Learning to play the guitar

"Thomas!", Mrs. Nayar shouted. "Don't keep teaching Daniel how to play the guitar in my class while I am teaching!" Thomas and Daniel have been at it for weeks now. Thomas has already been learning the guitar for many years. He is being tutored by non other than his father. His father is a musician, playing bass guitar in a popular band and earning a living by playing music in the KL night clubs. Those days there was no MP3 or the internet. Young people enjoyed themselves by going to night clubs, listening and dancing to the pop songs performed by live bands.

Daniel is growing up. He wants to learn the guitar. Knowing how to strum a guitar is THE social symbol. He bought a second acoustic guitar with savings from his weekly allowances and the 'ang pows' he received from his parents and relatives during Chinese New Year. He bought a music book with illustrations of the guitar cords and music notes. He tried to strum some cords by listening to the radio. It was fun but some fast movements are too complex which confused him. Thomas is playing the rhythm guitar and is already a member of the school band. He is also the lead singer of the band. He has a melodic voice. Daniel idolised him. One day he went to watch him play in the school's valentime singing competition. He was mesmorised by Thomas's guitar playing skills. He was impressed by the group of school girls who follow Thomas wherever he goes. After the valentime event, Daniel went backstage to make himself 'visible'. He does not think Thomas would mind. After all, they are classmates. "Hi, Daniel. Didnt know you are here. Enjoyed yourself tonight?", he said with an air of superiority. "Yes. I did Thomas. You were great out there". Picking up his courage which he has been thinking for time, "Can you teach me how to play the guitar?" "Sure, it's easy", Thomas replied nonchantly. So, from then, Daniel would follow Thomas to his house after school to learn playing the guitar. He is good learner. But, they are so engrossed in the pursuit of their hobby that they also discussed music in the classrooms when they should be paying attention to the teachers.

"Thomas, I want you to sit at the back when I am teaching. I dont want to see you teaching Daniel how to play guitar in my class". "Daniel used to have good marks in mathematics tests. But lately, he is falling behind", Mrs Nayar told him firmly. So, there goes Daniel's guitar 'playing' days...in class.