Can you write about John and Sherlock and their daughter and her first time playing or choosing a musical instrument?
John creases his brow and cocks his head, “It’s a bit. Big.”
“It’s a piano, John,” Sherlock gives him a little pinch.
“I sort of thought you might come back with another keyboard,” John glances at Matilda, “But this is, er. Very handsome.” Sherlock gives him another pinch, but it is mutually understood to be a much more affectionate one than the first.
Matilda nudges between them and clambers onto the bench, “Are we going to do duets, Bab?”
Sherlock sits next to her on the bench, “Absolutely, Tillie,” he taps out a little of ‘Heart and Soul.’
Matilda rolls her eyes but taps back, “No, Bab, the piano is for me. You don’t know how to play it.”
“I beg your pardon!” Sherlock goes into ‘Chopsticks’ and Matilda begins to nudge him off the bench.
“Daddy,” Matilda throws an appealing look at John.
John laughs, “I’ve never been able to do a thing with him, Tillie.”
Sherlock tumbles off the piano bench and claps a hand to his heart, “John, our daughter has bullied me to death.” He shuts his eyes. Matilda giggles and begins to play Chopin’s funeral march.
“Ooh!” Sherlock hops up and joins in on his violin.
John laughs and takes his chair, “Do The Swan after? I like that one.”
“Boop, boop!” Mrs Hudson chirps from the doorway, knocking on their open door. “Just thought I’d pop up and check on you, dearies.”
John turns toward Mrs Hudson and smiles, “We’re fine. Feeling musical, as you can see.”
“Oh yes!” Mrs Hudson comes in and pats John on the shoulder, “I heard a bang through the ceiling, then the music, and I’d thought they’d finally done you in!”
Matilda and Sherlock laugh and bring their playing to an end, with a particularly crashing flourish from Matilda.
Sherlock lowers his instrument and gestures with his bow to Matilda, who rises from the stool and bows, then goes and puts her arms around John, “We wouldn’t do anything to Daddy.”
“Never,” Sherlock agrees, joining the little group around John’s chair, “We need an audience.”
