I'd go where I know...if the earth could find my feet
She had blonde hair, and was wearing just every day normal slightly faded jeans and a plain black top. There was no ring on her left ring finger, despite being 35 years of age with 6 years of being a teacher under her belt. She walked into the room with her guitar case strapped on her back and her notebook in her hand.
I would run away and go where I know...but you dont even care
"Alright class, as of today, you are all aspiring musicians. I'm here not to tell you what to write or what to play or what ever. I'm here only to help you find your sound, help you discover different meanings in the music, help you get inside the minds of all the greats and what makes them great just so we can hopefully get you all to become just as great. Yeah, I know that last line was a little cheesy, but I'm trying to be honest here. I am your teacher, Miss Harrison, and I'll be your music teacher for the next four years of your high school slash performing art school life," she said. She had only been working at the school for three years, but she had instantly become one of the school's favorite teachers.
"Ok, so let's get started, since this is 'Music 1-2 AP', I am presenting you all with a challenge. There is no grade for this, think of it as a pretest. I want you all to do a cover of your favorite song. Any song that is school appropriate and I want you to alter it a bit. Change it around, improvise, make it your own." the class started to groan a bit, "Yeah I know, home work on the first day, but I'm giving you all until Friday to complete this, so please do so,"
The school was a small private performing arts school in Manhattan. Jude Harrison lived in a content looking house in Manhattan with her daughter, Jessica. Jessica was fifteen years old and attended the school Jude taught at, mainly because Jessica was in love with music and the administration gave her free admission because Jude worked there.
Jude walked around the room, she knew what kind of kids go to this school, and not only that, but she sent out letters to all her students with her own supply list of what to bring to her class. 1. Some sort of portable music player, 2. A 300 page notebook, 3. a pencil, 4. your choice musical instrument.
"What should be included in your music player is the music that inspires you the most and the music that you will be studying. By the end of the week I will hand out a list of every song that we will study this whole semester. Every Monday, starting next Monday all the way until you graduate, you will write a half page analysis of the song that will be due at the end of the week. I don't want sentences that sound like this 'It was sad, and it made me sad,'. I want to know what you think made the song sad, use samples of the lyrics, talk about the instrumentals and instrument solos," Jude said as she explained the assignment. The school day ended and Jude was packing her guitar when her daughter appeared at the door with her jeans, SME tee shirt, and gray converse on. She, too, had her guitar with her.
"Ready Mom?" Jessica asked leaning against the door frame.
"Yep, let's get going," Jude answered swinging the guitar case on her back as she locked up and they walked to her silver Honda Civic.
"You listen to Spiederman Mind Explosion? Since when?" Jude asked putting the radio on.
"Since always Mom, and I heard they are coming here for their tour," Jessica said in her sing song voice.
"I can't promise anything, but I can tell you I will think about it and it all depends on your grades," Jude answered to her daughter. Her daughter had the same colored eyes as her father, but the shape was no doubt Jude's. Her hair was dark brown and had been layered and just reached her shoulders. The three only things Jessica had inherited from her father's genes were his skin, eye color and hair color, other than that, she was undoubtedly Jude's daughter.
"Right, right," Jess added, Jude called Jessica by Jess.
Jude and Jess walked into their three bedroom house. Jude walked into the kitchen and immediately started to pull out a pot to start making some food while Jess was checking the mail. She was flipping through the various bills when one particular letter had caught her eye.
"Karl West?" Jess thought in her mind.
"Kwest!" Jude nearly yelled when she walked up to her daughter and saw the letter in her hand.
"Kwest?" Jess questioned completely oblivious to who that was. Jess was only told that Jude had once had a singing career, which she hears about all the time when she says who her mother is, and that her dad wasn't exactly a fatherly type of guy. So he sends a check for $1000 every month as child support, but other than that, dad is just another word in her vocabulary that is never used.
"An old friend, Jess, give me the envelope," Jude said as her daughter just did as she was told.
Jude quickly opened the letter and read it quickly, then reread it slowly and thoroughly and nearly fainted but instead sat on the couch.
"No. Way."
"What? What is it Mom?" Jess asked as she sat down on the couch next to Jude.
"Another old friend is coming. Someone you would actually be really excited to meet," Jude said with a small grin growing on her face. She hadn't seen him since she announced she was retiring from the music business.
"Ok mom, tell me who this 'old friend' is," Jess said, anticipation growing in her voice.
"None other than...Vince Spiederman," Jude said coyly, emphasizing on the usage of his full name.
"You're serious? You know Vince Spiederman and never told me!" Jess nearly screamed from excitement as she jumped off the couch.
"Know him hon? I dated him," Jude said sitting back into the couch.
"You dated Spiederman? SO not cool! Now that takes away from his hotness points!" Jess exclaimed.
"Hey!" Jude had a mock pained expression, "He was a lot hotter at 17, and also a jack ass,"
"Mom, not that I'm not totally fascinated in your love life with Spiederman, but when's he coming and where's he staying?" Jess asked growing even more excited.
"Well, according to Kwest he's coming in tomorrow while we're in class, but it looks like Kwest left his number so I mind as well call him for the details, and if he has no where to stay he could just stay here in the guest room," Jude said grabbing her cell phone and dialing some numbers.
"Hey Kwest? It's Jude,"
"Jude! Wow, I haven't talked to you in almost 10 years, how's it all going? I take it you got my letter?" Kwest answered as he got up from his swivel chair and into the lobby of G Major. He was now co-owner and second best producer on the G Major Staff.
"Yeah, how'd you find me?"
"That's something that you will never know. But yeah, what's up girl?"
"Ah well, I have a teenage daughter over here who is literally jumping up and down at the sound of Spiederman coming down to Manhattan, so what are the details so I can settle her down? By the way I'm putting you on speaker phone,"
"Ok, as you know Speed is coming in tomorrow at around noon, he hasn't booked a hotel-"
"HE CAN STAY HERE!" Jess yelled.
"Jess! Calm down! Sorry about that Kwest, go on," Jude said covering the phone.
"Well, he'll most likely just stay for the rest of the week until Saturday, he's there to hold some auditions for their latest video, maybe get a song written, book some opening acts for the tour, and visit an old friend," Kwest said the last part with a meaning towards Jude.
"Well, I know he'll get that last one done Kwest. You are now going back to regular phone status," Jude said taking him off speaker phone and then mouthing to Jess to go to her room. Jess nodded in contentment at the fact that she'll get to spend the rest of the week with Spiederman of the Spiederman Mind Explosion.
