Chapter 4: The Last Guitar Class

The eighth week came. It meant every student had to sing a song while playing the guitar. Jenny picked out a song called One Friend byDan Seals. The lyrics meant something to her, and to him, she thought. She got the chords from chordie.com as suggested by John the instructor of the class. And she was singing:

One Friend

I always thought you were the best 
I guess I always will 
I always thought that we were blessed 
And I feel that way still 
Sometimes we took the hard road 
But we always saw it through

If I had only one friend left
I’d want it to be you

Sometimes the world was on our side
Sometimes it wasn’t fair
Sometimes it gave a helping hand
Sometimes we didn’t care
‘Cause when we were together
It made the dream come true

If I had only one friend left
I’d want it to be you

Someone who understands me
And knows me inside out
Helps keep me together
And believes without a doubt
That I could move a mountain
Someone to tell it to

If I had only one friend left
I’d want it to be you

Everybody clapped. John the instructor said,“Very nice, really. I’m not your voice instructor, but you sing real well, with emotions. I like that. I also like the fact that you anticipate the chords and put your fingers in position just before you get there. Well done!”

Jenny had avoided looking at Eddy while she was singing. They were both looking at each other now. He understood.

Two students later it was Eddy’s turn. He had quietly written a song ever since their Mendocino trip. Before he played it, he told the class, “I wrote this song because I love this class, I love John,and I love a very special person in my life. This song is simply called In Love.” With simple chords as accompaniment, he began:

In Love

Like a single-engine plane, I fly into your clouds
Confusing, misty, beautiful, closer now to the moon
Let’s stay here for a while, away from the crowds
Until we come out to collect the stars

You may or may not know I’m in love with you
You probably know I think a lot of you
Will you be so brave
And take with me a leap of faith?
We might fall off the cliff
We might end up safe
At least we could say we tried earnestly
At least we know we lived honestly
Yes, it would hurt, if it didn’t work
At least we know we lived honestly

You tried to hide in plain sight and I found you
Let me sing you a song — I love you
I pour you into the utmost depth of my heart, my treasure
Now my heart is full of you, for sure
This song I give to you
Now my heart is full of you, for sure
This song I give to you
I love you, I do

Although Eddy did not make eye contacts with Jenny until the last few verses of the song, Jenny was crying after line one, and the whole group knew what was going on. Once Eddy finished, Jenny came to him, held his face with trembling hands and planted a forever kiss on his lips. John the instructor and the other seven students all applauded, a couple of them moved to tears.

“You’re so bad, you never told me that,” Jenny said sobbingly. “It’s your surprise graduation gift,” Eddy said with a big grin. “Did you know, John?” Jenny turned to the instructor, her hands on hips, pretending to be annoyed. John was laughing now: “Yes, I knew. I had to help him with the melody and chords. We had a ball being partners in crime, didn’t we, Eddy?”

(Jenny and Eddy’s story to be continued.)

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