Sunday, September 6, 2009

The sound patrol

Back to work this week.

First on stage were the autist musicians.

They seemed to have been locked in a time capsule and all emerged unchanged for their Thursday lesson.

Not so their parents. They appeared harassed and exhausted after spending five weeks with very little support. The boy who makes sounds like a chain saw had been doing just that continuously and his parents were close to the edge.

After various business reunions, Saturday found me meeting and greeting at the forum of associations, where the year’s clients come and sign on for their English lessons or singing lessons or macramé lessons… I was in line between a yoga teacher and a violin teacher trying to lure students to part with their hard earned.

The violinist struck up a few jazz tunes and I sang along which led to the following bizarre conversation.

Me “Where are you from?”

Him “Romania. I recently moved to France.”

Me “I know a violinist here from Romania called G”

Him “So do I. I haven’t seen him for fourteen years. We met in the Romanian army…we were both soldiers!”

I lapsed into a fantasy where I imagined the Romanian high command ordering the violinists to be sent in where simple bombing had failed. Perhaps they could find a useful employment for the boy who makes sounds like a chainsaw…

6 comments:

Zhoen said...

(o)

The Crow said...

My autistic (Asperger's) grandson hums, atonally, and rocks, as if listening to his beloved heavy-metal rock albums.

Recently helped his mother buy him a guitar and he is taking lessons for it in school. He seems to respond well to music.

:)

Lucy said...

So were you instrumental (!) in effecting a joyful reunion between violinists?

20th Century Woman said...

Oh, I love this. You are so unsentimental yet sympathetic and understanding of these difficult kids. And so compassionate toward their parents.

I like the idea of a violin brigade.

Casdok said...

I am so glad the long school holidays are behind us now. But i also sort of miss them?!

Rosie said...

thank you everyone for dropping by..I do appreciate it