10

Chiles wheeled Hank into the room, right into the space reserved for him in the circle. For the past few weeks, Hank had been participating in the group activities more often and everyone saw more of him, even if he wasn't the best of company. It was obvious to everyone, even Beau who was visiting inside the home for the first time, that he was sweet on Chiles. Beau hid his smile as he ducked his head, his hat hiding the amusement he found in it all. He should have known she would be able to turn even the nastiest old fart in the joint into putty with just a smile.

"All right, is this everyone?"

Hank raised a shaking, 98 year-old accusing finger at him. "Hey, that ain't Merle!"

"No, sir, I'm not. But I have been listenin' to him since I was a child and I'd love to play something for you." Beau promised her his best behavior today and he would deliver. Also, this old an reminded him of his own grandpa before he passed.

"Son, you're still a child. I have armpit hairs that are older than you." Beau snorted back a laugh. He bet he did. Hank began to bang his fists against the arms of his chair, as strong as he could as he began to chant, "we want Merle! We want Merle! We want Merle!.."

"Oh shut up, Hank!"

"Yea, let the boy sing." Betty and Alice, the resident twins, shouted back. The feisty pair had had quite enough.

"Now, ladies, gentleman," Chiles began in her pageant voice. "No need for any of that now." Beau watched in amazement as the soothing effect took over the entire room and turned the pandemonium down to just the music of her words. "Now, ladies, we don't tell each other to shut up here." She kneeled down beside the wheelchair so that she was level with the old man. "Hank, will you please give Beau a chance? I promise you he's real good and he's a good friend of mine who's come all this way to play for you."

Beau could see the old man's defenses crumbling under her smile and big brown eyes. He decided to give it all a final push. "You know, Hank, Chiles and I used to have this little duo act. If you play your cards right, maybe you can get her to sing for ya."

"Is that right?" Hank turned his squinting eyes back at Chiles. "Do you sing?"

"Sometimes."

"Well, get on with it then, boy. You're young but some of us don't have all that much time, you know."

"Oh, Hank," Chiles began. "You know I don't like it when you start talkin' like that. You still have plenty of years ahead of you."

"What? No, I was talking about Mikey over there. He's so old, he probably can't even hear me."

Mikey, Beau learned, was not one to back down. Even if the counter was something simple and classic, like a "Like your mama, Hank. I'm old like your mama" interspersed with a cough.

The noise began again and before anyone got hurt, Beau played his first notes.

The first thing I remember knowing
Was a lonesome whistle blowing
And a young 'un's dream of growing up to ride
On a freight train leaving town...

Everyone stopped. Fists were lowered, mouths closed. The familiar melody reached their ears. By the time the chorus came around, most of them were singing along.

And I turned twenty-one in prison doing life without parole.
No-one could steer me right but Mama tried, Mama tried.
Mama tried to raise me better, but her pleading, I denied.
That leaves only me to blame 'cos Mama tried.

"Oh he is good!" Alice said as she grabbed her walking stick to waited for her sister to get her walker.

"The kid's okay. Don't have a heart attack over it," Hank managed before he was wheeled out by another nurse.

"Oh don't mind him. He's just cranky and missin' his prune juice. You two are really somethin' though. Like Johnny and June."

"Oh, they're just like Johnny and June..." Betty trailed off as they slowly rounded the corner out of the room.

After seeing them all out, Chiles turned back to him, a big smile on her face. "Thank you for doing this. I know Hank can be a little... temperamental, but they all really enjoyed it. And it meant a lot to me so... thanks." She sealed her gratitude with a deep kiss, her arms wound around his neck.

"Well, I had to come here and check out the competition. These guys get to see you everyday."

"And?"

"I think I better keep an eye out for that Hank fella."