Short stories featuring musical instruments and those who play them!
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It was Wednesday. Market day. He clutched his zither under one arm, his folding stool under the other and headed for the square.
He called himself Harry and wore a lime green waistcoat. He was one of several buskers who performed there each week in the hope of making a bob or two. There was a guy with a guitar, a bloke with a banjo and a singer singing songs.
There he sat with his zither on his lap making merry music.
Inevitably, someone would ask him to play the Harry Lime theme.
‘It’ll cost you’ he’d say pointing to the upturned trilby at his feet!
He played it several times each session and did pretty well.
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As the market traders packed up their stalls, he clutched his zither under one arm, his folding stool under the other and headed for the pub.
‘Gin and tonic landlady’ he called out as he walked to the bar.
‘A slice of lime Harry?’ Lucie asked.
‘But of course’ he replied. It happened every week like a well-rehearsed routine.
Inevitably, someone would ask him to play the Harry Lime theme.
‘It’ll cost you’ he’d say pointing to his near-empty glass.
He played it several times each session and got pretty tipsy!
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When the time came to leave he clutched his zither under one arm, his folding stool under the other and tottered his way home.
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It was Wednesday. Market day ……
This version of the Harry Lime Theme from the movie The Third Man is brilliant. It starts off sensible then about three minutes in, it becomes pure farce! Take a look, it’ll be five minutes well spent!
Previous posts
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Years past
2020 – Stories featuring obsolete words starting with – Z
2019 – Stories for children – Z
2018 – My Friend Rosey – Z
2017 – The village of Amble Bay –Z
Click on the letter of the day to revisit.
And that’s it folks! Time to pack away the instruments, send the players home and put my feet up! Thanks to all that dropped by and left such lovely comments. Don’t let’s be strangers!
Congratulations on finishing and thanks for the musical stories.
…and thanks to you Denise for following them.
Congrats 🎉
Thanks so much, Paula.
Ah, i can see him now, “it’ll cost you!” Indeed, it would be worth it.
Congratulations on finishing the A to Z!
Perhaps I should have had an upturned trilby at the bottom of each of my stories! Thanks for sticking with me Mimi.
Very cute story and delightful video. I like it when orchestras can have fun like that.
Thanks so much. I am determined to go to an Andre Rieu concert! They are so entertaining.
You’re most welcome.
I’ve enjoyed your A2Z series this year very much, Keith. See you at #FF!
“Z” Tull:
http://tao-talk.com/2021/04/30/a2z-2021-jethro-tull-songs-day-26-crazed-institution-from-too-old-to-rock-n-roll-too-young-to-die/
It’s been fun, not just writing but reading too. I have to say, yours was brilliant this year! #FF here we come!
🙂 <3
Well done Keith. Ive enjoyed reading all your posts and have learnt a lot about instruments. Harry Lime and the Third Man just finish off a great Challenge.
That’s so kind of you Bob, thank you.
Great story too end the challenge Keith. I thoroughly enjoyed this year. As always
It’s been fun! Thanks so much for sticking with me Sadje.
It was fun. It’s always a pleasure. And thanks for visiting every day
He must play the song really well with so much practice. Weekends In Maine
Indeed! Thanks so much.
I really enjoyed this story Keith. I have read all your A-to-Z postings this year and loved them all, but this one stood out for me. Great work getting through the entire alphabet!
That’s so kind of you, I can’t thank you enough.
Well done, Keith! What an enjoyable series!
I’m so pleased you liked it, thank you, Martha.
I have immensely enjoyed these posts Keith and learnt about so many instruments I had no clue about. There is an instrument in India called Santoor which looks very similar to the zither. Cute video
https://pagesfromjayashree.blogspot.com/2021/04/z-for-zoo.html
I admit I hadn’t heard of many of them myself a month ago! What did we do before google?
I just looked up the Santoor, and it is very similar, except it’s struck rather than plucked!
Thank you so much for following my stories.
Such a fun word and such a fun instrument! Great choice. Love the video too.
Indeed it is. Thanks so much once again
Bravo Keith! I’m giving you a standing ovation for making this April so musical and happy for your readers.
Raising a toast to the return of days when concerts will once again be enjoyed with as much mirth as is seen in this video.
Cheers.
Oh my goodness, what can I say! That’s so kind of you. Bring on the concerts!
Another delightful tale, and the perfect cap to a great series! Enjoyed the video, too!
That’s very kind of you. Thanks for joining me this month.
Congratulations on completing your A to Z! I’ve enjoyed your stories.
So kind of you Liam, thank you.
Smart Harry, but not quite 🙂
But, if he drank away and didn’t save any money, how will he buy from the market?
Congrats for A2Z completion!
A very good point! Thank you, Anita.
A grand finale indeed! Fun theme this year, and congrats on finishing.
Black and White: Z for Zerzura
That’s really nice of you Anne, thank you.
Thoroughly enjoyable . I enjoyed these stories ( as I do all your others) and always look forward to what you have to say…. a real treat this was .
Especially at a time when the world is going upside down
Thanks for your generous words Unushta. It’s been good to have something to distract us from everything that’s going on out there.
And here we are at the end of letter Z. Great job Keith! Today’s post was wonderful, of course. I confess that I goggled zither before I read the full story, not an instrument I am familiar with.
Here is my letter Z: https://writingiscommunication.wordpress.com/2021/04/30/z-zappy/
It’s not seen much these days.
I’m delighted you liked the story, and I must thank you for being such a regular visitor to my humble blog during the challenge.
It was my pleasure!
Clearly there can be no dithering with the zithering if market days are to end at the pub. Congrats on a well-played challenge Keith.
Haha, nice one! After a month of storytelling, I’m withering! Thanks so much, Deborah.
Lovely way to finish, I’m sure he’s happy to play the same theme so long as gets rewarded! Been a joy to read each day, Keith, easily one of the best A-Z of the year..
Iain, that is so kind of you, I can’t thank you enough.
You’re very welcome Keith
Definitely worth a five-minute listen. Still laughing. I really like your take on the Harry Lime Theme, especially the after-session session. Congratulations on completing the AtoZChallenge2021, Keith! Yup, we made it!
https://gail-baugniet.blogspot.com
We did indeed Gail, now it’s our turn for an after-session session! Thanks so much for your loyal support.
I love this video, very funny! The guy almost crying because he is laughing is great 😂. And your story is lovely, as the previous ones. I enjoyed a lot yours posts.
Congratulations on completing the challenge 😉
That orchestra never fails to entertain! Thank you for your regular visits to my place, it was much appreciated.
Fantastic Keith – wonderful video … and congratulations on amusing us, while working your way through 26 ideas … loved them – cheers – Hilary
That’s so kind of you Hilary, thank you. I have to admit I’m quite pleased it’s over!
A delightful story to finish with, Keith. And the video too. The Harry Lime theme tune took me right back to evenings in our house when I was wee and my older brother would be watching The Third Man. I’ve actually found a YouTube video of one of the episodes for later.
I’ve really enjoyed the stories. Congratulations on finishing the course!
I must go searching myself!
Jenne, I can’t thank you enough for reading my stories and for leving such encouraging comments.
Ah well, I’ve enjoyed reading them. And I’m not finished yet. There are still some i want to catch up on…
I really enjoyed these and your other short stories. You are a great writer. I am truly amazed how you write so much and it’s all a pleasure to read.
I don’t know anything about The Third Man but that video was really funny 😁
Abishta, I can’t thank you enough for spending so much time reading my stories, and for your kind words. It makes it all worthwhile.
Thank yyou for being you