Tenney in the Key of Friendship

A Break in the Music

Tenney calls Jaya’s cell phone the moment she gets home, but Jaya doesn’t pick up. She leaves a message and keeps checking for a reply that never comes. “Just give her space,” Mom advises, guessing Jaya is celebrating the fundraiser with her family, but Tenney stays anxious, since Jaya always texts back right away.

To keep busy, Tenney restrings her banjo and answers her little sister Aubrey’s endless questions about meeting Belle Starr, but Jaya still lingers at the back of her mind.

By four o’clock, Tenney can’t wait any longer. She gets permission to walk to Jaya’s house, grabs Waylon’s leash, and sets out, certain Jaya will understand once they talk. By the time she reaches the house, her stomach is knotted with worry that Jaya will hold the brunch against her.

Jaya opens the door with her arms crossed. “Hi,” she offers flatly. Tenney tries to sound upbeat and admits she’s really sorry she missed the book sale. Jaya only shrugs, frowning.

Jaya reports that the sale raised only $1,100, including the $200 Holliday’s dad donated, nowhere near the $3,000 they’d hoped to earn for Mina’s school. Charlie Wakida never showed up. Tara Higgins came down with the flu, leaving them short-handed with too many books to sell. Tenney suggests holding a second sale to raise the rest, but Jaya shakes her head. They’ve already donated the leftover books to Goodwill, and guilt needles Tenney for not being there to help.

They stand in awkward silence until Jaya asks how the performance went. Tenney describes the set, gushing that Belle gave her tons of advice about songwriting and performing, hoping it might cheer Jaya up. But Jaya crouches to pet Waylon like she isn’t even listening. She cuts Tenney off mid-sentence to say she should finish her homework, turning away without meeting her eyes.

Tenney offers that she’s sorry Jaya is mad and insists she tried to get there in time. Jaya’s eyes sharpen. She insists things have changed. Ever since Tenney started playing professionally, all she talks about is her next song or show. Tenney protests, and Jaya reminds her that the fundraiser was supposed to be their project together, and then Tenney disappeared.

Tenney retorts that she only got pushed out after Jaya brought in Holliday to replace her. Jaya fires back that she needed the help, since Tenney’s attention never lasted a minute before some song distracted her, and the moment she got a real gig, she forgot the sale entirely. Tenney reminds her she had to rehearse for a huge performance.

“Exactly. All you do is rehearse,” Jaya shoots back, asking whether it mattered more than Mina and her classmates. Tenney scoffs. Of course not, but it was the most important show of her life. Jaya murmurs that Tenney always says that. Tenney insists it’s true this time, since every performance matters and a music career takes time and devotion. Jaya answers quietly that being a good friend takes time and devotion, too.

Stunned, Tenney argues it isn’t her fault the show landed on the same day as the sale. Jaya agrees, but adds that it is her fault that she cares more about music than her friends. Tenney fights back tears and admits that she’s sorry Jaya feels that way. Jaya’s mouth twists, like she might apologize, but all she offers is, “Me, too.” Tenney heads off down the driveway with Waylon, leaving Jaya alone on the cold concrete steps.