Bright Light Cafe - Short Story - Third Generation Harmonica Player

Third Generation Harmonica Player

My dad was a harmonica player.
He always played the same 3 or 4 songs,
but he played them well.

Everyone recognized “Skip to my Lou”
and “She’ll be coming around the Mountain”.

On his visit to Germany
While I was in the Army
he played, “Ach Du Lieber Augustin”
and “Beer Barrel Polka”
to everyone’s enjoyment over there.

He could also do a good imitation
of the train coming across the tracks
down by the plywood factory in Ridgeway,
whistle and all.

He was a harmonica player.

He always had a harmonica
either in one of the kitchen drawers
or on the mantle,
sticky from a kid’s fingers
and clogged with cracker crumbs.
With six kids
he went through
quite a few harmonicas.

Out of us kids,
I was the only one to learn to play anything,
also maybe 3 or 4 songs,
but that, none the less,
that meant that

I was a harmonica player, too.

That one Christmas
he gave each of his four grandsons
a Hohner “Old Standby” harmonica
with a beginner instruction and method book.

I guess none of the other grandsons
had done much with their instrument,
because when he asked my son, Jason
if he could play the harmonica that he’d sent,
it was something like,
“Well, I guess you never learned to play yours either.”

Jason came out of his room a little later,
handed Grandpa the songbook and asked,
“Which one would like to hear me play?”
He picked “Oh, Susanna”
and Jason played it note for note
as he read it from the music on the page
just as it was written.

Grandpa was both surprised and thrilled,
but most of all amazed
that Jason not only could play the harmonica,
but also read the music from the songbook,
something neither he nor I could ever do.

He talked about that for many years to come.
That, of course, meant that

Jason was a Harmonica player, too.

Rose United States
"I love it, I remember Old Suzanna and the train. I'm glad Jason learned how to play."

Theresa Robinson-Martin United States
"Carl, I know how much it means to one with talent to see that talent passed down through the generations. My 2nd husband Bill martin was self-taught in several instruments, primarily the harmonica also. He gave many well known harmonicas to grandsons when the sons showed no talent. One or two showed interest but did not excel to Bill's knowledge in his lifetime."

Julie Jennings United States
"Your story shines and brought back memories of my brother and his harmonica.
Thank you for sharing a piece of your family. Congratulations."

Phyllis Williams United States
"Well-written poem/short story which included
family history, family values and humor. Nice job, Carl."

Trace United States
"Carl, to me this story illustrates the strength and beauty of a wonderful family.
The stuff about the harmonicas is interesting, too."

Tom Palmer Canada
"Great Story about your Dad Carl, You and your son Jason.
Your Uncle George Palmer, my Dad also played Harmonica. He had a Blue Boy that he would play sitting at the kitchen table.
Sorry to say none of his 4 sons or 2 Grandsons never learned to play.
Your Cousin Tom"

Lenard Eccles Australia
"Carl... That was a great story I also play the Harmonica I have one my Dad gave me I never heard him play
... also I have the one my Mother gave me when I left to go to the 2nd world Boy Scout Jamboree in 1950 at Vally Forge, PA"