Title: Play us a tune
by Sarah-Jane from Scotland | in writing, fiction
KATIE is on her way to a guitar lesson. There is lots of background noise: traffic, conversation, occasional shouting. Passing the bank she spots a beggar sitting beneath the cash machine.
BEGGAR: (weak) Spare change?
KATIE ignores the beggar and finds herself walking quicker. It's almost 8pm and as a result of the smoking ban there is a small crowd of drunken people standing outside of each pub door she passes. She avoids eye contact with the people she passes.
MAN: (aggressive) Oi! Give us a tune!
WOMAN: (patronising) Aye, on you go, play us a song.
MAN: (aggressive) Here! You! You not going to stop and sing for us? You, with the guitar'
As KATIE's pace quickens she is finally out of sight to the drunken couple. She carries on round the corner, eyes fixed on the ground. She looks up at the sound of crying. On her right there is a young woman crouched in a doorway bruised and crying. A young man stands over her, his fists clenched.
YOUNG MAN: (angry, aggressive) what do you think you're doing?! Get up now! Now!
The young woman slowly stands up, shaking. KATIE crosses the road in fear. KATIE tries to cover up her coughing as she passes a group of teenagers who are smoking cannabis whilst tearing registration plates off of parked cars. As she passes she can hear parts of conversation.
TEENAGER 1: What about last Saturday'
TEENAGER 2: (laughing) Brilliant'
TEENAGER 1: Can't happen again'
KATIE continues walking trying not to draw attention to herself.
Outside the newsagents a young woman with a pram is comforting her crying child. A man whose face is covered by a black scarf and a hood runs past grabbing the woman's handbag as he goes. Someone leaving the shop sees the man running off and chases him. The mum stands with her pram, unsure and shaken.
KATIE stops outside a brown door that is covered with graffiti. She presses the buzzer and waits, tears welling up in her eyes. The door opens. She climbs the steps to the third floor where her guitar teacher DANIEL lives. When DANIEL opens the door to KATIE her cheeks are wet with tears.
DANIEL: (concern) is there something wrong? Has something happened?
KATIE: No' I suppose everything is as it usually is.
KATIE takes her guitar out of its case.
DANIEL: Okay then. Let's hear this and make sure to express that emotion. Remember all we've spoken about. Remember to play it loud, we want to hear it.
KATIE: Right. Okay. Should I play from the beginning then?
DANIEL nods as KATIE plays the first chord. KATIE uses her guitar as an outlet for the worry and fear she had built up on her way to the lesson. The piece is played through perfectly.
This is about a girl on her way to guitar lesson in Glasgow city centre and the type of people and incidents she encounters on her way there. This is inspired by the people you often find in Glasgow city centre at night time and the walk to my guitar lessons each week.
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