When he had first met his wicked old witch of an instructor, Vonda Mittermite, Othello hadn't put much stock into the old louse to teach him anything on the highest goodest goddess he once hoped she failed. Yet here they were: the pair had found a way to teach him and that result was music. Singing in particular. She had taught him the lute a little small but Othello took to it almost naturally. This was their eleventh session Vonda had brought the most delicious peanut butter cookies which they ate together as they went over site words (she giggled like a old mother when he tried to speak with a mouth full).

He had a voice now that wasn't harsh and out of tune: "But there's a side to you
That I never knew, never knew," calloused fingers strummed cords as he tapped his big boots against the wooden floor, he was grinning belting softly as he watched the little wire framed glass wearing teacher try and hide her own foot shuffling which was given away by how it made her long black cloak wave, "sound the words and enunciate," she encouraged.

The melody changed as did the pitch in Othello's voice, "And all the witches walkin' through the valley....Move west down Skia Boulevard...

....Guess it's true, I'm not good at a one-night stand..But I still need love 'cause.. I'm just a man...."

And then Vonda joined in a closing harmonic ending each one singing a line a piece:

"....Chest now, he takes off her!
Dress now, let me go!
And I just can't look, it's killing me!
They're taking control!"[/I]

Othello finished with a big solo plucking and strumming cords with raw vigor, it was almost carnal. When he finished Vonda simply clapped, "You have come so far Othello, I believe you will simply slay with your advancements. How are you feeling?"

He sat his lute down and grabbed his glass of (now room temperature) milk and sipped before he spoke, "Not worried in the slightest actually misses Mittermite, I have been in good hands," she grinned, "Regan Lassiter ?

"Don't sell yourself short of course," he said smoothly and she pinched his cheek, "I appreciate that but let's not sell the Huntsman's short....she handled the situation well for someone who grew up similar as yourself Othello, well in regards to proving herself. She took a lump of clay while she was just a lump herself and she's molded two beautiful works of art."

She wasn't saying anything he didn't already know but it helped click things hearing it instead of internalizing it.

"That will do for today, in fact I won't see you again until after the ball, our final lesson," Vonda sounded sad, like a grandmother who had their grandchildren for a whole summer, she patted Othello's face, "Your are my greatest work Othello Benjamin Allemeade, I just ask you don't forget about me."

The big Gifted practically melted, crumbs in his beard, "You are my Mom, me and little Benji will see you for dinner once a week, promise," Vonda Mittermite had never had children and Othello Allemeade never really had a parent in the moment they seemingly adopted each other.

"I'll hold you to it, now go and get ready for your big time to shine! I'll be rooting for you the whole way son!"

Othello skipped off after downing his milk and shoving one last cookie into his mouth. He wouldn't let his little momma down!

[End thread]