Strumming his way to glory (by Edwin Large)At the age of 49, Neil decided to learn to play the guitar. At such an advanced age, he would never achieve Suzuki-perfection but he decided that, if he turned out not half bad, it would be worth the effort.
Six months later he found himself on stage every Thursday night - acoustic night at the Three Feathers. The audience warmed to his bemused facial expression. They liked his Dylan covers, but preferred his own songs. He'd discovered, as he learned the basic chords, that he had a voice. His songs were whimsical, lyrically precise and rhythmically quirky. They spoke of loneliness.
He played other venues as well, but developed such a following at the Feathers that walking on stage there felt like coming home. His audience didn't mind that he wasn't very prolific; they liked to sing along.
Three months later, he considered himself a lucky man. He had a girlfriend now. Saskia was 26 and worked behind the bar at the Feathers, and sold copies of his CD in the intervals. Neil tried, unsuccessfully, to write a song about his new love and happiness.
Neil's wife isn't happy with the situation, though. He came home last Thursday to find that she'd gone to stay with friends. The note said that she'd return if he gave up the guitar. He wondered why she singled out the guitar and not Saskia. He answered that question by writing his best song yet, but it probably won't be heard at the Feathers.
[The second short short story series is announced and explained here.]