Written for Jody!

Musical Expression

Laic never was very good in music class at school even though he had the finest teachers in all of Delaya. He admired Aené's ability at nearly every instrument she picked up. Runa never had enough patience for music, even though it was a required part of their curriculum. Laic practiced so he would be good enough to sit next to a girl he fancied, but when his crush faded, so did his interest in music.

One night, he spotted his sisters huddled in the hallway, giggling about something. He sneaked up next to them. 'What's going on?' he asked.

The loud warbling from the fresher answered his question. In a terrible, off-key, and horribly pronounced attempt at an Uriashian tune, their father was singing:

'Magua iti magua

Iti ag girizal magua

Iti gi girizal magua, my Dormé…'

Aené and Runa giggled at the noise. 'It's Daddy singing again…'

'It's so awful!' Aené chortled.

'Ama says it's because we can't hear it the right way,' Runa put in.

'What do you mean?' Laic asked in curiosity.

'It means we don't have the right ear for it, I guess,' Aené said with a shrug before their father burst out the refrain.

'Ag girizal gi girizal magua nammueneddeen

Mulugura iti mulugura bade munaabla!'

Aené and Runa covered their ears until their laughter alerted Ama of their mischief.

'What are you three up to?' Dormé asked as she came upon them snickering. She heard Anakin singing the tune and pronouncing everything wrong, but rather than cringe, it made her heart skip a beat. He was even adding a few words of his own even though he had no idea what he was saying; his happiness was in it and that was what mattered.

'Daddy's singing—it's so awful…' With a scrunched nose, Laic informed her. 'He needs lessons from Matron Fiesd…'

'Ahh I see,' Dormé said, bending on her knee to face the three of them.

'It's worse than Laic trying the drums…' Aené complained, wanting him to stop.

'I mean he's got Force powers—' Laic added. 'He could sound better if he wanted, just like when I started at school!'

Dormé smiled, shaking her head. 'I think your father sings quite beautifully. Only certain people can truly appreciate his talent.'

It wasn't until Laic overheard his wife singing an off-key lullaby to their newborn son that he understood what Ama meant all those years ago.