Part 304 (2/2)

”And I've never had a crush on him.”

He grinned. ”Never got over me, did you?”

”Never.” Then she spoiled the solemn look with a chuckle. She began to

sing, improvising lyrics as she went. ”I've got those rock-androll

blues. Those old, old, rocking blues. When my hair is gray, and you

ask me to play, I say don't bug me, Momma, my bones they're aching

today. I got them rock-and-roll blues. Them old man rocking blues.”

She grinned at him. ”Did I pa.s.s the audition?”

”Pretty b.l.o.o.d.y clever, aren't you?”

”Like I said, I learned from the best.”

While he continued to play, she slid off the edge of the stage and

framed him in. ”One last shot before I go.” She snapped, changed the

angle, and snapped again. ”I'll call it Rock kon. ” She laughed when

he called her a nasty name, then packed the camera in her case. ”Shall

I tell you what rock and roll is, Johnno, from someone who doesn't

perform, but observes?”

He gestured with the harmonics, then cupped it again to play softly as

he watched her.

”It's restless and rude.” Walking back, she laid a hand on his knee.

”It's daring and defiant. It's a fist shaken at age. It's a voice that

often screams out questions because the answers are always changing.”

She glanced up to see her father standing behind Johnno, listening. Her

smile swept over him. ”The very young play it because they're searching

for some way to express their anger or joy, their confusion and their

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