Tenney

A Stronger Bridge

At lunch, Jaya wrinkles her nose across the lunchroom table and bites into her peanut butter and jelly sandwich as she asks when Tenney will play her new song, “Reach the Sky.” Tenney admits it still needs work, but maybe it’ll be ready for the Jamboree. When Jaya asks what activity she and Portia have settled on, Tenney confesses Portia only seems excited about music. An idea strikes. Portia could sing and play guitar with her as a duet. They can’t believe they didn’t think of it sooner, and the two burst out laughing.

After school, Tenney heads to the senior center with Ms. Carter and the Jamboree committee and finds Portia tucked into a corner of the small study where she’d played her guitar before. Portia greets her dryly, asking what brings her by. Tenney knows Portia has dodged Jamboree talk the last two visits, but decides to play her the finished “Reach the Sky” anyway, hoping it changes her mind. Portia’s eyes flicker with interest, and she nods for Tenney to begin.

A nervous wiggle twists Tenney’s stomach as she picks up the guitar, eyes fixed on it so she won’t forget the words. Portia listens carefully but gives nothing away until the last note fades, then calls the song good, better than good, actually, though she warns Tenney not to get too excited since it isn’t a home run yet. Taking the guitar back, Portia plays the whole song note for note from memory, which astonishes Tenney since Portia has only heard the melody twice.

Portia’s critique is blunt: the verse and chorus are catchy, but the bridge needs more fire. Demonstrating, she improvises a livelier bridge, picking up the tempo, until her chord hand jitters and the music collapses into a muddle. Yanking it into a tight fist, she admits a stroke six months ago left it weak, though she’s improving. Tenney reassures her she’s still a wonderful player who just needs more practice, and Portia agrees, but when Tenney pushes her to prove it by performing their duet at the Jamboree, Portia snaps a flat no.

Portia softens enough to apologize but insists she doesn’t perform anymore, an answer Tenney can’t reconcile with Portia’s own advice about facing what scares you. Portia presses her mouth into a stiff, stubborn line and shrugs. Tenney suggests they simply run the bake sale table instead, and Portia agrees before gazing out the window, sensing the subject is closed.

That night, Tenney works up a stronger bridge just as Portia suggested, then polishes every lyric of “Reach the Sky.” She heads to the garage to test it on Mason, whose ear she trusts, finding him soldering wires at his worktable, safety goggles on. He grumbles about being interrupted, but pulls off the goggles, tosses a towel over his project, and settles back to listen. When she finishes, he stares at her like she’s grown three heads before insisting the song is radio-ready, and he tries to march straight to Mom and Dad. Tenney stops him, not ready yet, though his praise fills her with a joy she’s wanted to hear for ages.

Tenney mentions wishing for more chances to perform solo before the Jamboree crowd, and Mason goes quiet. When she reminds him the Tri-Stars have no show for another month since their showcase fell through, he starts to answer, then catches himself and promises to get back to her, leaving Tenney more curious than ever about what he’s cooking up.