Hey Barrel! What got you into music?
B: Well I should start with a bit of backstory for context. I admittedly was not the biggest fan of Shock when she first started hanging at our treehouse. Probably because I was three and didn't know anybody except for Lock. I just hope she knows it was nothing personal when I would stand in the corner and growl at her or attempt to eat her fingers if any were in a 6 inch radius of me.
I eventually got used to her being around, I didn't like her, but I tolerated and acknowledged her, especially because Lock seemed to like her being around, and she was ultimately the best negotiator with the wish-granting, bug-eating voice in the wall. But after a few months, the deal went from just collecting bugs to physical labor, like making modifications to the treehouse. And instead of candy and toys, we started asking for stuff that we could modify the treehouse with our own way.
But since Shock was the only one who knew anything about fixing stuff, she did most of it by herself, unless she needed a pair of hands to pass things or fetch supplies. And because I was, in her words, too small, most of that duty went to Lock.
But then one week, Lock became sick, and he couldn't do much but stay in bed all day. It was probably just the flu going around, but he was miserable.
I was so worried about him.
Shock had been working on a chute to a knot in the bottom of the tree like the voice requested for almost a week. She asked the voice to give us some money to buy medicine or take Lock to a doctor, but they said they only would once the chute was done, which wasn't even halfway finished. So Shock was up all night for almost two days straight.
And so was I.
I didn't know what to do. I couldn't help her finish the chute, and I couldn't think of any way to make Lock better. Crying into my knees felt like it was at least a little more productive than sitting in petrified numbness.
That was until...
I heard someone singing for the very first time in my life.
Lock was back to chaos after two more days.
Ever since then, I have found the art of song and music to provide great joy and comfort. Even if Shock doesn't sing for us much anymore.
It's probably just the nostalgia talking, and I don't know if I should ever tell her, but that lullaby was and has remained to be the sweetest music I have ever heard.
((Song lyrics are Rider's Lullaby reprise from Centaurworld (x)))
