VERY TERI: Music

Teri Choch had many daughters, but it was obvious that she put more of her sophisticated hopes in her youngest daughter, Breeze Chocolate Rabbit. Her casual excuse was that she was busy supporting her husband’s candy business in her earlier mothering days, and had more time with Breeze only after her family had developed a solid business. Breeze was only a little less than 3 years old and had already memorized many tunes on her miniature piano. The piano had flown all the way from Sylvanian Village to Cloverleaf Corners’ countryside when the Chocolate girls moved, and was very cherished by both Breeze and Teri. They simply could not part with it. In fact, Teri would often feel a sudden mood rising and direct Breeze to play the perfect tune.

“Breeze, upbeat dance music,” she would request when she saw her sister and brother in law getting romantic.

“Breezy dear, some cheerful tunes for this fine morning,” she’d say when she was enjoying breakfast at her Party Set table.

Breeze received much praise from many critters, especially her proud mother. One day, her mother had finally convinced her aunt Heidi to have what Teri called a “fancy tea party.” Teri sashayed up the steps of her sister’s Deluxe Village House with broad strides and great posture as she lifted the piano in her soft hands.

Freya, excited to socialize with her cousins, sprinted into the door. Together, the two sisters sat themselves down Heidi’s lovely Tea And Treats Set and had tea and treats. Wonderful varieties of macaroons were laid down along with assorted chocolates. Tea was placed in the fine white China set as the two sisters “fancied up.”

“My dear, sister, isn’t this so sophisticated?” Teri pushed.

“Now, now, Teri. This is all so new to me. Let’s go slow,” Heidi replied, while trying to take in everything. In all her country experiences, the china had never been so pale white, the chocolates never so decorated, and the scenery never so quiet. The closest to this had been nighttime coffee with her slightly stained coffee set as the children played upstairs.

“And the finishing touch…” Teri continued.

“There’s more?” Heidi questioned curiously. “What else could you possibly do? Make me put on makeup? Get us some fancy dresses?”

“Hmm…, I didn’t think of that. I’ll have to ask Frasier for some money to get us makeup and dresses next time,” Teri thought out loud. “Breeze, classical,” she waved.

With a flick of her paw, Breeze’s piano came to life. Tunes were played out in perfect time as her furry white paws gracefully danced across the keyboard. Heidi’s eyes lit up at the perfect atmosphere her sister had managed to create only a door away from her house of a husband, eight kids, and housework going on everywhere. Teri knew her sister was impressed and sipped her tea like so.

“This is amazing, Teri!” Heidi said before enjoying a sip of fancy tea herself.

“And you were still skeptical of me when I started plating triple flavored macaroons.”

“Well, I do have to admit that Breeze’s music changes the mood dramatically.”

An idea flicked inside her head. If Breeze’s music could do wonders for her prompt sister, then everyone should have the opportunity to enjoy it. Natalie’s daughters had always gotten into a cheerful and active spirit as Breeze played fast dance music. Teri had always enjoyed mornings where Breeze played uptempo. Teri wanted to share such music with all the critters she could. After that lovely afternoon tea, Teri marched her daughters into the car.

“One, and two. Everyone here,” Teri whispered to herself. She often wondered how her sister Heidi could keep track of all the children she had and took care of. With both paws on the steering wheel, she drove down the beaten path of the countryside as Breeze played some folk tunes. At home, she made lunch for her children. Or at least prepared. Teri handed Freya a fork and bowl of her favorite salad combination, while she gave Breeze a nice warm slice of pizza.

Then, she scribbled away furiously. Of course, she made sure to keep her handwriting VERY TERI still.

Teri looked back at her work and beamed with excitement. What a great VERY TERI post! She thought to herself.

“Breeze, play me a dramatic ending!” she instructed with enthusiasm. A deep melody was played, as Teri left her house to drive to town. Once at town, she’d turn in her neat memo cards to the newspaper to be printed in tomorrow’s paper.

The next day, Teri’s phone was ringing every second! “Wow, it seems like you have a lot of fans, Mom,” Freya complimented.

Requests came in a blur.

“A soft lullaby, please,” Mr. Hopper Kangaroo requested for his baby.

“Uptempo and dramatic!” Susie Silk Cat asked to practice for the school play.

Meanwhile, in her house, Natalie Charcoal Cat was enjoying an omelet and the latest VERY TERI post.

It’s been some time since I’ve had a good dance with classical music, she thought. She and the silk cat mother, Holly, taught ballet on some of the weekdays, but she never did anything too advanced. Contemplating, she saw Teri’s offer for free melodies over the phone. That settles it. Today will be the day, she confirmed.

As Mason Tuxedo Cat came downstairs after having tested his daughters on some English, his wife pulled him by his paw and explained, “Come on, darling! We have to go!”

“Go where?”

“To use the Hopscotch Rabbits’ telephone! We must!”

“But why?” a rather confused Mason asked.

“Oh, just come along, my love.”

Together, the couple walked all the way to the Deluxe Village House, where Bell Hopscotch Rabbit was serving some pie and coffee for her father.

“Hello?” Bell asked.

“Hello, may we borrow your telephone?” Natalie replied.

“Of course! That’s the country spirit,” Harlin agreed.

“Thank you, thank you,” Natalie repeated as she stepped to the telephone. She reached inside for the phonebook with its dark green color.

Every phone number that existed was printed here. There, in neat text, was Teri Choch’s. “Good, your phonebook is VERY TERI. I don’t need to throw it away,” she mumbled. With her elegant white paws, Natalie dialed the number.

The phone at the Lakeside Lodge rang. Teri, in a great mood with all the music requests, picked up the phone eagerly.

“Yes? This is Teri Choch, author of the VERY TERI newspaper column.”

“Teri! It’s me, Natalie! I’m one of your biggest fans!”

“Of course! What can I do for you?”

“Well, I saw your post today. I wanted to ask for a long, slow, classical ballet song. The kind for advanced dancers. Can Breeze play that?”

“Breeze can play anything! Anything! You just name it!” Teri boasted.

“Um, I just did.”

“Oh, right, right.” Teri said, having gone a little overboard as she tends to get.

Over the phone, a wave of beauty came. Breeze played with melodic and emotional keys. Mason, still confused, didn’t understand.

“Just dance, like we used to, Mason dear.”

With that, the two started. It was known that Natalie and Mason were about the best ballet dancers critters could get to, but watching them was epic. They locked hands, and twirled. With quick maneuvers, they would spin and swirl across the floor. Natalie did bows repeatedly in between to the staring audience. Everyone in the house was so awed by the performance. Mason, being in perfect sync, caught each bow. The two could both feel the rhythm of Breeze’s talent. They knew that a dramatic ending was about to happen. As if they read each other’s minds, they unlocked hands. Natalie did a complex tiptoe sequence to one end of the room, as Mason gracefully leaped to the opposite end. As the music rushed to its finale, Natalie leaped with Mason catching her in a beautiful arch.

The audience clapped, and the music ended.