Decades ago, I attended the Council of Crowns of the Knowne Worlde. Amor was still nursing, so had to come with me, about 16 months old. He slept through most of the meetings, or I spent time with him tucked in my cloak walking up and down, so he didn’t disturb others. In the evenings there were lots of entertainers and I specifically made time to go to a concert by Isabeau, a friend, and the lady I bought my bass recorder from.
We sat right in the front row and she had asked folks to bring rhythm instruments to join along. I had my usual basketful and held Amor over them to choose, before I passed them around to the crowd. I figured he’d grab the bright-colored rattle eggs or maybe a boom-whacker, but he snagged the dull-colored tamborine. While things were warming up, he patted and shook it and folks were charmed to watch him playing.
He sat quietly through a number of pieces that Isabeau sang and played some string instruments, chewing absently on the rim, but then she pulled out the hurdy gurdy. As she tuned it, he started wriggling and kicking, enjoying the sound, and then she began to play a lively dance tune.
Amor held up the tamborine and started to whack it right in time to the music! Folks around us were giggling and Isabeau noticed, grinned and picked up the beat and he followed right along. She made a startled face and grinned at him some more and the two of them kept right on! She finally ended up to lots of applause, but she said, “Did you all see that?” and pointed at my little fella. He grinned and bopped the tamborine again and everyone laughed, applauded and then the concent continued with him tapping right along.
She actually had him (us….) come take a bow at the end.
Page created and published. 12/21/24 (C)M. Bartlett
Last updated 12/21/24
House Capuchin 3 