Stacey was lugging her oversized suitcase to the car when she saw her parents putting bicycles on the bike rack. Her dad noticed her eyeing them suspiciously.
“There are some great bike trails near Aunt Lucy’s house,” Dad explained, “so do me a favor and get our helmets from the basement.”
Stacey turned around and trudged back inside, muttering, “I thought this was going to be a relaxing visit, not an athletic challenge!”
“We just want to take a few bike rides, so it’s not like we’re climbing mountains!” Zack called from his room.
Stacey didn’t bother to reply. Zack didn’t get it, and her parents didn’t really either. The three of them were natural athletes who loved pushing themselves to the limit, and they couldn’t understand why Stacey despised activities that involved working herself into a dripping sweat or waking up with aching muscles. As she carried the helmets to the car, Stacey felt like the family misfit.
But the long ride to Aunt Lucy’s house was entertaining enough to brighten her mood. Mom found a golden oldies station on the radio, and the old songs reminded her mom and dad of things they had done as kids. To pass the time, they amused Stacey and Zack with their stories.
After a while, it dawned on Stacey that many of Dad’s stories were about squabbles he had with Aunt Lucy, so she finally decided to ask him more about their relationship.
“Well,” Dad said thoughtfully, “Lucy and I weren’t cut from the same cloth. I loved practically every sport, and Lucy didn’t have an athletic bone in her body. She wasn’t a klutz or anything; she just didn’t care about sports.”
“So she was like me!” Stacey exclaimed. She had always wondered why she and her aunt seemed to be on the same wavelength.
Dad nodded and replied, “You’ve always reminded me of Lucy.”
When the family got to Aunt Lucy’s, the table was already set for dinner. She had figured they would all be hungry after their long trip. As everyone sat down, Aunt Lucy carried a steaming macaroni casserole to the table. One whiff was enough to cause everybody’s stomachs to rumble.
“It looks fabulous, Lucy,” Mom said appreciatively.
“And pasta is packed with long-burning carbohydrates,” Zack added, “so it’s the perfect way to fuel up for our bike ride tomorrow.” Stacey rolled her eyes and looked over at Aunt Lucy, who was giving her a sympathetic smile.
The next morning, Dad and Mom prepared breakfast while Zack eagerly filled their water bottles to the brim. Aunt Lucy was sitting in her living room contently reading a magazine when Stacey walked in and noticed the upright piano. It was made of old brown wood and was lined with a row of family photos along the top. The way the morning light shone off the keys made it appear as though the piano was beckoning Stacey to come play.
“You’re welcome to play,” Aunt Lucy suggested.
“I really don’t know how,” Stacey pointed out.
“You can give it a try anyway,” her aunt replied encouragingly. “You won’t bother me.”
Stacey sat down on the plush seat cushion and cautiously positioned her hands on the keys. A song she’d heard the day before was running through her head, and she began to plunk it out one note at a time. She hit some clunkers at first, but after a few attempts, Stacey was playing a recognizable tune.
“You’ve got an excellent ear for music,” Aunt Lucy commented. “That’s a tricky melody, and you figured it out quickly.”
“It sounds so plain just one note at a time,” Stacey observed.
Aunt Lucy glided over to the piano and sat beside her on the bench. “Play it again, and I’ll add some chords to fill out the tune.”
Aunt Lucy played along, and the music they made together gave Stacey a powerful, unfamiliar feeling. It was a delicious mixture of wonder and pride, and she liked it.
“That’s a tricky melody, and you figured it out quickly.”
“Do you think you could give me some piano lessons during our visit?” Stacey pleaded.
“I’d be delighted,” Aunt Lucy answered with a smile, “and we can start today after your bike ride.”
Stacey rushed into the kitchen with a new spring in her step. “Let’s hurry up and eat so we can take that bike ride!”
Mom, Dad, and Zack could only exchange puzzled glances and marvel at what had come over Stacey.
How does the narrator of "Duet" develop a perspective about Stacey?
by describing how she has an ear for music and develops into a fine piano player, by describing how she interacts with her different family members, by describing what she thinks about her family and their bike outings, or by describing how she acts during the trip to Aunt Lucy's house?