10 am the next day

“Ok, we really only need 4 chords for this and the 4^th one is A7 so it is almost the same as A. Do you remember D, A, and G I showed you?”

Bette looks down at the guitar in her hands in concentration. Bette puts her fingers on the fret board, “A?”

Charlotte laughs, “Not exactly it is the middle three strings, “She squints her eyes at Bette, “You have not been practicing.”

Bette looks back down at the fret board and tries again. “A,” She moves her fingers, “D and G” she looks up at Charlotte, seeing her teacher smiling she nods, “I practiced a little bit.”

“Ok A7 is like A but the third string is left open. Try it for me,” She listens carefully. “Good now lets put the chords together in this order: D, D, A, A, A7, DLets start with that.” Bette plays the chords together a few times each time getting a little better.

“That’s great now lets try: G, A, D, G, A, D, G, A, D, A, G, A7, D. “

Bette looks up at Charlotte, “Right, like I remember what you just said to me.”

Charlotte laughs, “Ok. G A D three times then A G A7 D. Better?”

Bette sighs than bends down to watch her hands, “Like that?”

“Yes, but your transition from A to G could use some work. Try again.”

Bette tries to put the chords together after the 10^th times Charlotte interrupts.

“Ok, now you are going to put the first part together with the second part.”

Bette nods and does as she is asked.

“Very good, Bette! Do you recognize that?”

“No, should I?”

 Charlotte laughs, “Well, I guess not if you play it like that. Try this. Put emphasis on the 1^st and 3^rd beat while playing the eighth notes in a simple up and down motion on the 2^nd and 4^th beats. Got it?”

            Bette starts to play the song still puzzled as to what song it is suppose to be. Charlotte sees the puzzled look on Bette’s face stops her.

            “Bette it is a light and airy song, try to strum that way.”

Bette starts again and smiles as she recognizes Jimmy Buffet’s Margaritaville. Bette starts it again she sings the first verse of the song:

Nibblin’ on sponge cake
Watchin’ the sun bake
All of those tourists covered with oil
Strummin’ my six-string
On my front porch swing
Smell those shrimp they’re beginnin’ to boil

Just as she was about to get into the chorus she noticed Charlotte was not paying any attention to her but instead as starting into the house through the sliding glass door.

            “What is wrong?”  

“There is a blond woman with a very large garbage bag in your house.”

Bette turns very pale and turns slowly to the house. Her eyes mist up, her body refuses to move.

“Tina?”