Bad Choices (Hypernaturals 8)

Epilog: All About the Bass

Since Nakoma, Diana, Morgan and I cooked, we are in the living room while Angel, mom, dad, and Marvin clean. Skye got a pass. No room in the kitchen for more cleaners. My kitchen is a four butt kitchen. Technically a three butt one, however, Diana doesn't count yet. Too little.

I am sitting cross-legged, Laura in my lap. Diana on one side, Nakoma on the other. Rachel Helena is sitting in Nakoma's lap. Open before us is a coffee table size book, with pictures of the Solar System. Words too, but this is a coffee table book so mostly great big glossy pictures.

I want my kids to remember learning about space and science from me the way I remember doing things like this with my dad. They learn from Dad as well. I want to be part of that memory for them the same way I remember doing this when I was a kid.

Laura's favorite planet is Saturn. She is the only one who has expressed an opinion. A non-verbal opinion, but she is very clear about it. We have looked at Saturn through our telescope in the Observatory. Taken pictures of it. Saturn is Laura's favorite sky object. When Saturn is in a picture, she does this little happy, seated hop and she points.

Very clear.

Morgan, Jessica, and Helen came into the room, Morgan with two guitar cases, one in each hand, for some reason.

"Can we interrupt your tour of the planets?" Jessica asked.

"Sure. What's up?" I asked.

"We want to give you something." Helen said.

Morgan laid one case on the ground, the other flat on the coffee table.

"Oh?" I asked

"We decided what instrument you should learn to play." Morgan said, tapping the flat case with her fingertips.

"Open it." Helen said.

I closed and handed the book to Diana, and Nakoma made room on her lap for Laura.

I knelt in front of the case, flipped the latches, and opened it.

I was not sure what it was. Well: I knew what it was, but it is confusing.

"A electric Bass?" I asked.

"Not just any Bass. This is a Fender Jaco Pastorius Relic Jazz Bass. " Morgan said with pride.

"I heard him with Weather Report and Blood Sweat and Tears." Jessica said. "He was amazing."

"Jessica dragged me to those. He was quite good." Helen said.

I glanced at Nakoma. That is pushing reveal territory. I don't know anything about Weather Report but Blood, Sweat, and Tears were popular decades ago. Still touring though, so not too big a give-away.

"Funk. Jazz. This is the guitar for that, but I want us to do new things. Make it work with my Les Paul on blues and Southern Rock. There is a strong intersection between Funk and Jazz and Blues and Southern Rock. I want us to make our own sound." Morgan said, tapping the other guitar case.

"Family project." Jessica said. "I'll learn drums. Helen used to play harpsichord: we'll update that with a Nord or a Yamaha. We were looking at some setups at the music store the other day. Anyone that wants to learn to play, we'll set up over the old garage and have a band room. Start a family band."

"Wow. I love this... why bass? Just curious. ZZ is two guitars and a drummer. Double trouble has Tommy Shannon of course." I asked

"Because, you always say I am the heart." Jessica said, touching her chest

"Or that I am the brains." Morgan added.

"Or I am the foundation. The bedrock. But you are too." Helen said.

"You are the Bass." Morgan finished.

I picked up the suddenly amazingly precious instrument that I have no idea how to play. I was in Choir.

I felt a little body come over next to me to look at my gift. Laura plucked a string and smiled.