Georgie flings her hair over her shoulder. “Dad bought me a guitar a couple of years ago. I’ve tried to learn, but I can’t figure out how to hold it.”
I smile at her. “Go get it then. I’ll show you.”
“Really?”
I tilt my head toward her room, encouraging her to go.
The other girl chews her lip as she waits. “I’m Avalon, by the way. Georgie’s best friend.”
Fletcher has mentioned the girl a time or two, saying how she and Georgie are always together. When she’s not at her mother’s, she’s usually at Avalon’s, if she’s not at home. Fletcher hadn’t meant it in a kind way either. He misses his daughter’s company even if he hasn’t outright said it.
I’m surprised it’s taken this long to meet the girl.
“You’re Vince, I’m guessing?”
I nod.
“Georgie told me you’re staying with them until you get better or something?”
I turn my attention to the guitar. There might not be anygetting betterfor me. “I’m staying with them for a while, yes.”
Before she can ask more questions, Georgie returns, sitting right beside me with her black guitar in her lap. She faces me, our knees touching. “I don’t even know if it’s tuned.”
I set mine aside and take hers, tuning it by ear. “Here you go.”
She grins wildly. “Just like that?”
I laugh. “Just like that. Like I said, I’ve been playing since I was a kid.”
She shifts around, trying to hold the instrument. “It’s so awkward.”
“Nah. You’ll get more comfortable with it the more you play. Turn your wrist forward a little. Like this. It’ll help you reach the strings.”
Georgie copies my movements.
“What notes do you know?”
“Only a few.” Georgie fumbles through a simple four-chord melody.
“That’s good. Can you do a C-flat?”
I hold my fingers in that position so she can copy them.
“Perfect. Now try going from an A to a C-flat.” I strum each chord as I say them, moving slowly so she can see how I adjust my hand. When she struggles to angle her fingers, I walk her through it. It takes a few tries, but Georgie eventually strums the chords correctly.
“Hey, good job. Keep doing that until it feels natural, then I’ll teach you a riff.”
Avalon loses interest quickly, playing on her phone while Georgie practices. After thirty minutes, I teach her the riff from Aerosmith’s “Walk This Way.” It’s a simple, easy tune with minimal movement and a repetitive pace.
Georgie perks up immediately. “Wait. This is Aerosmith, isn’t it?”
I smile at her. “It is.”
Georgie grins proudly, glasses sliding down her nose. “They’re one of my dad’s favorite bands.”
“Really?”
“Totally. He used to play them all the time, but not anymore. He’s always busy with work now. Doesn’t listen to music as much.”
