang the bell. They opened the door and were holding Butterball in their arms!!! "Why is Butterball HERE!" I gasped. "You know Butterball?" they asked. (I related the story, and they relegated him to a back bedroom for the next thirty minutes!!)
-
LOL :D I would?ve legged it! X
Comment from Colin John
Ha ha Rachelle a lovely look at your life with the Dog in chase. I did find one thing you might want to look at or not and either word will do. As I am not the best at using my native tongue, you decide as might be more American than English lol. Kinds regards Colin
Then whatever [will] we do for the next half hour--
Would shall be better?
reply by the author on 19-May-2019
|
Ha ha Rachelle a lovely look at your life with the Dog in chase. I did find one thing you might want to look at or not and either word will do. As I am not the best at using my native tongue, you decide as might be more American than English lol. Kinds regards Colin
Then whatever [will] we do for the next half hour--
Would shall be better?
Comment Written 19-May-2019
reply by the author on 19-May-2019
-
Thank you for that, Colin. You are one hundred percent correct. I'll get right to that.
Thanks for the review, also. I always love your feedback. xo
-
Ha ha glad to be of assistance my Lady . XX
-
xo