Francine looked up at Croach sitting in her usual spot in the ice-covered tree, strumming random melodies on her guitar.
"I've got a question for you, Croach." Francine got closer to the tree. "Where did you learn to play guitar?"
Croach stopped her playing and hung from one of the tree branches with her tail. She smiled at Francine.
"From the lesson, your dad taught you," Croach said.
"My dad? Dad never taught me to play guitar." Francine said.
"Yes, he did!" Croach closed her eyes, and the scenery around the two changed.
Sports magazines and a couple of wrestling toys littered the room. A young girl and an older man sat on the bed together. The child held a guitar in her lap while the man guided her hands along the guitar strings.
"Oh… ya that." Francine scratched the back of her neck. "I mean, I was okay with the guitar."
"Why did you stop practicing then? Was it fear?" Croach said.
"It wasn't my calling." Francine looked at the hockey stick in the corner of the room. "Life had different plans for me."
Croach went up behind Francine and took her arms, placing them in a position that made it look like Francine was playing an air guitar.
"I can teach you; if you're good at it, I'll teach you more things." Croach smushed her face against Francine's cheek.
"And you can't teach me those skills now?" Francine said.
"Nope! Come on, it'll be fun!" Croach nibbled on Francine's cheek, egging on a forced agreement.
"Alright, quit it, I'll try to play guitar… again."
The scenery changed again, returning to the usual black checkered tiles and ice tree. Croach plopped onto the tiled flooring and patted the spot next to her. Francine sighed and sat next to Croach.
"Here, take my guitar." Croach passed her guitar off to Francine.
"Now what?"
"Try doing something."
Francine looked confused, staring at the guitar. She plucked at one of the strings, and a weak note emerged. Francine sucked in her lips and rested her hand on the body of the guitar.
"You can't be done already! More!" Croach moved behind Francine and took her hands. She guided Francine to hold the guitar properly. Croach strummed the guitar strings gently, and her lips grazed Francine's ear.
"The strings don't bite, even if you break them," Croach said.
Francine took over the strumming. At first, the melody was still all over the place, but it improved as Francine gained more confidence. She got up from the tiled flooring and started to dance while playing the guitar. Croach got up as well and clapped.
"You're getting it!" Croach said.
As Francine finished her melody, she held the guitar before herself.
"See, it wasn't so bad, was it?" Croach said.
"I guess it wasn't; maybe my conscience helped me here." Francine smiled at Croach.
"Well, as promised, I'll teach you more things."
"Like–"
Croach lips met Francines, and the monkey's hands rested on Francine's shoulder. The kiss was short-lived as Francine awoke in her bed. She shot up from the bed.
"That damn monkey!" Francine yelled as she shook her fists, blushing from the kiss.