Lessons in the Key of Life
Viewing comments for Chapter 5 "Pets"A music and dance teacher's improvization
23 total reviews
Comment from LG Wolfe
Hi Rachelle,
I hope you submit this kind of work into some CNF contests/journals. You take an seemingly benign tale (tail?) and turn it into something with teeth! And always funny. Can you even listen Ode to Joy without the sound of rodent squeaks in your ear now? I loved the ending, well wrapped.
LG
reply by the author on 28-Apr-2019
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Hi Rachelle,
I hope you submit this kind of work into some CNF contests/journals. You take an seemingly benign tale (tail?) and turn it into something with teeth! And always funny. Can you even listen Ode to Joy without the sound of rodent squeaks in your ear now? I loved the ending, well wrapped.
LG
Comment Written 28-Apr-2019
reply by the author on 28-Apr-2019
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Thanks, Lisa.
Fortunately, so much time has elapsed that I can enjoy Ode to Joy again!
Comment from damommy
Hahahaha. I don't know but that her running around your feet wasn't worse. I think you were expecting the student to move the cage to another location.
reply by the author on 28-Apr-2019
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Hahahaha. I don't know but that her running around your feet wasn't worse. I think you were expecting the student to move the cage to another location.
Comment Written 28-Apr-2019
reply by the author on 28-Apr-2019
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EXACTLY!!! And you are so right: the bubbled-in version rolling all around me feet was WAY worse!!
Months later, the mom learned from one of her neighbors, with whom I was good friends, my prolific aversion to rodents. From that day on, she instituted "The Shelley Rule" and actually had the cage (and the gerbil!) in a different room, far removed from my sight, during piano lessons. That was VERY sweet!
Comment from 24chas
This was a fun read, Rachelle. I bet animals are a load of fun for you when you're trying to give lessons. Great description of the furry rodent being in jail. That was hilarious. I bet you've had a ton of funny things happen with the animals and piano lessons.
reply by the author on 28-Apr-2019
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This was a fun read, Rachelle. I bet animals are a load of fun for you when you're trying to give lessons. Great description of the furry rodent being in jail. That was hilarious. I bet you've had a ton of funny things happen with the animals and piano lessons.
Comment Written 28-Apr-2019
reply by the author on 28-Apr-2019
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Yes, I do, 24chas!! Stay tuned for the next two chapters!
Thanks for the encouraging review. xo
Comment from ExperiencingLiphe
That's funny. I know someone who use to visit kids in homes and help with school work. She never told me stories about this but I'm sure she has a couple. I'm glad the kid was able to help you out and tried to find a solution.
reply by the author on 28-Apr-2019
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That's funny. I know someone who use to visit kids in homes and help with school work. She never told me stories about this but I'm sure she has a couple. I'm glad the kid was able to help you out and tried to find a solution.
Comment Written 28-Apr-2019
reply by the author on 28-Apr-2019
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Oh, I bet you're right; I bet she has some gems!! You should ask her!
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We don't talk much anymore but maybe sometime.
Comment from judiverse
A delight to read. I love when a post flows so smoothly and enjoyably. It might occur to the parents to remove pets from the room where their child is having a music lesson. Well, the gerbil seemed to enjoy the music, so that was encouraging. I can almost see the gerbil going around in that yellow ball. You were very tactful in this instance, but it looks as if other pets made their way into the music lessons. When my brother practiced his trumpet as a high schooler, our little dog always started howling. Animals can be real music critics. judi
reply by the author on 28-Apr-2019
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A delight to read. I love when a post flows so smoothly and enjoyably. It might occur to the parents to remove pets from the room where their child is having a music lesson. Well, the gerbil seemed to enjoy the music, so that was encouraging. I can almost see the gerbil going around in that yellow ball. You were very tactful in this instance, but it looks as if other pets made their way into the music lessons. When my brother practiced his trumpet as a high schooler, our little dog always started howling. Animals can be real music critics. judi
Comment Written 28-Apr-2019
reply by the author on 28-Apr-2019
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Haha!! You are so right, Judi!
This particular family later discovered (from a neighbor who was close friends with me) my loathing for rodents. After that, they instituted what they called "The Shelley Rule" and moved the gerbil cage into the kitchen each Saturday before I arrived for lessons!!! I was flabbergasted by such a really over-the-top act of kindness and understanding on their part.
Thank you for the delightful review, Judi. xo
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You're welcome. I don't think the issue was so much about your dislike of rodents but the distraction said gerbil was causing. Glad the problem was resolved and the gerbil no longer attended the music lessons. I'm looking forward to reading more about your pet encounters.
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Each one gets a little more outrageous!
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I hope none of your students had snakes. judi
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No!! Omg! (Well, unless they were the kind that ate rodents, and then it would be okay...)
Comment from A. Willow Bends
Love it! Percussion provided free of charge! This is so cute! Great job with this one. I am not sure I would have handled it so well. You, on the other hand are a true professional! :)
Wendy
reply by the author on 28-Apr-2019
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Love it! Percussion provided free of charge! This is so cute! Great job with this one. I am not sure I would have handled it so well. You, on the other hand are a true professional! :)
Wendy
Comment Written 28-Apr-2019
reply by the author on 28-Apr-2019
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Well, I WAS trying to build my clientele! There was a selfish undertow to it, Wendy!!
Thanks for the nice review. xo
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:) Doubt you have a selfish bone in your body!
Wendy
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Let me give you my family's numbers. They'll set you straight!!! haha.
Comment from Debra White
Brilliant!!
Oh dear, Rachelle! This is just too much fun! (Sorry, I kinda get the feeling that rodents aren't your favourite!)
I loved reading this - great recapture of a memorable moment. Most entertaining for the reader, if not for you ;)
Best wishes as always, Debra x
reply by the author on 28-Apr-2019
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Brilliant!!
Oh dear, Rachelle! This is just too much fun! (Sorry, I kinda get the feeling that rodents aren't your favourite!)
I loved reading this - great recapture of a memorable moment. Most entertaining for the reader, if not for you ;)
Best wishes as always, Debra x
Comment Written 28-Apr-2019
reply by the author on 28-Apr-2019
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Thanks, Debra. I deduced years ago what it is I just despise about rodents: those skinny fingers and their nails? They look like they could play piano. And that just disturbs me to the high heavens! UGH!! Plus I HATE their little squeak sounds! DOUBLE UGH!
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LOL! You'd hate our guinea-pigs, Teddy and Toffee then!! They have the skinny fingers and claws going on and they squeak like mad! :D x
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Yes, you are so right, Debra!!!
Comment from Scarbrems
Ha ha ha, that's cute. One of the problems with house visits, I guess. Perhaps Tiki was just enjoying the music...A lovely chapter, as always. Look forward to the house with the parrot in it.
reply by the author on 28-Apr-2019
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Ha ha ha, that's cute. One of the problems with house visits, I guess. Perhaps Tiki was just enjoying the music...A lovely chapter, as always. Look forward to the house with the parrot in it.
Comment Written 28-Apr-2019
reply by the author on 28-Apr-2019
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Thanks, Sarkems. You could be onto something with this! What if that little rodent was Beethoven reincarnated, and there I was, total unappreciative!! Hahaha
Comment from Beri Bee
Yay for Tiki and for the teachers! Very nice job! I love the revulsion like magma in your throat! Having a ball is almost always worthwhile! Well done!
reply by the author on 28-Apr-2019
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Yay for Tiki and for the teachers! Very nice job! I love the revulsion like magma in your throat! Having a ball is almost always worthwhile! Well done!
Comment Written 28-Apr-2019
reply by the author on 28-Apr-2019
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I don't know, BeriBee; rodents are my fine line in the sand. They just send me into such a tizzy. I hate them all!! Thanks for your nice review.
Comment from Gail Denham
Can't be easy in some cases to give those lessons. And the cat was sure a distraction, altho your student probably didn't even notice. Nice telling of the tale. And I do wonder about a large bird wandering about the room. Seems messy.
Good job.
reply by the author on 28-Apr-2019
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Can't be easy in some cases to give those lessons. And the cat was sure a distraction, altho your student probably didn't even notice. Nice telling of the tale. And I do wonder about a large bird wandering about the room. Seems messy.
Good job.
Comment Written 28-Apr-2019
reply by the author on 28-Apr-2019
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Messy was NOT the problem with the parrot. I'd have had NO problem with merely that!! So tune in again next Sunday! Thanks for the review. xo