Playing On Heart Strings - Tokio Hotel

Chapter 2: Mother knows best

The CEO's eye went big. Carlo had basically read his thoughts! He coughed slightly before answering. "You are quick Carlo. Already negotiating with us. What makes you believe we want to sign you guys without a proper guitarist? They are, to be frank, the next in front after the singer." He kept his voice calm. Carlo bit his lip. "Because you wouldn't ask Carlo this unless you're interested in seeing him in your studio with a bass. But we have already made this decision for you. We come as four, with Maya." Sigmund said. His nervousness was gone. He stood like a proud eagle, with sharp eyes taking in the room. "If you can't get a teacher to get Maya on the right track, you are most likely not good enough for us anyway." Oscar added. Sigmund and Carlo gave him a horrified look. What did he say..?

The band knew they couldn't get this signing by being insulting. Sigmund was about to excuse Oscar before the CEO started laughing wholeheartedly. The band looked at eachother. They all had a question mark above their heads. The CEO calmed down. "You kids remind me of many other young bands I've seen. So full of passion, and so knitted together. You are like siblings! Well, let me talk to the person in question. What do you think, Maya? Would you be any good at the guitar? I can get a very good teacher from the US to teach you everything he knows." The CEO looked at her, so did the band, Kurt, Greta and the rest of the board. Everyone held their breath. "Well..." She started. "If it's meant to be, it will happen. If not, I will work twice as hard." The CEO nodded his head while smiling back at her.

Just a couple days later, the band was back in Stockholm, prepared to stay there for some weeks. It took some convincing for the other parents to take Carlo, Oscar and Maya out from the school they went to. Greta had already hired a private tutor, so the kids still got the education they needed. Sigmund wouldn't admit that his stepdad brought a fair share of money into the family. Maya would find that out on a night out with Sigmund a couple years later.

Maya's parents were only reachable through the phone, but Maya's mom actually came back home. Greta met Maya's mother, and was determined to convince her. Maya will never forget how angry she got that day. Greta was waiting in Maya's living room with her, as Maya's mother walked in. They exchanged pleasantries before tackling the matter at hand. "So Greta. What have you been up to with my daughter while I was away?" Her mother, Ilse, asked sourly.

Greta kept her warm smile. "Well, she basically lives at our house now. Sigmund has been nice enough to include Maya in his band! We took a trip to Stockholm and they are interested in signing them! Maya is getting private guitar classes from a respected guitar teacher from the states. I have personally chosen a tutor for the kids, but will of course monitor their education closely." Ilse's face didn't seem any less worried. She took a long look at Maya before continuing. "I certainly hope you don't think this is a good idea? Maya is just a young girl. How will she know if she wants to become a filthy guitarist in a rock band? We can provide a much better education for her." Greta's smile faded slightly. She seemed to take a couple seconds to keep her anger at bay.

"Don't take this the wrong way Ilse. Maya is stuck at this house, all alone, with a babysitter that couldn't care less if Maya has fun or not. The babysitter you hired often dropped Maya at our house, just to never pick her up again. Maya enjoys hanging out with Carlo, Sigmund and Oscar. This is a once in a lifetime chance. Why would you take that from her?" Ilse rolled her eyes, and suddenly turned her attention to Maya. "Do you really think you can do this? Why would you want to? This is just another one of your stupid teenage phases."

Maya's eyebrows furrowed. "No it isn't. This is much better than you leaving me here, all alone." Her mother signed loudly. She stood up and crouched down in front of where Maya was sitting. "Maya. Me and your father are working hard to provide for you and your education. We want you to get a good job and a calm life. You're no guitarist... You're just mommy and daddy's angel! We try our very best." Maya felt the anger bubble up inside her. Her mother continued. "Anyway, who would pay for everything? You Maya? That guitarist teacher can't be free for hire. And when can we see you then? If you leave, we will probably not see you for months and months..." Maya interrupted her.

"Mom, I get all that. The music company will pay for everything. If we don't get signed, Greta has promised they would cover the bill. I want to do this. And if this doesn't work out, I'll do whatever you and dad want's for me. Just don't take this from me. Everyone else has been allowed to come along." Her mother shaked her head and stood up. "No Maya. You won't join that band. You're doing good in school, so why pull you out. It's stupid." Greta then stood up. The warm, friendly smile was long gone. "Could you excuse us for a moment Maya?" Maya hesitated. "Please." Greta added. "You can go to Sigmund, he is outside in the garden." Maya then stood up and walked outside. Greta gave it a couple extra seconds before continuing.

She then sat down with her hands in her lap. "When are you telling Maya of you and her father's divorce?" Ilse grunted. She looked at Greta with an angry look. "Why would that concern you?" Greta shaked her head, clearly upset. "Ilse, I know that you are alone with Maya at the moment. You can't pay for this house all alone. I know why the babysitter dropped Maya off at our place. You never paid her! Through the band opportunity, Maya is supported by people all the time. She is surrounded by friends, and not locked up in this house. You must understand this is no way to live for a kid. I do this to help you, not to steal your daughter from you."

Ilse stays quiet for a while, before meeting Greta's gaze with tears in her eyes. "I just wants what's best for her. A safe place, a good education... I am so mad at myself that I can't provide that for her..." The silence is loud. Greta walks over and puts an arm around Ilse, to comfort her. "I'll make sure she is happy and well taken care of..." Greta says in a low, calm voice. Ilse tries to calm herself, and dries her tears. She then meets Greta's eyes. "Okey... I guess a rock band is the best place for her right now..." She says before breaking down in tears. Maya would only hear the last part from Greta. She still feels sorry for her mother, and how hard it must have been to send your child into that type of life.

Two days later, the band was back in Stockholm. Kurt and Greta came along, as their guardians. Lukas, Gunnar and the CEO, Erling met them. They all sat in a big meeting room. The band sat down. New faces sat at the table. Lukas introduced them as instrument teachers. Each member got a teacher to mentor them the next week. Maya was told clearly she had to work the hardest, to be able to keep up with the band. Just an hour later, she sat in a room with the guitar teacher named Ronnie. He was apparently friends with big guitarists like Jimmy Paige from Led Zeppelin, Angus Young from ACDC and Brian May from Queen. He was an older gentleman, but made sure to talk slowly so Maya could keep up. He was a great teacher. Ronnie and Maya would grow quite close, and would stay in touch even after Ronnie stopped teaching her.

"Now, you already know some chords, that's good. Let me see you play one of those songs of yours, and we'll take it from there." And so Maya did. They practiced together for a whole week, all day. Maya had to bandage her fingertips, and was exhausted every evening she returned to the hotel. The week went by, and suddenly it was time to show off her new skills. Ronnie had one last walk through with her before the small performance for the board.

"Now remember this chord change. You seem very confident in all the other songs, so don't let this one slow you down if you mess up. Just perform like you did last night. It was quite entertaining." Ronnie said before chuckling. Maya nodded with a big grin. Ronnie had let her loose on the electric guitar, and she had so much fun. Now she just needed to do it again. "Maya... I just want to let you know that you have been one of the easiest kids to teach. I was impressed on day two. You certainly have talent. So let those words ring in your mind while playing yeah?" Ronnie put his hand up for a high five. "I will Ronnie! Thank you!" She said and slapped his hand as hard as she could. That earned her a good laugh from Ronnie. "Alright. Break a leg."