BY VERY DEFINITION
6. Duel
"I'm sorry Parker, this will just take a minute." Rhonda apologized, unbuckling her seat belt.
"It's fine. Actually, can I come in with you?" Parker asked.
"Of course." It was Sunday, Rhonda was taking Parker out for lunch while James was away on business. On the way they passed by a large music store and Rhonda pulled over, needing to pick up some sheet music for a friend of hers. Parker followed her inside and looked around. Instruments were everywhere; guitars lined a wall, brass instruments lined another, strings another, then woodwind, pianos and drums were placed in the center and around the store, shelves of sheet music for every instrument sat by the designated equipment. In a bit of a haze, Parker walked over to one of the upright Pianos. She stood behind the bench and with one hand she punched out the melody of "The Entertainer".
"You play Piano?" Rhonda asked in surprise, turning from the employee she had been speaking to with the Cello music still in her hands.
"A bit, I used to have a Piano." Parker said, "My mom sold it for...well, extra money. A really long time ago."
"Well, go on. Play us a song." Rhonda insisted, coming to stand by her. With a sigh Parker sat down on the bench and started moving her fingers over the keys.
"When I find myself in times of trouble
Mother Mary comes to me
Speaking words of wisdom, let it be.
And in my hour of darkness
She is standing right in front of me
Speaking words of wisdom, let it be.
Let it be, let it be.
Whisper words of wisdom, let it be.
And when the broken hearted people
Living in the world agree,
There will be an answer, let it be.
For though they may be parted there is
Still a chance that they will see
There will be an answer, let it be.
Let it be, let it be. Yeah
There will be an answer, let it be.
And when the night is cloudy,
There is still a light that shines on me,
Shine on until tomorrow, let it be.
I wake up to the sound of music
Mother Mary comes to me
Speaking words of wisdom, let it be.
Let it be, let it be.
There will be an answer, let it be.
Let it be, let it be,
Whisper words of wisdom, let it be"
"That was wonderful!" Rhonda cheered, she and the employee she had been speaking with were applauding. Parker smiled shyly and stood up, not seeing the way Rhonda was scrutinizing the Piano. The employee noticed, however.
"We're having a special on Pianos this month." He said, "We can sell you this one cheap."
"You don't have to." Parker said quickly.
"But you play so wonderfully. You have such a gift that it'd be a shame not to use it. We could put it in the den, or in the basement, we've been planning on trying to turn it into a bit of a parlor." Rhonda said.
"But I don't really play anymore." Parker insisted.
"It's not up for discussion. It'll be nice." Rhonda said, pulling the employee over to talk. Parker looked at the upright, it was black, it was new, it shined, it smelled of wood and paint. The distinct new piano smell, Parker loved it so much, she gave up and smiled, happy to be getting a piano again.
The next day Parker walked up to Mr. Schuester after Spanish class.
"Mr. Schuester, I have a suggestion for Glee club." She said.
"Sure, Parker." Mr. Schue allowed, surprised. Parker pulled up a seat and sat across from him.
"Dueling Pianos." Mr. Schue announced to the Glee club that day.
"What?" Rachel demanded sharply.
"I realize that we haven't exactly recognized recognized everyone's gifts in this club." He explained, "Parker and Kurt are both great Piano players and I think we should use that to our advantage. Dueling Pianos is a funny thing that is a strong performance. Two people play Piano on stage and sing, often one will try to over power the other. They play standing up, they play on one piano, they switch, they sing, they dance. It's a good show."
"But Mr. Schue." Rachel argued.
"Bet you wish you played Piano right about now." Puck said, most of the Glee club had smug expressions.
"Rachel, you get solos. Your voice is your strongest asset, and it's great for the club and competition. But this is another step up." Mr. Schue said.
"You know, you all talk about Vocal Adrenaline a lot." Parker said calmly, "Your biggest competition. I checked out some clips of them singing. And maybe you're looking at it the wrong way. See, something I noticed about the way they sing is that they don't give whole song solos. Most of the songs are completely chorus, not even a main soloist. Maybe that's what we're doing wrong." Rachel gaped but Parker ignored her, "I just think that we shouldn't rely on soloists that much, of course it isn't my place to say but it sure seems to work for Vocal Adrenaline."
"You may have a point." Mr. Schuester said thoughtfully, Rachel made a noise that sounded like she was choking on a chicken bone, "But right now let's see how this goes."
They moved two grand Pianos onto the stage in the auditorium. The Glee clubs sat in the first section, watching with interest as Kurt and Parker took their seats at the Pianos. Parker started the music, Kurt played it back and finished it like a challenge, which is what the whole song would be. Dueling Pianos were like a challenge issued and played back and forth with singing and movement. They never sang together, sometimes they would, but this song was a pure duel, one trying to outdo the other.
Kurt Parker
"The silicon chip inside her head
Gets switched to overload
And nobody's gonna go to school today
She's gonna make them stay at home
And daddy doesn't understand it
He always said she was good as gold
And he can see no reasons
'Cos there are no reasons
What reason do you need to be show-ow-ow-ow-own?"
Parker stood quickly and twirled over to Kurt's Piano, playing the melody two octaves higher than he was and sitting on his bench, during the chorus he stood and was playing from behind the bench.
"Tell me why
I don't like Mondays
Tell me why
I don't like Mondays
Tell me why
I don't like Mondays
I wanna shoo-oo-oo-oo-oo-oot the whole day down"
Kurt moved from his Piano and sat down at Parker's original Piano and started to play as his verse began.
"The Telex machine is kept so clean
And it types to a waiting world
And mother feels so shocked
Father's world is rocked
And their thoughts turn to their own little girl
Sweet 16 ain't that peachy keen
Now that ain't so neat to admit defeat
They can see no reasons
'Cos there are no reasons
What reasons do you need?
Oh Oh Oh Oh
Tell me why
I don't like Mondays
Tell me why
I don't like Mondays
Tell me why
I don't like Mondays
I wanna shoo-oo-oo-oo-oo-oot
The whole day down, down, down, shoot it all down"
Parker stood up and faced the audience as she started to sing the bridge. She snuck up behind Kurt and pounded out a few measures on his Piano while standing behind him before she rushed back to her Piano.
"And all the playing's stopped in the playground now
She wants to play with the toys a while
And school's out early and soon we'll be learning
And the lesson today is how to die
And then the bullhorn crackles
And the captain tackles
With the problems of the how's and why's
And he can see no reasons
'Cos there are no reasons
What reason do you need to die, die?
Oh Oh Oh
Tell me why
I don't like Mondays
Tell me why
I don't like Mondays
Tell me why
I don't like
I don't like Tell me why
I don't like Mondays
Tell me why
I don't like
I don't like Tell me why
I don't like Mondays
Tell me why
I don't like Mondays
I wanna shoo-oo-oo-oo-oo-oot the whole day down"
Kurt moved over and sat next to Parker to play the last few measures. The song ended and the two burst out laughing. The rest of the club clapped, some chuckling and giggling. Mr. Schuester climbed up on the stage, beaming.
"Very good you two." He complimented while still laughed. Parker nudged Kurt with her shoulder and leaned on him while they listened to Mr. Schue's praise. "That's what I'm talking about! Good, classic song and a lot of fun added in! Parker, I loved how you took the initiative and made the first move, the tease from behind was great. And Kurt, way to come up from behind and end it on your terms. Excellent! We'll find more songs but you two have got to practice."
"Not a problem Mr. Schue." Kurt assured him. Kurt and Parker stood up and jumped off the stage to cheers and applause, Quinn gave Parker a hug and they received pats on the back from most of the others, no one could stop smiling. No one except Rachel.
"Have you been getting a lot of cravings?" Parker asked Quinn as they sat outside a soda shoppe eating ice cream after school.
"Not as much as I thought." Quinn answered, licking her fingers, "Mostly it's been pretty manageable."
"Does she kick a lot?" Parker inquired.
"Not a lot, but sometimes."
"What about names?"
"I don't want to think about names." Quinn answered dully, "I'm still not sure if I'm keeping the baby." She turned her face to the sun, "It's so nice to be somewhere. Puck's is always so stale. His sister is always staring at me and I'm always fighting with his mother."
"Then go somewhere else."
"I would if I had any other place to go." Quinn said sadly.
"Keep the baby." Parker said suddenly.
"What?"
"It's just an idea, but hear this out: your parents kicked you out for becoming pregnant. But you're all still family, right? You're their daughter, you have all that history. But when that little girl comes out I think you should introduce her to your parents, I'm sure they won't want to give up being grandparents so easily. And I'll be damned if they don't just melt when they see that adorable little girl of yours."
"You don't know that." Quinn demurred.
"You're right but I think it's worth a try." Parker said with a shrug, Quinn nodded distractedly and went back to her ice cream.
"What do you think?" Rhonda asked with a smile, removing her hands from over Parker's eyes. The basement had a hard wood floor and white walls, it was an old ballet studio, Rhonda had been a serious ballerina until she missed a landing and shattered her leg, she hadn't danced since. But the basement was still prepared for it, one wall was a mirror, there was a barre on the opposite wall, a small table carried a CD player that hadn't been used in years. But the basement was clean of dust and dirt, even the air seemed fresher than other basements. The piano had been delivered that day and sat in the far corner where mirror met wall.
"Now I can see myself when I play." Parker muttered sarcastically, she turned to see James and Rhonda watching her reaction apprehensively. She smiled, "Thank you so much. I love it." She walked over to the piano and played out the melody for "The Entertainer" again. "I missed having a piano." She said to herself.
"We're glad you like it." Rhonda said, hugging Parker around the shoulders, Parker didn't shake her off but felt too awkward to return it in any way. When Rhonda pulled away she cleared her throat. "Let's go get some dinner." She said her voice cracking as she smiled. And Parker couldn't help but notice that as soon as Rhonda had her back to them she had to wipe happy tears from her eyes.
Housekeeping: The songs in this one were "Let it be" by the Beatles and "I don't like Mondays" by Boomtown Rats
People don't review this one, it makes me sad :(
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