Billy walked straight to the bathroom, heading to the music room for another music session. In recent weeks, his musical skills have improved by leaps and bounds. The color of his voice can be called not imperfect, maybe acceptable, but as he sings, he feels that his naturalness has been improving exponentially.
-What do you think you're doing? My brother could barely get the grass into the jail, and now you come up with the story that you lost it. - said a voice behind the bathroom door.
-I'm sorry, I think someone took it; it was under my bed. The inspections are at the end of the month; it couldn't have been lost. I didn't tell anyone, and it disappeared this morning. - said the nervous boy.
Billy got caught by the door; for some stupid reason, his curiosity ended up overcoming his reason, and he stuck to the door to keep listening.
-Well, you're undoubtedly a damn idiot. One of the Yellow Monkey's gang probably stole it from you. I gave it to you. You're surrounded by brothers; do you think I'm stupid? - said the boy.
-I'm sorry; I'll get it back. I'll do everything possible to get it again. - said the boy.
The sound of the sink started to sound; someone was washing their hands.
-If you don't get it, Buggs, I'll be furious. Even Parks will give you a good beating. - said the boy.
-Let me fix this; I'll fix it. I'll steal the drug stash hidden in Carter's bunk. That White guy, for sure, won't notice if I steal a little. - said the boy.
-You're an idiot. Do you think things can be solved with another theft? If you commit it, no one will back you up. The last war sent several people to the New Mexico correctional facility; do you think it's a joke? They say that place is a hole. - said the boy.
-I'll do it; it's my fault. Besides, if they stole it from me, they must have it. - said the boy.
Billy felt they were going to come out, and he ran to the front chair to sit down while trying to pretend to be asleep, or at least make it look like he was pretending to be asleep.
The boy who came out was Pablo! The funny little devil who told jokes and talked about how great it was to be in a place where you got three meals a day.
-Billy, what are you doing here? - said Pablo. He was followed by a giant black guy, perhaps 180 cm tall.
-I'm waiting for Connor to clean up the music room. I hate having to do it alone, and I've been waiting for him for a while. - said Billy.
-Well, you wait for him on the first floor. Midway. - said the giant boy.
-Friend, if I go up, the guards hassle me, and I end up doing the work alone. It's not something I like very much, but those guards are sometimes inhuman. - said Billy, hands in his pockets, raising them in a gesture of peace, trying to hold back an expression of disinterest, a face, I have to do.
-What are you guys doing? - said Billy.
-We're going to the basketball courts to play for a while. This tiger here is a future superstar. - said Pablo.
-His mere presence is intimidating. Can you slam-dunk on him? - Billy asked.
-Of course, Frozt is one of the best basketball players in the correctional facility; you have to see him jump. - said Pablo.
Fortunately for Billy, the arrival of Connor saved him from this uncomfortable conversation.
-I think I have to go; see you in music, Pablo. - said Billy, taking a deep breath.
-Sure, come on, Frozt, I have a new trick I recently unlocked. Be careful, kid. - said Pablo, who walked toward the park. The basketball court was in a distant corner; their voices became weaker.
-Connor, wait for me. - said Billy, running to catch up.
Connor didn't stop but quickened his pace; he was a quiet guy.
-Connor, what's up, buddy? If we organize the cleaning, we can finish everything in less than an hour. - said Billy.
-Billy, how have you been? - said Connor. His words alone reassured Billy; he already felt better.
-I'm doing what I can, although every time, it's harder for me to understand the rhythm of the correctional facility. - said Billy.
-Just stay away from the middle. - said Connor.
-It sounds complicated when everyone wants to take sides. Besides, if I stay away from the middle, I might get involved in some fight. - said Billy.
Many words, were unanswered by Connor. The cleaning area was an hour in which both worked hard. The classes with Professor Spencer were very important for Connor and Billy due to all the teachings he could impart.
They reached the cleaning area and started working diligently to clean the hallway, and the windows, and organize everything for when Professor Spencer arrived to open the music room. He worked at the correctional facility on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays. So it was the duty of the students to wait for him to work on those days on their piano skills as much as possible.
Spencer arrived with his dazed smile and a gaze lost in a world only known to him. He was wearing a black tuxedo with a brown wool vest under his jacket, without a tie. The heat was unbearable, but he liked to wear wool vests made by his grandmother.
-Ah, what pleasant young men. - said Spencer, opening the heavy wooden door to his favorite music haven. Although it looked old, and many instruments were donated, it was beautiful to Spencer.
-Good morning, maestro. - said Billy. After two weeks as a music student, although his progress wasn't as exciting as he once thought it would be, since his system allowed him to learn everything four times faster with a suitable teacher, that four multiplied to six times faster, he still needed a lot of work to master the piano.
-Ahhhh, another day practicing music, boys. Doesn't it feel pleasant? Today, Connor, you'll practice your voice. Leave the drums and play only the cymbals. If you improve the way you use the cymbals, your notes will sound more harmonious. Follow the rhythm with Billy in the song.
Professor Spencer is undoubtedly a very diligent teacher who has created his methods to improve certain skills. After a long time, he decided that Billy should work on something that would develop his voice in the best way. So he brought music from the incredible Luciano Pavarotti, a CD he bought at Target for $17. Six opera songs that would teach Billy to sing properly.
Professor Spencer took out the CD and the small cassette and CD player, a gift from the superintendent and the only one he has made so far. Pavarotti's voice played in the background,
...
La donna è mobile
Qual piuma al vento
Muta d'accento
E di pensiero
Sempre un amabile
Leggiadro viso
In pianto o in riso
È menzognero
La donna è mobil'
Qual piuma al vento
Muta d'accento
E di pensier
E di pensier
E di pensier
È sempre misero
Chi a lei s'affida
Chi a le confida
Mal cauto il core
Pur mai non sentesi
Felice appieno
Chi su quel seno
Non liba amore
La donna è mobile
Qual piuma al vento
Muta d'accento
E di pensier
E di pensier
E di pensier (Pensier, pensier)[1]
….
-Well, my dear boy, you'll have to sing that song with all the care you can muster. Try not to stretch too much or force your voice. Just follow the rhythm of this. And then, we'll practice the next steps. - Spencer said to Billy.
Turning to Connor.
-You'll play along with the song, using your cymbals. Try to add your touch, remember, soft hits, gentle hits. Come on, lad, add your rhythm without disrupting the song. Opera is a fantasy. - Spencer said, listening to Pavarotti's song and dancing playfully. His happiness was so contagious that both Billy and Connor were infected.
Billy tried to pronounce as best as he could, but the Italian presented certain difficulties, quite challenging for him, given the forms.
-Maestro, it's complicated. - Billy said, trying to mimic Luciano Pavarotti's Italian vocals.
-Of course, it is, lad. But you have a musical talent; you just need to try and try. Try humming softly: pa-paaa-paa-paa-paaaaaa-papa-pa-PA-pa-pa. - Spencer said, following Pavarotti's rhythm with his voice.
-I'll give it a shot. - Billy said, starting to follow the rhythm with the "pa."
This is surprisingly easy! - Billy thought after an hour of practicing the same song quietly, pacing back and forth.
-I think I got it now, maestro. - Billy said, catching the music trick. He saw the glass of water beside him and drank it. These singers put in the effort.
-Show us then. - Spencer said, playing "La donna e mobile" again, this time more fluently.
-Perfect, now try this, a mix of "pa" and "ta." - Spencer said, demonstrating the exercise with these two syllables in a sequence.
Billy nodded, and this time, more skillfully, he mastered it in less than 20 minutes, surprising Spencer.
-Let's try the song with your voice. While you were practicing, I noted a bit about how you should pronounce. I'll bring you a monosyllabic Italian dictionary from the library tomorrow. - Spencer said.
-Maestro, tomorrow is Tuesday. - Connor said.
-Right, I'll bring it on Wednesday, lad. - Spencer said.
At the end of the class, Billy felt a slight improvement in his pronunciation.
-Can I keep this copy? - Billy asked.
-Of course, of course. Now, continue with the "pa" and "ta" exercises, but try to ascend. Focus your energy, and use sonorous hits. Let the strength come from the diaphragm. And when you have that, try "pam, pam," stretching the "mmm." Just take a good breath; it'll help improve your air intake. Dare to sing. - Spencer encouraged.
-Perfect. -
[1] La donna e mobile: Rigoletto: listen to that song, it's a bit old, but surely listening to it live by a singer must be the wonder of wonders.