Three strangers walked into my studio.

Dear Self,

Yesterday morning I was sitting playing piano when the door to my studio opened and three strangers walked in.

I was very taken aback.

Not really dressed for company (in daggy tracksuit pants) and deep inside my own world…at first I thought they were some local vagabonds casing the joint.

“Can I help you?”

One of the three looked at me and said

“Are you playing piano right now? Were just looking for the person playing piano…”

“Yes, that’s me.”

“We can hear you in our studio, like you are sitting in the room with us. We just wanted to let you know.”

Another of the three chipped in…

“We have been looking for you for a year. We couldn’t work out where it was coming from. We’ve been to every studio in the building. No one else can hear you.”

And then the third…

“We thought you might have been a ghost.”

We all laughed.

“We’d like to invite you to come and have drinks with us on Friday.”

We chatted for a while and then I broached what I assumed was the real point of their visit…

“Should we have a chat about times you would like me to not play, or set up some system where you can let me know if it is getting too much?”

I was sure that I had been a disruption to them and that they were politely trying to let me know I needed to be a bit more considerate.

The three of them looked bemused.

“No. Just keep doing exactly what you are doing. We just wanted to meet you.”

“Maybe you could do some happier songs?”

One of them added…

“Do you know the Harry Potter theme song?”

More laughter.

I suppose I have to take them at their word but I still find it hard to believe that they are enjoying my playing and singing every day. It is very repetitive. I have to do the same things over and over to really get them to a point where I can do them well in front of an audience.

Turns out I have been rehearsing with an audience for quite some time.

Luke

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