Lyrical no more

The aged man was distraught! His spectacles sat awry, the tufts of hair outlining his bald pate, were standing on end, his clothes were wrinkled and  had seen better days. His puffed up red eyes kept misting up as his face kept contorting in pain. My heart went out to him.

I touched him gently on the shoulder and enquired, ‘Can I help you? Do you need something?’ And a barrage of tears came sloshing down accompanied by sobs and whimpers. Oh! What did I get into? Trying to comfort him as best as I could, I said, ‘Now, now Grandpa, if you would start at the beginning, maybe we could figure this out.’

x-x-x-

Robert was grinning from ear to ear, he had got his revenge! The old man had been a pain in his butt since… ever since he could remember! Revenge did taste sweet! It had been more than 24 hours now and he had put an end to the menace. The look in his eyes emitted a devilish glee! His ears were rejoicing the peace, calm and silence! No loud banging of the keys on the piano, no screeching, yodeling, no off-note cacophony in the name of music!

 No wonder silence was ‘golden’. In fact, he was definitely of the opinion, silence was ‘Heavenly’. The blessings from above gently floated down along with the myriad golden, ochre, scarlet and amber leaves in Central Park! Sitting on a park bench, discreetly out of view, he was soaking it all in, letting the cold wind ruffle his hair, caress his face, and lift his spirits.

‘I have lost my beloved!’ And the sobs were now accompanied with a wail. Oh! this was serious. ‘Oh lets go to the Police station then. Its just round the corner. Come let me help you!’ Saying this I extended my hand, pulling him up!

We caught up with Police Officer Ray Thompson. After a few more sobs and wails, most melodramatically he said, ‘I have lost the love of my life. I will not be able to live without her.’ ‘All right, what does she look like and how old is she?’ asked the officer, filled with sympathy.

‘Her beauty is beyond compare.

To look at her is all I desire.

People flock from far and near

Just to have a glimpse of her beauty rare!’

The officer gaped and I stared, wondering if all was ok in the man’s top storey. That was the most horrible voice I had ever heard breaking into a song.

‘Ok Sir! What’s her name and how old is she?’

“She is a mature thirteen and her name is Lyrics!”

‘Thirteen? Too young… and who is called Lyrics!’

‘She is my golden Chow Chow! With the most lyrical voice’

The officer and I couldn’t control our laughter. More of relief, actually after the stunning revelation a moment earlier.

‘So, can you tell me what happened? Where did you see her last?’

‘I love Lyrics. I am a song writer. You would have known me, but I have not yet found the right music producer. Every day I write songs and set them to music. Lyrics too sings along. Lyrics and I had just finished practicing our new song last night when she heard something outside. A strange howling sound. She barked and barked. We went out to check. There was no one and only silence prevailed. The strange sound soon could be heard at the back and we ran towards it. Lyrics being young and fast, took off. That was the last I saw her! Oh, my Love! My Beauty!’

‘Could there be anyone you suspect, to have a hand in this disappearance?’

‘The only man who can’t , tolerate our genius is Robert. Do you think he has a hand in this?’ His eyes suddenly sparkled, as he tried desperately to wipe them dry.

‘I am not saying anything, just checking with you some facts sir,’ said the officer curtly. Let’s go to your house and see if we can get some clues.

As the officer went around the house looking up and looking down, looking under flowerpots and behind the garbage bins, I took the old grandpa in, trying to help him settle down. We could hear him now, ‘Ah!’ and a little while later, ‘Oh!’ followed by a ‘Oh! Ho, ho!’

The door was loudly pushed open and in walked a beautiful lady. Dressed in a red dress, her dark hair flowing behind her, deep brown eyes flashing concern, she wrapped her arms around the old man and hugged him tight. More than one man in the room would have happily exchanged places. ‘Melody is here, Apollo! Everything will be fine! You had me worried!’

“Ah my daughter Melody

Worry not for your Daddy!

Heartbroken am I-

For my Lyrics has

Disappeared,

from beside her buddy!”

If his lyrics were not bad enough his singing was atrocious. ‘Stop! Please stop!’ shouted the officer. Zapped the old man quietened up. ‘Who is this lady?’ asked he. ‘My daughter Melody!’

‘Alright lady do you know Robert?’

‘Of course!’

‘Is he a tall man, around 6 foot?’

‘Yes!’ she looked wide eyed.

‘Does he have a slight limp?’

She looked at him suspiciously now, ‘Yes, he does!’

‘Ah! Ha! He is your dog napper Sir!’ I will just get Lyrics back. He rushed out of the room and crashed into the tall man from the park! Both went sprawling.

‘Who are you?’ asked the Officer as he pulled out his pistol jumping up, like Spiderman. ‘Don’t shoot me! I admit I have the silly dog!’

‘What???’  shouted Melody and Pops Apollo in unison.

‘I could not tolerate their murder of music and lyrics anymore! Take me to prison! Take me anywhere! Take me far away!’ And it was his turn to sob. ‘This man  has robbed me of peace, ever since he entered my life!’

‘How do you know him?’

“He is my father-in-law!”