The Friday Night Debrief. Kylie Jane Asmus
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Before going to bed she made a note to herself to ask her mum to bring some pianola rolls with her when she came to visit so that she could keep them at her place and continue to play them for the oldies once her mum returned to Mount Isa after her holiday. Her mother owned hundreds of them so Kylie thought she could swap them every trip she made and hopefully bring a bit of joy to the oldies one night a week.
That night Kylie turned the light off with a smile on her face.
Happy Hour
As requested, when Kylie’s mum drove from Mount Isa to Townsville to visit her, she brought with her three boxes of pianola rolls to leave at Kylie’s place. Kylie’s mum had agreed whole heartedly to play the piano at the old people’s home so Jenna had arranged for the residents to assemble in the dining hall at 6.30 pm on Tuesday.
Kylie saw Jenna and introduced her to her mother. “Jenna this is my mum, Jen” she said.
“Oh that will be easy to remember,” Jenna said.
“Yes, it will.” Kylie’s mum smiled. “Hi Jenna how are you?”
“Good thank you. Everyone is so excited about tonight. They haven’t heard a song out of this since Lil passed away six months ago,” Jenna said.
“Oh.” Kylie’s mum nodded. Jen was much shyer than her daughter. She sat down at the piano and began working her way up through the notes to see how in tune the keys were.
“Oh, by the way, they only tuned it the same week that Lil died,” Jenna said.
“Okay,” said Jen.
Jenna addressed the group of residents. Some were still finishing their dinner and others had made their way to sit around the edge of the dance floor. “Okay everyone, tonight we have a lovely surprise for you all the way from Mount Isa. Jen is on holidays visiting her daughter Kylie and has come in to play the piano for you.”
There was chatter in the room and eyes were wide with excitement. Jen put her hand up to say hi then started playing. As a piano-playing veteran of fifty years, Kylie’s mum had grown up in the era of playing for old time dances held long before women were allowed in public bars. She had played for many weddings, musicals and later on in piano bars and had only brought with her one book of “One Thousand and One Hits” as a reminder to herself of her repertoire. But she didn’t need to read sheet music as she played by ear, a talent that gave her the opportunity to appreciate the faces and smiles of those who were enjoying her music.
It wasn’t long until the room was filled with smiles and finger tapping and people who nostalgically sang along to all the words. Jen played songs that would have reminded them of their years in dance halls and of everything from progressive barn dances to gypsy taps and waltzes. She played the Pride of Erin, Peggy O’Neil, Daisy, Shuffle off to Buffalo, and Log Cabin, then continued through the decades with songs made famous from many musicals. One by one, the able-bodied residents took to the floor and began dancing to music while the wheelchair-bound patrons clapped and sung along. The dance floor filled and they had little time to rest in between songs as yet another song started that took them back down memory lane and to the dance hall days of their youth. They acknowledged Jen who had a smile on her face as she watched them all come alive and she would nod back to them as she played. Jen laughed as she saw Maggie’s arm slip lower than was expected as she took a free grab of her gentleman dance partner’s left buttock making all the girls in the room giggle.
She played for forty five minutes and then Jenna came over and tapped her on the shoulder after she finished playing a song and said that the residents would have to go to bed shortly.
“Okay everyone, I have to go soon,” Kylie’s mum announced.
“Ohhhhhh,” the crowd replied disappointedly.
“So I’ll just play a few more that I think you might like then I’ll have to go.”
“Ahhhh,” they said appreciative of the extra time she gave them.
After another fifteen minutes, Jen stood up and put the lid of the piano down then held her right hand up to wave goodbye. The room erupted with clapping and cheers, and smiles from ear to ear.
Maggie came over and held Jen’s wrists with both of her hands and said, “Oh love, that was just magical. Thank you for bringing life back into this old place and for making that piano sing.”
Jenna introduced Kylie’s mum to Maggie and Kylie’s Mum replied, “Thank you Maggie. I enjoyed playing for you. I also saw you take a handful of that gentleman’s bottom during one of the songs.”
“Oh shooks, I did it in more than one song! I’m nearly dead, I have to take every opportunity I can get,” she laughed.
“Ha ha,” Jen laughed.
“Will you come back pet? And play for us again?” Maggie asked rubbing her hand as she looked up at her, her body bent over from old age and arthritis.
“I’d love to Maggie. I can come next Tuesday and the Tuesday after that if you’d like, then I have to go back home to Mount Isa.”
“Oh yes love, yes please.” Maggie smiled at Kylie’s mum.
Maggie held Jen’s arm up and yelled to the rest of the residents, “We’ve got a reason to live for another week. She’s gonna come back next Tuesday.”
Kylie’s mum laughed, as did Kylie and Jenna.
“That’s if the bloody food doesn’t kill us first,” Maggie whispered to Jen, then let go of her hand and walked over to Kylie.
“You’re a good girl,” she said. “Bringing your mum into our home and making us all so happy.”
“Oh Maggie, Mum did all the hard work,” Kylie replied.
“Yes, but it was your idea and you made it happen,” Maggie said.
“Oh it was nothing,” Kylie said.
“Well I love you for it. Thank you dear,” Maggie said and walked off.
“I knew you’d be a big hit Mum,” Kylie said giving her a hug. “Thank you.”
“Oh love, it’s no worries at all. They can relate to everything I play. These are my peeps!” she said smiling.
“Thanks Jen. Come in half an hour earlier if you like next week and have dinner on us. You too, Kylie. Save you cooking. They have lovely food here, despite what Maggie said.”
“Did you hear that?” Kylie’s mum said to Jenna with a laugh.
“Yes I did. What do you say? It’s the least we can do.”
“Sure,