The Neighbor

Chapter 9: The Arrangement

"All right class, "Mr. Kahele said, "strum a G chord." Everyone did what he said perfectly, except me. It was our first music lesson and I was all ready worse than everyone else. They all seemed naturally talented; meanwhile I was awful.

"Please keep up Miss. Mahonny, "Mr. Kahele said.

"Yes sir, "I mumbled, "sorry."

"Now everyone, "Mr. Kahele continued but I stopped listening. I would never be good at music. I would just have to except an F in one class. It seemed simple enough but for a girl like me it was the hardest thing to do.

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"It's so unfair!" I complained to Brendan, "They can't force us to take a certain class!"

"They can't?" Brendan asked.

"Well yes legally, "I said, "but the point is that some of us want all A's but aren't musically talented. They can't do this according to the fairness laws!" I stopped to catch my breath.

"Would you like something to drink?" Brendan asked with amusement in his voice.

"If you wipe that smirk off your face then yes, "I said. I followed him into the kitchen and sat at his small wooden counter. The entire thing was covered with mail. There was barely enough room for him to set down my glass of water. "What's with all the mail?"

"Bills, I think, "he said.

"You think?" I asked.

"I don't actually know what bills are, "he said, "much less how to pay them."

"Don't you just look at how much the cost is and then write a check for it."

"A check?"

"Have you like never owned anything?"

"Oh I've owned stuff, just never paid for it."

"Your unbelievable, "I said.

"Your very helpful, "he said sarcastically.

I thought about what he could do to pay off his bills. He definently had the money to pay them off but didn't know how to write checks meaning he didn't have a checking account. He failed high school so he obviously wasn't good at math. But, I knew how to set up a checking account and I was great at math...

"I have an idea, "I said, "I can help you set up a checking account so you can write checks and I'll help do all the math."

"You would do that?" he asked, astonished. "Wait, "he said suspiciously, "what do you want in return?"

"Nothing, "I said, "we're friends. I'd be delighted to help you for free."

"Well, "he said, "thanks."

"Well actually there is one thing, "I said.

"Here it comes, "he said, "you want me to go to your school to help you make friends? Or maybe you want me to help you get Kahoni?"

"Actually I just want to see the rest of your house."

"Oh, yeah sure."

Brendan showed me every room of his gigantic house. My favorite room was the guest room. It had a waterbed and a huge flat screen TV with large speakers. The walls were painted black with a ton of band posters. There was a full bathroom with a beautiful tile pattern on the floor.

"This room is amazing, "I said, "but I can't believe you didn't put the waterbed in your room."

"I figured guests would like it more than me, "Brendan said, "call me considerate."

"Actually I was going to call you weird, "I said.

"Ha ha very funny, "he said, "It's getting late. You should get home." I nodded and he led me out of the room. But we weren't in the hallway, we were in my now favorite room. "Whoops wrong room, "Brendan said.

"What is this place?" I asked.

"My music room, "he said casually. It was amazing. There were huge amplifiers and a ton of different instruments. The most amazing instruments was the grand piano and all the guitars. There was at least ten guitars, maybe more, all sitting in a row on stands. There were flutes, drums, trumpets, trombones, and a ton of other instruments.

"You play all of these?" I asked in astonishment.

"Yup, "he said.

"You want to do me another favor?" I asked.

"What is it?"

"Teach me how play."

"What? Why?"

"At school we have to music lessons, "I said, "the only class I fail. If you teach me to play I could be the best in the class. And in return I'll do your bills and taxes. What do you say?"

He hesitated before saying, "Seems like a good plan to me." I ran forward and hugged me.

"Thank you, "I shouted.

"What are friends for?" he said.

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Hey guys, sorry I took so long to update. My phone broke and I had a lot of homework. Also I decided not to put pictures with my chapters anymore because I can't find of anything good pictures to use. I hope you are enjoying the book and continue to enjoy it:)
~Hermione