SWNOVELS Chapter 1033 Memories Triggered by Scenery
Chapter 1033 Memories Triggered by Scenery
Alistair nervously squeezed his small hands and wiped his pants.
"Daddy, I don't want to play anymore. Can I finish learning the whole song before you check again?"
Anthony shook his head and repeated, "Play the first half of this song again."
"But... but Daddy, don't you have to go to work? Aren't you going to be late for your meeting?"
Anthony looked at his watch and said calmly, "I still have time. You can play it two more times."
Alistair felt like he was being forced into a corner and had no choice but to play. The piano notes sounded young and inexperienced with a deep sense of helplessness from the little boy's heart. Before Paloma left, Anthony was like a statue sitting next to him. Now he felt overwhelmed!
As Alistair started playing the first row of scales on the sheet music, Anthony reminded him in a low voice, "Pay attention to your hand position and wrist placement."
Alistair followed suit but got nervous when corrected by Anthony on posture, causing his little fingers tremble slightly.
Suddenly there was an abrupt high-pitched note that made Alistair hold his breath as he stared at Anthony with big blue eyes, saying, "Daddy..."
Oh no! He played wrong in front of his father!
Anthony remained calm, "Give me your hand."
Alistair pouted as he handed over his right hand which had just played wrong.
His soft palm lay open while Anthony's large fingertips came together slightly. His hand tapped it lightly causing a burning sensation that made Alistair whimper softly...
He quickly withdrew his hand, rubbing it against each other and pitifully holding back his tears.
"Keep playing."
"If you're not focused enough, then try me!" His stern tone carried great authority, making Alistair sit up straighter and forcing him into full concentration mode.
After listening for another two minutes or so while checking time repeatedly on this watch, Anthony said, "It's better than before, but you'll continue with vocal lessons later this afternoon for the second half." "What? Do I still have practice piano at home this afternoon? But Daddy, Momo has already planned something fun!"
Without waiting for an answer from Anthony, Alistair continued pleadingly, "I can't break my promise with Momo. Daddy, you don't want me to be bad, right?"
Anthony nodded confidently, "Then let Momo come over to our house and practice piano with you. She never had much of a musical talent growing up, so it'll be good for her to listen to some music." Alistair remained silent.
"That's settled then. I'll talk to Momo about it and you can focus on practicing at home. Both the vocal teacher and she will come over," Anthony said reassuringly as he ruffled Alistair's soft and fluffy hair before leaving the Callahan family home.
After Anthony left, Alistair sat on the piano bench with his legs swinging back and forth without touching the ground.
His proper posture deflated in an instant like a punctured ball, listless.
Paloma checked that Anthony was gone by hiding beside the wall before hobbling towards Alistair with her cane.
"My dear baby boy, are you okay?"
She cooed lovingly while rubbing his hand that was hit by Anthony earlier. She felt sorry for him.
"He's such a bully," she grumbled indignantly.
"Don't worry though. When he comes back from work tonight, I will help you get even."
When Alistair heard that she would help him seek justice, he smiled broadly saying, "Grandma, you're always there for me!"
"Does it still hurt? Let me blow on it," asked Paloma.
"It's okay now. It doesn't hurt anymore," replied Alistair as he looked down at his palm where there were faint red marks left behind by Anthony's attack.
Paloma breathed a sigh of relief after seeing no serious injuries, but worried about how far Anthony might go next time if not stopped in time.
A distracted look crossed over Alistair's face as if lost in thought, before finally asking, "Grandma, did Daddy really not have any toys or learn how to play piano when he was little?" Paloma sighed deeply, full of regretful memories. "Yes indeed! He had a tough childhood."
As the illegitimate son, despite being acknowledged as part of the Callahans' family tree and addressed respectfully by their servants most times, he didn't enjoy all privileges entitled to legitimate heirs due to his status.
"I fell ill during those years and couldn't protect him. This is something I regret till today," continued Paloma who despite coming from an affluent background, didn't hold any prejudice against illegitimate children. Since they were innocent, they shouldn't suffer due their parents' mistakes.
"So, Alistair, you need to be good and listen to him more, and don't make him angry."
"Okay," Alistair pouted and generously said,
"Although Daddy can be too harsh sometimes, I won't hold a grudge. When I get punished in the future, I'll try not to retaliate against Daddy."
Paloma couldn't help but smile indulgently as she playfully tapped his little nose.
"Don't act too foolishly now. If he scolds you, come find me instead. I can support you, but you can't use your own methods to get back at him."
"I know~" Alistair hugged Paloma and whined playfully, "Grandma, I don't want to practice piano this afternoon. I want to go out and play with Momo. Can you help me?"
Paloma remained silent for a moment before speaking up again.
Anthony was now the head of the Callahan family after all. Even though she was an elder whom Anthony respected greatly, she cannot blatantly disobey his rules.
"Forget about going out. It's not safe right now. When Momo comes over later on today, you two can stay at home and play games instead. But I have final say: no piano lessons today." "Yay! Hooray for Grandma!" Alistair cheered with wild gestures.
In the afternoon not only did Molly come over but Lyra as well.
"Aunt Lyra came too! Is work not busy today?"
Lyra crouched down and smiled while patting Alistair's head gently,
"Just taking a day off from work so that Momo could visit you."
"Heheh Aunt Lyra, you're really nice," he said while praising her before turning around to hug Molly immediately afterwards.
Molly was already eleven years old by then - much taller than little dumpling - wearing military green long-sleeved pants and had her hair tied up high into a ponytail which made her look very heroic despite being so young.
It gave off an air of security around her personage.
"Milk Tofu (Alistair), has your dad been punishing you lately?"
"Yes," he held out his palm towards Molly's face, saying, "I just got spanked by my dad earlier this morning. It hurt like hell!"
He pouted adorably when saying this sentence which made him seem very childish yet cute at the same time!
When looking towards Molly, however there was nothing but admiration and fondness in his eyes, his sapphire blue pupils sparkled brightly like stars in space!
Molly took hold of his hand saying, "Come on, let's go upstairs and play together! Recently I've been learning how to shoot guns. I'll teach ya using toy guns okay?"
The two children ran inside together while Lyra stood outside watching their backs receding into distance.
Suddenly some youthful memories were stirred within her heart...
Her marksmanship skills as well as horseback riding were all taught by Anthony when they were still young... Now, her precious daughter was teaching Anthony's son, as if they had swapped roles from back then.
Paloma slowly approached her and said, "Lyra, come in for a cup of tea?"
Lyra snapped out of her thoughts and smiled. "Sure thing, Paloma."
On this fulfilling Sunday afternoon, Lyra chatted with Paloma while taking a few videos of Alistair to send to Mavis later.
Molly and Alistair were having so much fun that they completely forgot about his piano lessons.
Even his teacher joined in on playing hide-and-seek with the two kids.
That evening at the Callahan Residence dinner table...
Alistair sat obediently next to his father and used his fork to eat from his bowl.
Anthony put down his child-sized cutlery and picked up an adult fork instead but struggled with it still.
"Where do you place your index finger when holding your utensil? You won't be able to eat without assistance," Anthony scolded him again.
Alistair pouted quietly as he adjusted how he held his fork under his right hand upon being reprimanded by his father once more.
Paloma sighed deeply before saying, "Alright now, Anthony, don't keep nagging him all day long. He'll learn eventually."
"I know," Anthony nodded before putting a chicken leg onto Alistair's plate and asking him what they did that afternoon instead, "What did you guys do this afternoon?"
As soon as Alistair mentioned their activities from earlier that day - learning how to shoot balloons with Momo, playing hide-and-seek- he became extremely excited while talking non-stop about it all! However... Anthony frowned upon hearing that he didn't practice piano that day!