On December 10, the world of music lost a great legend. Michael Nesmith of the group The Monkees passed away at age 78.

Sofia2017 planning suggested this classic song by The Monkees, so enjoy your request! In chapter 3 of my story The Day the Music Died, James learns that Vivian has joined Music Appreciation. As he accompanied the choir, he learned that Vivian is not only gifted when it comes to playing the mandolin, but she's a talented singer as well. He later thinks about her as he sings with the family as they try to get him to have fun and sing around the castle again. If anyone is interested in the brownie recipe, PM me and I'll send it to you. The Monkees' music is not mine (and fun fact, Michael Nesmith's mother invented the correction fluid Liquid Paper), and on a more serious note, rest in peace Michael Nesmith.

James was smiling as he came home from school. His first day in the Music Appreciation class had actually gone pretty well. He had been surprised to learn that the class doubled as the school choir, and James was very reluctant to sing in public since he had lost his voice at Queen Melinda's funeral and had vowed to never sing in public again. He had once heard Miranda say to Roland that James might change his mind about that after she quietly opened the door a crack to hear him better, and James actually thought he might take her up on that idea, but for right now, he was happy to accompany the choir, help with technical things, and sing in his room (even if he closed his door before he sang).

As he started working on a stack of papers that was on his bed, James put on some music. He thought the song was a fitting one for him, since he had all those pleasant daydreams about Vivian as Professor Blumberg had played the other song. He wasn't one to believe in love at first sight like Amber, but he still liked this song. He even got out his plush friends to sing with him or help him write, just like he did when he was younger.

When the music started, he began singing, I thought love was only true in fairy tales
Meant for someone else but not for me.
Love was out to get me
That's the way it seemed.
Disappointment haunted all my dreams.

When he heard the song, Roland smiled as he slipped in with the rest of the family behind him. He remembered dancing around to this with not just Melinda, but with James and Amber as well.

As he gave Miranda and Amber a spin, he joined James for the chorus, Then I saw her face, now I'm a believer
Not a trace of doubt in my mind.
I'm in love, I'm a believer!
I couldn't leave her if I tried.

James looked up in surprise to see everyone watching him, singing with him, and even attempting to pull him off the bed. "What's going on? What are you doing here?" he asked, glancing at his plush dragon Sir Blaze-a-Lot as he tried to write something down, only for Amber to move the papers away.

"We're here to have some fun with you, James!" Sofia smiled. "Come on, take a quick break and join us!"

"And this time the door stays open as we're singing," Amber added. She nuzzled his plush tiger Prince Blizzard against him as she started the next verse, I thought love was more or less a givin' thing,
Seems the more I gave the less I got.

James couldn't help but laugh as he sat up. "Okay! But just this once!"

Sofia smiled as she danced his plush dog Little Rex on him and continued the verse, What's the use in tryin'?
All you get is pain.
When I needed sunshine I got rain.

"Well, we're working on it," Amber smiled as she heard James laugh and try to fight her off.

"One step at a time," Miranda agreed.

"As Melinda used to say, you have to hum before you can sing," Roland agreed as he joined in the chorus as he gave her a spin as well, Then I saw her face, now I'm a believer
Not a trace of doubt in my mind.
I'm in love, I'm a believer!
I couldn't leave her if I tried.

"I'm glad James is having fun again, but who do you think the lucky girl is that he's thinking about?" Miranda asked, seeing James smiling as he danced with his sisters. "He had a dreamy look on his face as he came in when he left the coach, and I saw a similar look on Amber's face when she had that crush on Prince Hugo."

"I'm pretty sure it's Vivian," Sofia giggled as Amber mock pouted. "She did a great job when we sang about our Dream Castle, and even James looked pretty impressed."

"Yes, and along with her joining the school band, we suggested that she join Professor Blumberg's Music Appreciation class," Amber agreed, accepting Miranda's apology hug.

As he thought of how brilliantly Vivian had been when she was singing as he accompanied her and the rest of the class, James nodded as he took the next chorus, Love was out to get me
Now, that's the way it seemed
Disappointment haunted all my dreams

The rest of the family joined in the chorus, Oh, then I saw her face, now I'm a believer
Not a trace of doubt in my mind.
I'm in love, I'm a believer!
I couldn't leave her if I tried.

"Finish it up, James!" Amber smiled.

"Okay!" James grinned as he finished the song.

Yes, I saw her face, now I'm a believer
And not a trace of doubt in my mind.
Said I'm a believer
I'm a believer
I'm a believer
Said I'm a believer
I'm a believer
I said I'm a believer
I'm a believer

As he came in to collect the finished papers and the original drafts, Baileywick smiled as he heard the music, saw the family having fun, and heard James singing. "It's good to see you having fun with music again, Prince James."

"Even though this time was temporary," James admitted.

"Don't think that way; what happened was a temporary setback to something you always enjoyed, and we know you'll be singing around the castle again soon enough," Baileywick smiled. "You just take it one day at a time."

"Well said, Baileywick," Roland smiled as the steward left again.

"I also wanted to tell you, Violet made some brownies in the kitchen," Sofia said as James turned back to the papers that were still on the bed. "If you want, you can take a break and have a snack with us."

"Brilliant! The papers aren't going anywhere, and my plush friends will keep an eye on them!" James agreed as he went with everyone.

"He'll be fine," Miranda smiled.

"It's like Baileywick said," Roland agreed. "He just needs to take it one day at a time."