A Piper's Song: The Pied Piper Tales

by C. K. Johnson

  “Thank you, but I really can’t take anything extra,” I mumbled, looking down at my shoes. They didn’t give me any answers, just reminded me that the holes in my shoes, and other clothes I wore today, did little to convince him I didn’t need help.

  Malcolm rested his hand on my shoulder and I sighed in relief. He was an adult. He could set this man straight.

  “What Kyra means to say is she is grateful for your kindness, but doesn’t want to take advantage of your generosity, as her family would not look kindly on any handouts. Might I suggest you make a deal for her to continue to come in the future until she has paid off her debt and allow her family to maintain their pride?” he asked the manager with a nod.

  I glared at Malcolm while the manager nodded appreciation. “Now thank the man and shake on it,” Malcolm said. He gave me a small push forward.

  “Thank you, again,” I said and shook his hand—enjoying the power that trickled through—before grabbing the cart.

  “Did you know that’s what I’d do?” I asked. I couldn’t help smiling as I headed for the car. I kept picturing the look on my siblings’ faces when they opened their presents later.

  “There are many options to choose from. I’d say that’s the most interesting one I’ve seen in some time, especially from a girl. I worried when you started the initial song that you would put the poor man out of business. Thankfully, you caught on fast enough and forced the rodents outside,” he said as he helped me put the bags in the trunk of his car.

  “Did we do this because I wanted an after-school job?” I asked, heading for the passenger seat.

  “The lesson happened to fulfill two needs. I hope you remember this when you are tempted to do something wrong for what you feel are the right reasons. There is an honor among pipers. It may be strange, but it is honor nonetheless,” he said and got in on the other side.

  I shut my door, waited for him to start the engine and pulled away before I asked my next question. “So how long will this last?” I looked back at the small country store. After all, I had made a promise to return.

  “With how thick you laid it on, I would say a few months. Normally, it isn’t as long for creepy crawlies. Their life cycle is so fast; they don’t have time to pass things on in the grandest sense. Now the mice and rats, they will remember longer,” he added.

  “I did something good today. It felt nice,” I said. The car window reflected my smile back to me.

  “You did. I think we are all meant to do good. Life sometimes tries to convince us differently. If we listen to the songs that are ingrained in us, they will show us the way,” he said after a few minutes of introspection. I mulled the idea around in my mind, liking it. I wanted to believe he was right. Deep down, all pipers were good.

  By the time we arrived home, I realized I had overextended myself again. I was exhausted. Malcolm waved goodbye, saying he’d make sure the gifts came out tomorrow—in time for Christmas, wrapped and all, and he planned to come to dinner.

  I gave him a brief wave and headed up the stairs. Each step seemed higher than the first until I felt I climbed a mountain and would never reach the top.

  As my foot hit the last stair, it caught and I stumbled forward. I breathed a sigh of relief when the door stopped my fall and happily opened it. All the kids sat in a circle with Fischer. They were playing one of the games Malcolm had started with them earlier. It had progressed to something more advanced. I beamed with pride at how well they were doing.

  Fischer looked up, waved, and went back to concentrating on them. Off to the side, Kelly and McKennan sat on the couch watching. What a Christmas Eve to behold. A band of misfit pipers who for the first time would wake up to a Christmas morning like most regular families.

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  Christmas

  THE WORDS, “SHE’S AWAKE!” ENTERED MY already sensitive ears and banged around in my brain like a smooth metal ball in a pinball machine. I cringed, waiting for Abby’s shrill yell to subside. With a groan, I pulled the covers over my head.

  “Five more minutes,” I said. ”I was having a good dream.”

  “Hey, good afternoon, sleepy head,” Kelly said as he ruffled my hair. I yawned and shifted around so I could throw my feet over the edge of the bed, but there was no edge, or at least not where I thought it would be. I wasn’t in my bed. They must have moved me while I slept to Maggie’s room.

  “Yep,” McKennan said. He had gotten too good at reading my expressions.

  “The kids have been waiting for you to wake up to open presents, so get your little tush moving,” said Kelly. Fresh clothes lay waiting for me on a long wooden chest at the end of the bed. I changed and went downstairs where the party had already begun in the kitchen, from the sounds of it. Even our littlest sister Kate had arrived.

  She sat by the tree, right next to Meredith stringing popcorn and cranberries. Kate put a handful of popcorn in her mouth for every one piece that actually made it on the string. It warmed me to see how cheerful she looked.

  When she saw me, she gave a shy wave and turned back to the popcorn bowl. It had only been three months and my littlest sister felt shy toward me? It’s hard to believe I missed her fourth birthday.

  I wanted to embrace her, pull her close to me and never let go. But it felt like a shame to interrupt the moment she was sharing with Meredith. I rested my hand on her head for a second before going over to the sofa and sitting down. I willed all my love through that simple touch. How confusing this must be for her? Yet, what we had now, felt more like a family than anything we had in the past. Without Father, there was a chance she would see the world in a different light than the rest of the family. She might feel safe at home.

  I grinned as Conner came dancing in from the kitchen, trying to drag Fischer, now dubbed Fish, behind him. Kate laughed when he came in and ran over yelling, “Fish, Fish!” They must have become acquainted while I napped.

  He swung her in a circle in the air and then set her back down. She smiled, wobbled back to Meredith, and plopped down rather hard next to her. Soon Molly and Abby were skipping into the room, followed by James, McKennan, Kelly, and lastly Maggie. Kelly held Maggie’s hand. She looked like a faerie straight out of another world. The air seemed to shimmer between them, resonating their commitment to each other. Whatever happened in this life, Kelly would always take care of her.

  The kids ran for the tree as if it, and the contents below it, would disappear if they did not. Bits of red and gold wrapping paper flew everywhere. With joy and laughter filling the air, in that moment, our family transcended its normal existence. Not that our Christmases had ever been completely dismal, but the new freedom we were experiencing made this one all the brighter.

  Amid the many gifts, one lay wrapped in a deep burgundy velvet cloth. The look of rich softness alone drew Kate to it. She picked it up and rocked it in her arms like a baby doll. It wasn’t until she wandered near McKennan and held it up that he leaned down, whispered in her ear, and gave her a gentle shove in my direction.

  She tentatively held it out to me, and I almost felt bad taking it from her. I slipped the velvet cover off and handed the soft cloth back to Kate. She snatched it out of my hand and ran out of the room. We needed to get her a velvet dress. She would never take it off.

  I looked down at the gift, freed from its velvet trappings. A dark wooden box. I couldn’t help but run my fingers across its carvings. The narrow oak container had beautiful intricate rosewood inlays. It shined with expert care. While time had aged its surface, love resonated from its sheen. This had to belong to another piper. The music of the previous owner lingered still. I almost didn’t want to open it. I was content just to hold it for a little while longer, saving discovery for later.

  Kelly interrupted my musings. “What have you got there?”

  I reluctantly opened the box and gasped.

  Inside lay the loveliest pipe I had ever seen, far more beautiful than even my father’s. Like the box it rested in, the pipe
contained inlays of different types of woods and was so finely crafted, it had to have been made by a skilled piper.

  I held it close to my chest and found myself rocking with it as Kate had. When I finally looked up again, everyone was watching me. I looked into each pair of eyes, trying to guess who had given me such a wonderful gift. Malcolm’s eyes betrayed everything with a simple flash.

  “Thank you,” I whispered. My voice sounded heavy with tears I wanted to shed over its beauty.

  “It was my wife, Avalyn’s. I think she would be glad that you have it,” he replied, his voice thick with meaning. That caught everyone’s attention. Well, everyone but Fischer. “She was the most amazing woman I’ll ever know, and it has sat unused since she passed. I have a feeling she would have liked you,” he said as he stood.

  The name tickled something in my memory but I couldn’t quite place where I had heard it before. I almost had it when Fischer leaned close and whispered, “Give him something in return. It is tradition. It will seal the deal, and bind it to you.”

  I fumbled in my pocket and could only find a hair ribbon I had intended to give Kate. I handed it over, feeling dumb that’s all I had to give. He graciously took it with two hands and gave me a full bow. He thanked the Jacobs for their hospitality, then left. Speaking about his wife must have brought him great pain.

  We stayed late into the evening. Around eleven, after the children had long since gone to bed, we left. I looked down at my box and remembered Kate’s joy over the velvet. “When did we get Kate?”

  McKennan shook his head and went for their room. I watched anger and sorrow flash across Kelly’s face as he stood silently in front of me, pushing his emotions down before he dare speak. “Kate fell and she started to cry, releasing a song that made Mom start to cry. Mom thinks Molly was doing something to stop Kate’s power from affecting other people. Father saw it all happen and he was awful to Kate. I guess he’s home a lot these days. I hated to do it. I could see Mom,” he paused, taking several deep breaths. “It was hard on Mom to let Kate go, but she says Father just hasn’t been the same since, well, you know.”

  He reached out to comfort me as he had before, but I stepped away. Just as Kelly and McKennan were putting our family back together, I saw I was the reason it broke apart. My actions hadn’t just affected Mark. They broke my father.

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  First Date

  MALCOLM CONTINUED MY TRAINING THROUGH THE end of the freezing winter and into the late and much welcome spring. I was thrilled to learn he would train me with my beautiful pipe.

  By the time summer rolled around, I started to feel like a proficient piper. My fears about my uncle and how he remained tied to my future were tucked away as my mentor taught me how to feel the music as it coursed through every living thing.

  In fact, Malcolm taught me something my father never could: to love being a piper.

  Now that we were more than half way through the summer, I decided I would broach the question of a part-time job again. With school out and us doubling up our lessons, I thought he might say yes because I could still spend a good chunk of time with him and maybe bring in a little extra money for the family. I hoped to help more than I brought in from my side job as a bug exterminator.

  “No,” Malcolm said. He resumed playing patty cake with Abby.

  “It would just be a few hours a day. Really.” I pleaded with him as I dropped down on the couch beside them.

  “No, and I should not have to tell you why,” he replied as he flashed me a this isn’t open for discussion look.

  “But it’s over halfway through summer,” I said. I pushed my luck by bringing it up again.

  “You aren’t going to drop this, are you?” he asked. He flashed a loving smile at Abby before directing his full attention to me.

  “I want to feel like I’m doing something more than bringing in groceries here and there,” I said.

  “Abby, let’s see if we can explain this to your sister so she can understand, and after this, we are never going to do it again, okay,” he said as he leaned over and planted a kiss on the top of her head.

  I paused for a second, forgetting my own desires, and watched him, realizing this should be his life. If his wife were still alive, he would probably be holding his own Abby, playing patty cake at home. Maybe planning his own family trips during the summer instead of having an argument with me.

  “So let us review. You stirred in September and you’ve grown stronger and more controlled with each passing month. And if I remember correctly, I am currently here because you didn’t want to go to your uncle’s when you came into your full piper abilities. Yet, in the month or so left where we could spend extra time practicing, thereby preventing this fear, you would instead like to spend your time at a minimum wage job that will not even provide enough money to help with even half the utilities,” said Malcolm.

  “Got it,” I said.

  “Good. I was afraid I’d have to remind you what other apprenticeships are like again. Now, I have an errand I need to run. And because it is summer and you are so insistent on taking a break, I will allow you to have one week off. While I am gone, I still expect you to practice and will alert McKennan to this fact. The rest of the time is yours. It might even give you time to maybe spend it with a certain friend you haven’t seen in awhile,” he said, grinning.

  I refused to acknowledge the last part, so I gave him a nod and headed for the door, ignoring his knowing smile as he continued his game with Abby.

  Malcolm left that evening and stayed away for more than a week. With him gone, I might have been a little less diligent in how hard I practiced, but told myself it would be okay because Malcolm would more than make up for it when he got back.

  Try as he might, McKennan just couldn’t be the taskmaster Malcolm was. I had already passed by my older brothers in knowledge and skill several times over.

  The moment McKennan released me I hurried to the kitchen to pop some popcorn. When Ben had called earlier that morning, all he had asked was if we had a DVD player. I blessed Maggie for bringing one over shortly after she had given us the TV and replied in the affirmative. He wouldn’t say what we were going to watch, but he promised it would be kid friendly.

  I made the mistake of telling them, and every five minutes thereafter, one of them was at my side, asking when he’d come. They had fallen in love with him because every time he stopped by, which wasn’t often due to my training schedule, he brought candy for them. After his first visit, they had decided he was really coming to see them, not me.

  Ben’s hand hadn’t reach the door before Conner flung it open and yelled, “He’s here,” at the top of his lungs.

  “Hey there little buddy,” he said, ruffling his hair. Conner, who usually protested whenever any of us did this, stayed silent as he focused expectantly at the backpack Ben held.

  Ben grinned and handed it over. “How about you take that into the kitchen and divide it up so everyone gets a share,” he said. We both watched as it effectively cleared the little ones out of the way. He looked around, winked, and leaned forward.

  “I see that,” McKennan shouted from his room. Since the guys’ room was the first one down the hall, his voice billowed into the living room and kitchen, causing the little ones to giggle.

  “What?” I replied innocently, taking a step closer to Ben, not wanting to give up the few minutes we had alone in case McKennan was bluffing. I was hoping we could get a little closer tonight. A short length of hallway and a wall divided us. I took a shot. There was no way he could actually see us.

  “You know what. Cut it out or I will break his arms. There are kids in the other room,” McKennan said as he stuck his head out, cleared his throat, and looked pointedly at Ben, who took a step back.

  I sighed, sad the moment had passed. I rejoiced that Ben didn’t seem to mind. Our next date was not going to be in the apartment. I was not going to waste my one week with Ben on the kids.

  He broug
ht an old TV series I had never heard of, but the kids seemed to adore it. I loved watching Ben enjoy it with them. His features softened from that of protector mode, which he most often stayed in around me, to a carefree guy.

  We were on the third episode, with all the kids but Molly asleep, when he slid closer to me. Molly looked back and he flashed a big grin while throwing her a couple of red licorice pieces before returning his attention back to the episode as if nothing had happened.

  I could feel the heat coming off his body and shivered as I glanced toward my brothers’ room. The lights from the TV flicked and I glanced back at it, realizing I had completely lost track of the show.

  He smelled like soap and freshly laundered clothes. I, on the other hand, had spent most of the day practicing, and probably smelled like sweat, now mixed with popcorn. How completely unromantic. Here we sat with my younger siblings draped across his legs, Conner now slightly snoring. My brothers had already threatened bodily harm, and I smelled like sweat and popcorn. First date in forever, and it was woefully underwhelming.

  Ben picked up the remote when the credits began to roll. As he sat back, he slipped his arm around my shoulder. I muffled a giggle over his obvious move and leaned against him. He took my hand in his and our gaze met. I sucked in a breath. My heart fluttered and seemed to skip a beat. It was happening; we were finally going to kiss.

  “I see that too,” McKennan’s deep voice whispered in the dark. I screamed. The kids woke up at the noise and Abby began crying. How long had McKennan been standing there? Kelly stumbled out of the boys’ room, half-asleep, and looked around grumpily before picking up Abby and taking her to my room.