Page 2 of The Prodigal Son

I fix my fingers and close my eyes. Then, I strum again.

This time, it’s perfect.

The music plays as I imagine the chords on the paper playing in my mind.

C chord.

D chord.

My mother starts to clap along, and I open my eyes to see my dad smiling.

“I love this song,” he says, and my brothers quickly hush him. “It’s Hank Williams,” he adds, ignoring them. Caleb throws something at him, and everybody laughs. Even Dad.

I just keep playing.

“Heeeeey good lookin’

Whaaaaatcha got cooking?

How’s about cookin’ something up with me?”

My mom sways from side to side as she mouths the words along with me. Adam takes a seat on the recliner and rests his elbows on his knees as I play.

Soon, everyone is clapping along, and I even start to dance a little like Hank does in the videos.

The switch from the G7 chord back to the C is tough but as I get in the groove of playing, it happens easily.

“I got a hot rod Ford and a two-dollar bill,

And I know a spot right over the hill.”

Mom’s smile grows brighter as I continue to put on a show. And no one laughs.

In fact, their encouragement only makes me more comfortable. So I put a little more into the performance, a little more twang in my voice, a little more bounce in my dance, strum a little harder, and even throw in a little yodel.

When the song comes to an end, I sing the loudest and strum one last time before holding my hands in the air.

My family is on their feet in a second. They’re all cheering and clapping.

“Bravo, bravo!” Luke shouts.

“Hot damn, boy!” my dad bellows. “He’s got some talent!” He nudges my mom with his elbow.

“That was so good, baby!” she calls as she crosses toward me, swallowing me up in a hug. I have to reach up to hold my cowboy hat in place as she kisses my cheeks. “You’re amazing, Isaac.”

“Encore, encore, encore,” my brothers all chant in unison.

“I know one more,” I say. Which is a lie. I know a lot more than one.

Quickly, they take their seats, and I put my fingers back on the guitar.

As I play them another Hank Williams and then a George Jones and even a Marty Robbins song, they keep clapping and dancing and cheering me on. It’s the most fun I’ve ever had.

And not once do any of them laugh.

After I’m done performing, my brothers and I are in the kitchen around the large island. Luke pops some popcorn and Caleb cracks open a Coke. The four of us laugh and poke fun at each other as brothers do.

When I hear my parents’ voices from the living room, I hop down from the stool and walk out toward where I hear the fireplace crackle.

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