2. Brett 9-15 / Eddy 8-14

Eddy hastily stumbled out of the school minivan as soon as it parked in front of his house and its door was pulled open by his greeting mother.

"Oh my, take it easy Eddy. Good thing I was here to catch you."

Eddy hugged his mother tightly as he talked very quickly.

"Hi mum ! Mum, mum, mum, can I take violin lessons? Please ???"

Mrs Chen was stunned. The idea of getting music lessons for her son was new to her.

She quickly thanked the minivan driver and managed to lead her very excited son into their house. Eddy quickly took off his shoes and made his way into the living room and sat on the sofa. He couldn't contain his excitement and was bouncing up and down.

"Please mum, Brett said I have good ears to become a great musician!"

"Who's Brett?"

"This really cool kid I met at my mainstream school visit today. He plays the violin."

"I see..."

After a phone call to Eddy's school, followed by another to Brett's school and leaving a message with Brett's teacher, Mrs Chen managed to speak to Mrs Yang, Brett's mother.

"Hello, is this Mrs Chen ? Oh my goodness, I hope my silly son didn't say anything disrespectful to your boy. Is this what it's about ?"

"Oh no, Mrs Yang, not at all, my Eddy was so happy to meet your Brett today. I was just wondering if you knew of any violin teachers for my son?"

"How about I give you Brett's violin teacher's number so you can speak with her? She might be able to teach your Eddy, otherwise I think she could recommend someone."

Brett's teacher was able to recommend someone who not only lived closer to Eddy's house but also had experience in teaching students with a vision impairment.

Little 9-year-old Brett was right, Eddy did have good ears. Eddy's perfect pitch helped him learn the violin exceptionally well and fast. On the weekends, the boys would bring along their violins on their playdates and would play for each other the pieces they were working on. Eddy was always in awe of what Brett could play while Brett was surprised how quickly Eddy progressed.

Fast forward 5 years.

Eddy turned 13 and Brett 14.

Eddy was now playing at Brett's level, which meant that Eddy had learnt everything almost twice as quickly as Brett. Brett remained fascinated and so proud of his friend's progression and Eddy was still in awe of how beautifully Brett played.

One day while they were "hanging out" together in Brett's room (they no longer called it a "playdate"), Eddy called out to Brett.

"..Brett do you remember saying we could play duets when I learnt how to play the violin?"

"When ?"

"On the first day we met."

"...so I did. You wanna?"

"Of course I do. Why do you think I've been practising so hard ?"

"Awe, that's sweet. Eddy, I'm smiling."

Eddy reached his hand out towards Brett.

"Show me."

Brett took Eddy's hand and placed it onto his cheek. Eddy gently traced the side of Brett's mouth with his thumb.

Eddy smiled back.

"So you are.... hey Brett?"

"Yeah?"

"How come your voice has started to sound a bit wonky?"

"Geez, thanks Eddy."

Eddy had kept his hand on Brett's cheek. Brett's cheek felt warmer, which was a sign that Brett was embarrassed by Eddy's remark.

"I'm sorry Brett, I didn't mean to embarrass you. I'm just curious. It goes up and down in pitch when you speak."

"My voice is breaking. That's puberty for ya."

"...What's that?"

"You'll find out for yourself next year."

"...Are you mad ? Please don't be mad, I still really like your voice, even if it is a little bit wonky."

"I'm not mad Eddy."

Eddy could actually tell that Brett wasn't cross by the tone of his voice and by the calmness that could be felt from his friend's cheek, but the question remained as to why Eddy's favourite voice had started to go through such a strange transition.

".. anyway Eddy, let's start practising some duets."

12 months later.

Eddy turned 14 and Brett 15.

When Brett and Eddy finished playing their last notes, the crowd erupted in a loud round of applause.

They bowed to the crowd in sync.

"That was beautiful, boys. You two play so well together."

"Thank you !!"

They have been busking together almost every weekend for a year now.

"Hey Brett, how do you think we went today?"

Eddy held out his hand and Brett took a step to walk into it so that his cheek met Eddy's palm.  Brett also reached out to Eddy's cheek.  With their violins and bows held in their left hands, they stood there in silence for a brief moment. It was a very well practised movement between them but Brett had to reach up a bit higher nowadays because Eddy had grown taller than him.

Eddy whispered.

"..You played great but you knew that already, didn't you Brett."

Brett grinned proudly.

"You betcha. And so did you, Eddy."

"Thanks. Let's go home, I'm starving"

Brett helped Eddy put away his violin, then Eddy quickly folded and packed away Brett's music stand while Brett removed and put away the money from his violin case then stored away his violin.

Back at Eddy's house after they'd had lunch together, they hung out in Eddy's room.

"Hey Brett, y'know what ? I think my voice has started to go funny like how yours did last year."

"Hah, well congratulations, wonky voice"

"Heeey, stop that!!"

Brett chuckled.

"Stop wailing, Eddy, it makes it sound worse.  Serves you right for calling me that last year! Besides, you don't sound as nearly as bad as I sounded. Back then I had absolutely no control over the pitch of my voice."

Eddy grins.

"Yeah, I still remember it. It was kinda cute."

"Oh man...."

"Are you blushing again Brett? Show me."

Eddy reached out towards Brett's face. Brett sighed and shuffled closer to Eddy who was sitting cross-legged on his bed. Eddy liked putting his hand on Brett's cheek whenever they talked because it helped Eddy understand Brett's emotions. Brett didn't mind, even at a rather sensitive age of 15. It was just the way he did things with Eddy and it came naturally to him.

"I'm sorry for embarrassing you Brett, but I've always liked your voice. Since we were little and even while your voice was breaking. And now, I really like your new voice. It's beautiful."

"What, thissssss?!?!"

Brett let out a shriek.

Eddy grimaced but his overall expression remained kind.

"Actually I like it when it's lower. Y'know, like this."

Brett snorts.

"You call that low ? This is low..."

Eddy felt the vibrations travel up Brett's throat. Eddy giggled and moved his hand down and gently placed it on Brett's neck.

"Do that again, Brett."

"Huh ? Um.. This, is, lowwww."

"..Wow."

What happened next was rather out of character for Eddy.  Possibly for the first time,  as far as Brett could ever remember, Eddy seemed lost for words as he blushed and faced away from his best friend.

"Eddy? What's the matter?"

"...Nothing."

"What do you mean nothing, look at me."

"I can't. I'm blind."

"OMG, you know what I mean. C'mere you dope."

Brett reached across to place his palm on Eddy's cheek and for the first time, Brett felt Eddy squirm as he was being touched.

"Stop, Brett, stop it.."

Eddy scooted backwards on his bed.

"Eddy!"

Brett caught Eddy just in time to wrap his arms around Eddy's head as they fell off Eddy's bed and landed on the floor with a massive thud. Eddy screamed.

"Eddy? Was that you? Are you boys alright ?"

The boys heard Eddy's mother's footsteps rushing up the stairs.

Brett was panicking.

"OMG Eddy, are you okay? Are you hurt ?"

"I'm... okay.. I just got scared when I fell backwards."

Eddy's bedroom door flung open and his mother saw her son and his friend sprawled over the floor.

"I heard Eddy scream. Are you boys okay?"

"Yeah mum, I misjudged my distance and fell backwards, it gave me freight but Brett caught my head.  Thanks, man. Brett, are you okay?"

"Yeah Eddy, I'm f...."

Brett froze in horror as he looked at his hand, his pinky bent in a very unnatural angle. Brett held back his tears as he faced Eddy's mother and tried to speak to her as calmly as possible so that he wouldn't alert Eddy.

"Mrs Chen, will you please take me to the hospital?"

Eddy jolted.

"Brett?! What's wrong ? What happened?"

"Yes, of course, Brett. Come on boys, in the car."

"Brett ?? Brett?? Mum?? What's going on ??"

Brett was in too much shock to speak. Eddy's mother answered.

"Eddy sweetie, Brett looks like he's hurt his hand. We'll go get him checked out at the hospital, okay ?"