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Chapter 23
No—thestarsarecloseanddearandIhavejoinedthebrotherhoodoftheworlds.Andeverything’sholy—everything,evenme.
Aharmonicaiseasytocarry.Takeitoutofyourhippocket,knockitagainstyourpalmtoshakeoutthedirtandpocketfuzzandbitsoftobacco.Nowit’sready.Youcandoanythingwithaharmonica:thinreedysingletone,orchords,ormelodywithrhythmchords.Youcanmoldthemusicwithcurvedhands,makingitwailandcrylikebagpipes,makingitfullandroundlikeanorgan,makingitassharpandbitterasthereedpipesofthehills.Andyoucanplayandputitbackinyourpocket.Itisalwayswithyou,alwaysinyourpocket.Andasyouplay,youlearnnewtricks,newwaystomoldthetonewithyourhands,topinchthetonewithyourlips,andnooneteachesyou.Youfeelaround—sometimesaloneintheshadeatnoon,sometimesinthetentdooraftersupperwhenthewomenarewashingup.Yourfoottapsgentlyontheground.Youreyebrowsriseandfallinrhythm.Andifyouloseitorbreakit,why,it’snogreatloss.Youcanbuyanotherforaquarter.
Aguitarismoreprecious.Mustlearnthisthing.Fingersofthelefthandmusthavecallouscaps.Thumboftherighthandahornofcallous.Stretchtheleft-handfingers,stretchthemlikeaspider’slegstogetthehardpadsonthefrets.
Thiswasmyfather’sbox.Wasn’tnobigger’nabugfirsttimehegivemeCchord.An’whenIlearnedasgoodashim,hehardlyneverplayednomore.Usedtosetinthedoor,an’listenan’taphisfoot.
