As the next couple days go by... I continued to go on about The Heeler routine: getting awaken by the cousins and taking them to school. As soon they were in school, I decided to swing by The Markets to get the vibe of the area. When I scouted the area, it appears to be laidback, although no shops are opened. They would open on the weekends, obviously. When I left The Markets site, I decided to drive to the park and decided to practice on the guitar and try to go over the songs that I should use for the interview. Usually the choice of music genres would mostly be Country, Folk... however, I try to go bit universal with Rock, and bit of Pop. As well as Musicals... don't ask me why.
It felt like I was in the park practicing for the whole morning. However, I would always keep my alarm on my phone on standby. Especially, when it's pickup time. At one point, I was able to catch a glance of a family of two boys, near panic tables. As I watched, I could remember the bitter memories that my family shared the grandeur times, before the fight. While I watched the family giggle, munch, and appreciate the times they're sharing, as I continued to strum the guitar.
Out of nowhere, a football came not to far landing near my legs that jumped the daylights out of me.
Oi! Sorry about that mate!
I turned to see a Lab Retriever was running his way towards me, from his friends. "Sorry, mate. Are you alright?"
"Yeah, the football just made a perfect landing." I answered.
He studied me, before he realizes... "Wait a minute, Andy right?!"
"You must be Pat? Next door neighbor from the behind?" I asked.
"Well I be! We only just met once and hardly see much each other." Pat was one of Bandit's neighbors and friend. An advent sports fan, especially with football and Queensland Maroons. "What are you doing out here?"
"Nothing much, I was just playing on the guitar, before picking up the cousins." I answered. "I'll be interviewed by Busker on Saturday at The Markets."
"Right'O! I often come down and shop. I might even see ya'."
"Only if I get to do the gig, than yes." I replied.
"And I was meaning to ask... how are you liking it here?"
I nodded and basically told him that it's different that I see my extended family more. Even I told him, for the long run plans in the future. More likely, finding work. Before, he could make a comment, my phone started to going.
"Look... Pat. It's really nice to come paths with you again, and hopefully we'll meet each other again." I spoke. "See you around."
"You know to find me."
After packing up my guitar and bidding goodbye to Pat, I had to begin my journey of picking up the cousins. Just I was heading my way to pickup Bluey, I couldn't help to see a German Shepard strolling on the sidewalk, next to the shops. She turned towards me, as I was on the stop light. She just made stare for seconds and made a light friendly gesture, before I horn came from behind me. I couldn't help to realize again, the light turned green. As I done through the pickups, I tuned into the radio to hear ideas for my meetup with Busker on Saturday. Shortly after picking up the cousins, there was song on the station. The strums and the vocals were soothing. However, I couldn't ring my ears to my brain long enough to know the song.
Don't be shy...
Don't wear fear or nobody will know you're there...
Those were the lyrics that I heard that is still stuck in my head. Even it came back to me, on the dinner table. Apparently the song was just a lot more than that. I could only remember the orphanage days... a dance. A German Shepard. She had iris brown eyes, matching her fur coat. The eyes that closely resembled to the stranger earlier today. It was as if, she asked me to dance and I accepted. However, due to the accident, it appeared that some of those memories were as if starting to fade. However, it started to come back when I heard the lyrics again.
Don't be shy...
Don't wear fear or nobody will know you're there...
"Andy?" I heard Auntie Chilli's voice drawing me back to the now. "Andy, are you with us?"
"Hmmm..." I sounded off that caused the cousins to giggle.
"You looked dazed for quite a bit." Uncle Bandit added. "Something on your mind, mate?"
I nodded. "There is... a song. It's stuck on my head and I can't get it out of the title or the artist's name."
"What does the song go?" Bingo asked me.
"Well... it goes like: 'Da... da da... and than it goes da... da da... da da da... da da'...However, the lyrics go Don't be shy... Don't wear fear or nobody will know you're there..." I explained. "Makes sense?"
"No." Bingo answered with one brow up. "However, I could tell it's a song."
"Yes." I turned towards the trio. "Any ideas?"
"No." Bluey answered.
"I'm not so sure." Uncle Bandit answered.
"I'm afraid not." Auntie Chilli lastly answered. "However, I do know someone, who could help tell you the song."
"Who?"
"Grandad. We'll be heading up there tomorrow and he could help you find out about the song." she answered. "Your grandad often keeps a collection of folk music. Especially with the type of music you listened to, you two could have a field day."
In the following day, I found myself with my extended family members at Grandad's. As we pulled in, he was still going at with the stump on his front yard. It caused concern with Auntie Chilli. When we arrived at Grandpa Mort's driveway, Auntie Chilli became appalled on what she saw... I glanced out the window to see... him simply continuing his attempt to remove the stump from his front yard. I shook my head, as I laughed inside of myself.
"DAD?! What are you doing?!" she exclaimed from the driver's seat.
"Oh, Chilli-Dog!" he gasped. "Just trying to get rid of this stump." The cousins giggled.
"Do you need a hand, Mort?" Uncle Bandit offered to help.
"Oh no, that's alright." Grandpa Mort kindly rejects, as he's still using his garden tool to lift the stump. After multiple attempts, with no success, Auntie Chilli shook her head while waiting patiently. "On second thought, I do need a rest and help."
"Right-o! Andy, can you help your Grandad?" Uncle Bandit took his seatbelt and exited the car.
I followed him suite and helped them to lift the stump. Just as soon it was removed, Grandpa Mort sat down on the steps. And all the sudden, he got hugged by Bluey and Bingo.
"Grandad!" they came to him and hugged him.
"Oh, hey kids!"
After when Grandpa Mort was able to rejuvenate from the yard work, everyone decided to do a walk in the woods, before arriving at the lake. The cousins wanted to canoe, but Grandpa Mort was too tired to row, so the cousins swam on the water. Uncle Bandit jumped in, following his kids into the lake waters. I stayed on the dock with Auntie Chilli and Grandpa Mort, with our feet soaking on the water.
It took me back for a small amount years back, when my family visited our grandparents. I could remember the meetups we have for dinner, lunch, and/or basically anything that involves with them. I started to reminisce a few years back that our grandparents rented a beach house and we spend about four nights there. I found myself at the beach gazing at the coast, as my grandparents watched our cousins play on the sand. The scenery that I looked back on, is not too different, when I watched my cousins now frolicking at the lake.
Oi, Andy! Your Aunt Chilli told me you searching for some music?
Hearing Grandpa Mort's question brought me back to the present. "I'm sorry?"
"You're just gazing at the sun and the lake, in a blank state. You alright?"
"Well... it's just-"
"Don't dwell too much, Andy." she advised.
"Your family?" he questioned.
"Actually no." I answered. "I was hoping you could help with some music."
That raised his eyebrows. "Oh yeah, I do listen to music on the tube. What is it?"
"There's a particular song that I heard, however I can't remember the title. It's a folk song." I went on.
"Oh very good. I'm into these tunes. Not like them 'hip-hop' and rubbish."
"Any other music you into?" I asked.
"Classical especially." I nodded on his response. "Anyway, what's the bit?"
"I found this bit on a video of recommended tunes." I cued a compilation video of songs and fast forward to the song that caught my ear.
Don't be shy, just let your feelings roll on by
Don't wear fear or nobody will know you're there
Just lift your head and let your feelings out instead
And don't be shy, just let your feelings roll on by...
After listening the song for a bit, as Grandpa Mort was humming and tapping on his knees. It dang came out of him! "Oi! I know this song, and I never though I heard it again."
"You know this song?" Auntie Chilli questioned.
"Of course Chilli-Dog. It's Cat Stevens Don't Be Shy. I listened to his songs back in the day and still do occasionally." he answered.
"I'm planning to use the song for a interview of a gig." I went on.
"A gig?"
I chuckled. "I'm planning to work for a bit at The Markets on the stage. Performing some songs on the guitar."
"Oh brilliant. Have you heard of a well talented singer Don McLean?" he asked me.
"Indeed. American Pie is one of my favorite hits of his. However, my personal favorite is Vincent."
"Oh yes... about Van Gogh."
"The song and his paintings together, it's soothing. I admired the song and Van Gogh's paintings." I agreed with my grandfather.
"Perhaps you should do one of those songs, if you're able to perform." he even suggested.
I nodded. "I'll most definitely will consider them."
He smiled and turned to watch the cousins and Uncle Bandit, as I did also. "You swim, don't you?"
"I use to, but I can still." I answered, as I sat my phone down at the boat. Out of nowhere, I felt a push and I slipped into the water. I than heard voices from above the water and laughs. Just as soon I resurfaced, the laugh continues, as I shake my head. I turned to Grandpa Mort and Auntie Chilli to see who was the culprit.
Grandpa Mort innocently stated. "Chilli, why would you push your nephew?"
Auntie Chilli gasped. "I did not!" Coming from behind, she pushed into the water. Not from her father, but her husband. She quickly resurfaced and scorned at Uncle Bandit. "BANDIT!"
Uncle Bandit laughed, as did everyone else. However, it didn't stop her from grabbing his arm and pulled him in. Just as soon he splashed into the water and resurfaced, the laughter grew louder, even I couldn't contain myself from laughing. She noticed that I even laughed along too, which smiled her face.
