Kerry

After dinner, I cleaned off the table and started the dishwasher. Kerry helped me put the left-over food away. He seemed to be a bundle of energy.

"Come on, Dad," he called excitedly. "Let's watch the rest of the ball game, and then I want you to teach me how to play the organ."

"You can't learn it all in one night, Kerry. It's probably better if you start out on the piano. It's not absolutely necessary, but most of us started that way, and it makes it a lot easier later on."

"Oh. Well, my mom taught me a little bit about the piano, but I don't know if you would say I am any good at it. A lot of the boys at my school think playing the piano is sissy stuff, but I know several boys who are taking lessons. I always wanted to, but just never got around to it, I guess."

"If it is what you want to do, I will start you out with a few lessons, and then if you want to go farther with it, I will let you start taking lessons from a good friend of mine who is an excellent teacher. If you have the knack for it, we will start you on the organ when you are ready. Does that sound OK to you?"

"Sure does," he replied excitedly. "But how long do I need to take piano lessons?"

"That depends on how fast you learn. Most knowledgeable people say it takes at least ten years. I know I didn't study piano that long, but there are times I wish I had."

"Ten YEARS?"

"Kerry, you need a very strong foundation in piano before you start studying the organ, and that doesn't come overnight. I am not saying that it will be ten years before you can start playing the organ, but if you really want to learn to play well, you should plan on taking piano for at least that long. Besides, someone who can play both instruments would be in demand in a lot of areas for church jobs, if you are interested in such a thing."

"Well, I am willing to try. I think it would be neat to know how to play the organ."

"It is. I know I have enjoyed being able to play all these years, but I don't want you to get the idea that it is easy. It's not, but if you really enjoy it, then the difficulties do not bother you as much."

"Sounds right," he said. "But as I said, first let's watch the ball game."

We sat on the sofa together and Kerry turned on the television. The game was in the top of the fifth inning, with the Peregrines ahead by a score of 2 to 1, and they were batting. I settled back, thinking maybe I could get some rest, but Kerry was soon sitting in my lap with his head on my shoulder and holding my arms around his waist. We sat like that, occasionally making remarks about the game, for two more innings. The Peregrines were ahead 4 to 2, but the Titans' heavy hitter was up with the bases loaded.

"Look at the way he handles the bat," Kerry remarked. "Seems like he is always sliding his hands up and down the handle, like he doesn't know exactly where to hold it."

"Maybe that is just a little ritual he goes through when he is batting," I answered.

"Maybe, but seeing him handling his bat like that makes me want to handle another kind of bat just like that."

"Are you propositioning me?" I asked playfully while tickling him in the ribs.

Kerry was laughing uncontrollably with my tickling. When I finally stopped, he got his laughter under control and replied, "I don't know what propositioning is. I'm just saying I think we could both have fun loving each other."

"So you want to play with the organ between your legs, not the one over there," I said.

"Oh, no, I still want to play the organ over there. Can we do that now?"

"Don't you want to watch the rest of the game?"

"Sort of, but I would rather play the organ now."

"Okay, do you know how to turn it on?"

Kerry got up from my lap and turned off the television, then went to the organ and opened the cover. The power switch was a key on the left of the console, and he turned it on. "What do I do now?" he asked.

"First, let me ask you - do you remember anything that your mom taught you about the piano? Any pieces of music you know how to play?"

"Just one," he answered. "It is a simple little piece that I used to play all the time."

"Okay, first of all, let me explain a few basics about this organ. You notice there are three keyboards, all of them alike, plus the pedal keyboard. The middle keyboard is called the Great Organ - that is the main keyboard. The one above it is called the Swell, and the one below is the Choir. Notice that each of them has a section of stop drawknobs designated to them."

"Then these drawknobs are called stops?" he asked.

"For right now, yes. Each of them produces a different quality or color of sound. Also, you notice that some of them are labeled 8', some 4', and so on?"

"Yes, what does that mean?"

"Well, an 8' (8 foot) stop is named that because on a pipe organ, the pipe for the lowest C note is about eight feet long. Find middle C on the Great organ."

Kerry pressed the middle C key on the Great manual. "Why doesn't it make any sound?" he asked.

"Because you haven't selected any stops for it yet. Now, select an 8' stop." Kerry pulled the 8' Principal stop and played middle C again. "Okay, that tone is exactly the same pitch as middle C on the piano. Now add a 4' stop and play middle C again." Kerry did so. "Do you hear the difference?"

"It sounds like an octave on the piano."

"That's right. A 4' stop sounds an octave higher than it would on the piano. By the same token, a 2' stop sounds two octaves higher, and a 1' stop sounds three octaves higher than the same key on the piano. What do you think a 16' stop would do?"

"That should sound an octave lower, I would imagine."

"Try it." Kerry pulled the 16' Bourdon and played middle C again.

"Hey, I was right. That's neat," he exclaimed.

"It is neat. That is why you almost never see an organist playing octaves, while on the piano octaves are very common. Also, even though the organ keyboard is shorter than the piano keyboard, it actually produces a wider range of pitches than does the piano."

"What are these stops labeled 5 1/3' and 2 2/3'?"

"Those are called mutations. Let's not get too far ahead of ourselves for now, but they sound at defined intervals within the octave. There are also stops labeled II, III, and IV - they are called mixtures, but we'll come back to them later."

"Okay," Kerry answered. He seemed mesmerized by the different manuals, drawknobs, and switches on the console. "Man, this is neat!"

"Now, Kerry, why don't you play your little piano piece for me."

Kerry played a simple melody on the organ. As usually happens when a pianist first plays the organ, the sound was rather detached, but his smile would light up the city.

"Now you have seen another main difference between the organ and the piano. When you strike a key on the piano, the hammer strikes the strings and the sound is made, but it starts decaying immediately. On the organ, the sound stays at the same level as long as the key is held down, but when you release the key, the sound stops immediately. When you are playing the piano, most of your technique is in striking the keys; when you strike softly, you make a softer sound, and when you strike harder, the sound is louder. However, on the organ, most of your technique is in the release of the keys - you usually release one key just before you press another. Also, you don't strike the organ keys, you press them. Now you try it."

Kerry tried, but his playing was still rather detached. I demonstrated pressing the keys for him, and it didn't take him any time at all to be playing very smoothly.

"This is fun, Dad, but I always thought you played different keyboards with your left and right hands."

"Sometimes you do, but not always. If you want to try, why don't you pull some stops for the Swell and play your little tune again. You need to take some of the upper stops off the Great, though, or it will overpower the Swell."

Kerry did so, and his technique was great for a beginner. I didn't want to overpower him with information the first night, so I decided we wouldn't talk about registration (stop selection) during this session. He was having so much fun, I decided to just let him experiment, and be there to answer his questions.

"This is fun," he giggled, as he tried out several different stops and tested their sounds. I wondered if he would remember which of the stops were soft and which were loud during the next session. So far, I wouldn't be surprised if he could. He seemed like a natural at this - it was a shame he had not pursued his piano studies.

He played on the organ for almost an hour, most of the time with his eyes as wide as saucers and the biggest, brightest smile on his face. After a while, he decided on a different track.

"Dad, play something for me. I want to see how an expert plays," he said.

"Well, I am no expert, but I do have to practice my voluntaries for this Sunday's service. Do you want me to play them for you?"

"Yes, please." He scooted over to the end of the bench so that I could sit in the center. 

I played my selected prelude, a quiet, meditative piece entitled "Reflection," and I could tell that Kerry was really moved by it. He had the most angelic look on his face as he looked at me. "That was great, Mike. How long have you played that one?"

"I have never played it at a service before, but I have practiced it about five times now. It is really not that hard, but I believe it is nice."

"So do I," he answered. "What other pieces are you going to play Sunday?"

"Well, this is my offertory," I answered. I played an improvisation on the hymn, "We Give Thee But Thine Own," which I had developed myself. Kerry was impressed that I had written it myself. "Well, it hasn't been written down yet, Kerry, I just play it as it comes to me. That's what an Improvisation is."

I then played the Widor Toccata, which I had promised my friend I would play. Although I got through it without any major mistakes, there were several areas which I knew I would have to work on some more before Sunday service - it was not up to my performance standard yet - but Kerry was ecstatic. 

"WOW!" he exclaimed. 'That was AWESOME!" He threw his arms around my neck and gave me a big hug, then pulled back and gave me an unhurried kiss on the lips. I returned his embrace, and his kiss. "Are you going to play it like that again Sunday?"

"Kerry, I hope it sounds better on Sunday. I know you didn't notice them, but I made several mistakes. Also, that piece sounds much better on the pipe organ than it does on this one."

"Can I go to church with you to hear you play it?"

"Yes, Kerry, you will be going to church with me regularly as long as you are with me. But I want you to always remember that you are in church to worship God, not to hear me at a performance. It really offends me when people compliment me on my 'performance' in church, but I like it when they tell me that the music added to their worship. Do you understand?"

"Yes, I do, Dad. I used to like going to church. It will be great to do it again" he exclaimed.

Then my own words hit me like a ton of bricks: "�as long as you are with me." I tried to remind myself that I had a good team working for me, and that everyone was optimistic and encouraged me to be as well, but I had seen situations hit unexpected snags before, and for some reason I had the nagging feeling that things were just going along too smoothly. I couldn't tell Kerry about my misgivings, and I prayed that I was wrong. I wiped a tear from my eye and looked at my watch. It was 10:30 p.m. 

I smiled at Kerry. "Time to get your shower and get ready for bed," I said.

"I'll meet you in bed," he said, giving me a little kiss and then running to his room.

I practiced a few troublesome measures of the Widor, then turned off the organ and went to my bedroom. I could hear Kerry in the shower next to his room, so I sat on the side of my bed and got undressed for my shower. The shower felt good - it had been an eventful day.

When I had finished and came out of the bathroom, Kerry was in my bed, naked as usual. "Don't you want to wear your new pajamas?" I asked.

"I would only have to take them off a little later," he teased.

"Looks like I have gotten myself hooked up with a sex maniac," I said, and Kerry giggled. I got into bed and turned out the light.

As the light went out, I felt Kerry snuggle up to me. I put my arm around him and pulled him close to me. His naked body felt so soft against me, and he seemed to relish the idea of rubbing up against me everywhere. Before long, I was showering my little boy with kisses all over his body, and his giggling over this was music to my ears. I kissed, savored, and treasured every square inch of Kerry's body (except for his private area), and I could tell he loved it. He then returned the favor, and I could tell why he enjoyed it so much. 

When he was finished, Kerry lay back on the bed and said, "I love you, Dad. There is so much love here in this room that I feel like I can reach out and touch it."

"I love you, too, Kerry. I wish I knew how to tell you how much."

"For someone who doesn't know how, you are doing a great job of it." He got into his usual sleeping position, with his head on my shoulder and his leg on top of mine. We cuddled and held each other for over three hours. It was well after 2:00 a.m. before sleep came to either of us, but both of us knew that there was more love in my house that night than there was in the rest of the city. Both of us felt it deep within us, and it gave each of us the warmest glow either of us had felt in a very long time.

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