Chapter 4: Duet
Summary: The musical side of the MacGyver-Grahme household.
Author's Note: Please e-mail me privately if you are interested in watching the Youtube videos of the songs mentioned (including RDA/Mac playing "Eau D'Leo" on the show!)
There is often music playing in the apartment, in one form or another. Sometimes it's just the radio tuned to the local soft-rock, oldies, beautiful music or smooth jazz station, depending on which one turns the stereo on first. It makes for nice background music for Becky's homework, Mac's science experiments or general cooking, housecleaning and laundry folding. There is an evening program on one station, for example, called "L.A. Lights Out," a combination of smooth jazz and new age that Becky finds perfect for relaxing. On weekends they sometimes tune in the local National Public Radio affiliate; she jokes that listening to "A Prairie Home Companion" is essential for her understanding of MacGyver's Minnesota-raised mind.
(For his part, Mac enjoys watching Becky dance to Dire Straits' "Walk of Life" with a duster in hand. Not that he'd ever openly admit to it, though.)
They also have a good-sized collection of vinyl records, cassette tapes and- most recently- CDs, covering a wide range of genres from all over the world. Every time Mac travels- for fun, not while on assignment of course- he brings home something interesting. Becky has also added to the collection after her recent summer homestay visits to Spain and France.
(On Becky's birthday Mac sings along to Elton John's "Blue Eyes" for her. It's sweet, silly and never fails to make her blush. But she understands the sentiment behind the verses perfectly.)
She sings in her high school's choir, too. Three afternoons a week there is after-school rehearsal with Mrs. Avery, the head of the music department. It's hard work. Avery is a tough but fair teacher, always expecting the best from her students and getting it, too- for the past few years the choir has won first place in the citywide and state music competitions. Becky is always bringing home practice tapes so she can work on her part alone without distractions. After being chosen as a lead soloist she finds herself working especially hard. Sometimes Katie and two other friends in the choir also join her, especially if there are some tricky sections that need going over. Just like Mac and his hockey practices and games, she puts her all into the work and enjoys every minute.
(The first time Jack Dalton hears Becky sing he is immediately spellbound. "Voice like an angel, Mac," is all he can say. Those employees at Phoenix who hear her sing while filing papers or doing other volunteer work- when she knows she's not disturbing anyone, of course- are also suitably impressed.)
Becky, Katie and some friends who are also in the school's music programs are working on forming their own band, with Becky as the lead singer. Nothing original as of yet- basically some good covers of popular songs, that sort of thing. It's mostly a summer project, anyway, worked on in between trips to the beach and the mall. They all certainly can make good music so at least their chances of being noticed are pretty okay but realistically Becky knows it isn't that easy, especially at their young age. She can't help but dream, though.
(Hey, if Mac has his dreams of being a star hockey player, she can imagine being a top 40 artist. She's even met one of his childhood friends, the rock star Roxy Yates, and sang with her a couple times. But what happened to her and her twin sister still confuses Becky and Mac refuses to talk about it.)
On occasional nights or weekends MacGyver brings out his guitar to work on his compositions- "Eau D'Leo" is an especial favorite of hers- or just to play around with something he's got running through his head. Becky joins him on the couch, curling up at the opposite end to watch him play. Most of the time she's content to listen to his soothing tunes, but sometimes she accompanies him- either folk songs, tunes from summer camp, or simply singing wordlessly, with Mac's playing expertly weaving through her vocalizations.
(There is a song that Becky thinks describes their relationship perfectly: Bette Midler's "Night and Day." Different yet in complementary ways, they still fit perfectly together as a duet of sorts, uncle and niece. She wouldn't trade her life with MacGyver for anything.