Chapter XXV

Strike a Chord

Greg finished the last stripe of paint on the window frame, and with a sigh of relief and painted hand swiped across his forehead, he threw the paintbrush into its designated can.

"Finally!" He collapsed on his back, acting as a starfish on the wooden boards of the house. "I cant believe we've finished, it feels like just yesterday we started temple conversion."

"It looks like the perfect chillout pad now though!" Amethyst, who had shifted into a cat, jumped onto the window ledge and lazily spread herself across it.

"Hey! I just painted that, scram Amethyst!" Greg shooed her off, and the purple cat hissed and poked its tongue out. She found herself in the air as a hand scruffed her neck.

"You'll tread paint everywhere." Said Garnet, still hanging on as the gem shifted back into her original form.

They took a moment to admire the house in all its glory, currently bathing in early-afternoon sunlight. The temple glinted behind it, providing refuge for several seagulls who perched in its features.

"Dad!" Shouted a familiar voice, followed by footsteps up the staircase. "Dad, dad, dad, da-"

"What's hanging, schnuball?" Greg ruffled his son's curls, managing to get spots of paint on them too. "Whoops."

"You're finished now, right Dad? Your promise." Steven excitedly bounced on his toes.

"My promise?" Greg scratched his beard and pondered. "Uhmm, gonna need a trip down memory lane here."

"Your guitar, you promised to show me how to play!" He crossed his arms and puffed his cheeks, "I wanna be a cool rockstar like you."

Garnet smirked, and Amethyst shapeshifted into a younger looking Greg.

"Oooh, Steven's gonna outdo you Greg! I bet he can sing better than you too." She cackled, dancing around him.

"Pfft, and why shouldn't he? He's the son of a prodigy after all." Greg rolled his eyes.

"You're right Greg, Rose excelled at anything and everything so their's no reason why Steven shouldn't either." Pearl added, joining the group from inside the house.

"Well, um, I was thinking more of a music prodigy but that can count towards something too."

All sat around the open back of Greg's car, Steven sat with his legs over the side with a huge grin on his face.

"Okay bud, so you place one hand here" Greg held the guitar and guided his son's hand on the base. "And one hand- uhh." He stopped when he realised Steven's arms weren't really long enough to support the instrument properly.

"I think you might need to do a little more growing before you can play this one. Sorry pal." It broke everyone's heart to see Steven visibly deflate.

"But I wanted to play like you!"

"Oh Steven, there are plenty of other alternatives compared to that thing that plays so called music." Pearl narrowed her eyes at Greg.

"Oh per-lease," Interjected Amethyst, "You'll get him to play something for losers, like the triangle or something."

"Actually Amethyst I—"

"Gems, enough. How about we let Steven decide what he wants to play." Garnet placed her hands on top of her friend's heads.

Steven looked down at the guitar he was holding, realising how heavy and cumbersome it was in his small arms. His eyes watered, "I wanna play the guitar like Dad."

"And you will," Greg put bis arm round Steven and hugged him, "But for now—"

"A music shop?" Pearl read the bold sign with a hand on her chin, "But I thought you said he was too little for a guitar?"

"Yea I know, but I have an idea" Greg opened the shop door which sounded with a ding of a bell, and the others followed him in.

"Woah!" Amethyst looked around in awe at the plethora of instruments that towered above her, glinting from the sunlight that peeked through the front window. "Look at this Steven!"

Steven was equally amazed, and laughed at his distorted reflection that appeared in a tuba. "I like this one!"

Greg chuckled, but directed his attention to the shopkeeper at the back of the store. "I'll be right back gang, some important music business to discuss."

Pearl ran her fingers along a keyboard on display, and played a little tune. She let out a relaxed sigh.

"You could learn to play anything from here Ste-" The gem jumped at a rattling shriek coming from a violin in Steven's hold. "Maybe something a little less…shrilling."

"How about this?" Amethyst blew into the tuba, making the entire shop rattle alarmingly.

"Amethyst!"

Garnet found herself absently plucking at a bass guitar, enjoying the low beat she could generate from it.

Steven widened his eyes at a wall in front of him, laden with guitars of all shapes and colours pinned above him. He let out a despondent sigh and joined his Dad at the counter.

"Hey bud, I know you really wanted to play the guitar." Greg placed a hand on his son's shoulder comfortingly, "But I think I've got the perfect alternative."

He placed the instrument in Steven's lap, and proved to be light and the right size for the six-year old.

"It's like a mini guitar!" Steven beamed, remembering to hold it just like his father.

"A ukulele." Corrected Pearl, coming over with the others. "I never thought of that."

Steven plucked at a few strings and his smile grew wider. "I love it Dad! Thank you!"

"No problem, we'll get you playing that like a pro in no time, Rockstar." Greg winked. He couldn't wait to sing songs together on the beach with Steven, just like he used to with Rose. It was something they could connect on at least.