She stared at the object in her hand. It was small, it was plastic, and she had no idea what it was.
"Jeffrey, what is this?"
Green eyes smiled back at her. "I finally found the one instrument that even Skye Penderwick can play."
"Well, that's very nice, but it doesn't answer my question."
"It's a kazoo, Skye."
"A what?"
"A kazoo."
"That's what I thought you said. Why did you give it to me?"
"Because you're always saying that you have no musical talent, and I wanted to prove to you that you're wrong. Anyone can play the kazoo!"
Skye rolled her eyes. "Wanna bet?" When he didn't answer, she sighed. "Okay. How do you play this stupid thing?"
"It's very simple. You just put your mouth on it and sing or hum into it." The look she gave him asked one question.
"Are you out of your mind?"
He chuckled. "No, Skye. I'm not, though I have been warned that long exposure to you might have that effect. Just try it, okay?"
"Are you sure you want me to do this? I mean, you know my history with music..." She was looking rather hesitant.
He laughed. "Not even you can make a kazoo sound bad. It's physically impossible for it to be out of tune."
She sighed. "Alright..." Taking a deep breath, she placed the plastic tube to her lips, and hummed.
Jeffrey stared are her in disbelief. His eyes were the size frisbees and his jaw was practically resting on his chest. His mouth was moving, but no sound was coming out. Out of breath, Skye took the kazoo out of her mouth, looked up at him, and promptly burst out laughing.
"What's the matter, Jeffrey? You look like you're in apoplectic shock." He just stared at her. "Oh, come on, Jeffrey. Now you're starting to scare me. What's wrong?"
"You were out of tune." His voice was weak, as if he had just been through a traumatic experience.
Skye threw back her head and laughed. "Well of course I was, you idiot. It was me, after all!"
He was still staring at her blankly. "But - but..."
"But what?"
"It can't be out of tune. It isn't possible. It's physically impossible for a kazoo to be off key."
She struggled to keep a straight face. Leave it to Jeffrey to be scarred for life by an out of tune instrument. "Well, I'm just that amazing."
Seeing that she was teasing, he blinked a few times and then grinned back at her. "You mean that incompetent."
Flashing him a pseudo-pout, she glared. "Oh, you are so going to die."
"Only if you can catch me first!" In a flash they were both off and running, Skye waving a red kazoo and Jeffrey knocking over everything he could in order to slow her down.
From his place by the kitchen window, Mr Penderwick shook his head at the scene unfolding in his backyard. His nineteen year old daughter had her best friend pinning to the ground, tickling him to death and brandishing what looked like a red stick. Would those two ever grow up?
(End)