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uncaaj · 7 months

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Fanfic: Concert (Bluey)

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After Bandit Heeler blinked most of the sleepies away, he emerged from the house into the pink of the early morning, guitar case in hand.

Bluey looked up from her and Bingo’s clapping game on the porch and pointed at the case. “Are you bringing that to the park with you?”

“Yeah, why not?” said Bandit, walking down the steps.

Bluey’s tail began to wag. “Ooh, are you going to play your songs in front of people?”

Bandit felt his tail twitch but he willed it still. “Nah, kid,” he said with a chuckle. “I just wanna play to play. I haven’t played for people in years.”

“Why not?” Bingo asked.

Bandit shrugged. “I don’t have the time.”

“If it’s because you don’t think you’re good,” said Bluey, wringing her hands together, “I think you’re the best guitar player in the whole world.”

Bandit ruffled Bluey’s ears. “Aw, thanks, kid. Real nice of you to say.”

“Well, it’s true. You could play in front of people and they’d love it.”

Sometimes he wondered who was smiling down on him to give him a daughter so wonderful. Bluey and Bingo followed him down their stone path as they set off for morning walkies.

+++

BANDIT: “This episode of Bandit is called “Concert.”

+++

When they reached the park, Bluey and Bingo saw Lucky swinging on the monkey bars and dashed away to meet him. Bandit took a seat on a nearby bench and unclipped the case locks. Opening the case and revealing his Burgundy Beauty put a smile on his snout every single time. He wondered how he went so long without it.

Since Bandit’s old Burgundy Beauty was unearthed from the attic, its dulcet tones rooted themselves in the daily cacophony of the Heeler household. Sure, if you asked him to slot in a music hobby among his archaeology job, house chores, his social life with the neighborhood dads, not to mention the two pups he loved to the moon and back and their rambunctious games, he would call it an impossible task. Still, as it had been during college, it slinked back into his life as a way to reach inner peace after a long day of being Bandit Heeler. And frankly, as crazy as his life was now, he welcomed a chance to get lost in an art that had always made him happy.

As he fretted some dusty chords and strummed the instrument to life, his mind went back to Bluey’s words. Bluey and Bingo loved to watch him play. They loved to hear him tell stories of playing in coffee shops and pubs during his college years. And they especially loved the silly songs he wrote.

That is, the ones he deemed appropriate.

He thought of an old friend named Joff, who’s every passion lay in music. Bandit never had the drive that funky dog had, but he was alright with that. Leave the fame and fortune to those who wanted to scratch and claw their way there. He was content watching his kid play and getting lost in a melody.

“Oi, Bandit!”

Bandit looked up. A shaggy Brussels Griffon was jogging toward him, his glasses bouncing slightly as he waved. The same busker that he did the worm in front of the other day on the square.

Speak of an old friend and you’ll often find he shows up.

“Joff!” Bandit set the guitar down and grabbed his paw to shake, then pulled him into a hug. “How’s it hangin’, ya big lug?”

“Oh, she’s apples, ya know?” said Joff. “So great to finally chat.”

“Yeah, I know you’re a busy bee, eh, Busker?”

Bandit nudged him with an elbow and Joff laughed. “Man, you still remember that old nickname?”

“I coined it! So what’s the big gig today?”

“Well, you saw me at the markets the other day, right? ‘Nother one of those.” He looked back across the park where a stage was overlooking the market tents. “Got a mate who’s gonna do all duets with me.”

“Oh, good one! When’s it happening?”

“In an hour or two, as it happens,” said Joff, checking his watch. “He should be here any minute to do sound check with me.”

“I’ll bring Bluey and Bingo. I’m sure they’ll bring their dancing shoes.”

“That’s just what I love to hear!” Joff exclaimed. “Hey, you know that song you wrote, ‘Girls Like That’?”

Bandit chuckled, remembering a song he wrote after the most popular girl on campus rejected his request for a date in no uncertain terms. “Yeah, those were the days, mate.”

“It would be so cool if you could do that song with me sometime, ya know, if ya still play.”

Bandit shook his head but with a smile. “Appreciate it, but those days are long gone.”

“It can be a one-time thing, just for fun.” Joff dug out his phone. “Here, at least gimme your digits so we can chat about it later?”

Bandit sighed, but exchanged his phone number with his old friend.

“Thanks, mate. Look, I’ve gotta run but I’ll be in touch, okay?”

“No worries, mate,” said Bandit, waving as he left. “Good talking with you again.”

“Likewise!” he called back.

“You know thongaphone dog?” asked Bluey suddenly.

Bandit jumped and there she and Bingo were, tails a flurry and stars practically shooting from their excited eyes.

“Yeah,” Bandit confirmed, “he’s an old friend from college. He’s playing over there in a while.”

“Are you gonna play your guitar with him?” asked Bingo, clinging to his leg.

“Nah, kid,” Bandit laughed, shaking Bingo off.

She crossed her arms. “But I don’t understand.”

“Yeah,” said Bluey, “you’re good at guitar and singing, and playing with friends is always fun.”

“Sound logic,” said Bandit, ruffling his kids’ heads, “but it’s never as simple as that when you’re my age.”

He decided to not burden them with complicated explanations and instead, let them go back to playing. In turn, he picked up his guitar again and let it take him back with a melody.

It was bouncy and funky, with a heavy layer of sarcasm overtop. He still remembered all the chords for that silly little song, as well as the words.

“Girls like that

Girls like that don’t go for guys like us…”

Bluey was sweet, but Bandit knew he wasn’t fit for playing live anymore. His voice wobbled slightly as he sang. He fudged a note here and there. Making a fool of himself in front of his kids was one thing. Making a fool in front of a crowd of strangers was entirely another. Those days with his brothers were well behind him and he didn’t want to dig up that old carefree life. Just doing it for the sake of doing it was good enough for him, even back when he was playing for coffee houses and parties in college.

“I wanna see the facts

And she says, simply, ‘No.

Uh-uh.’”

He couldn’t deny that he missed it in a way, his tapping feet was a big indicator. He wouldn’t deny it was the best part of being a musician, but he always knew he wouldn’t “make it” as it were.

“Hey, Burgundy Beauty!”

Bandit hit a sour chord and lifted his head.

Pat Labrador sat down next to him and they shook hands. “Ain’t seen you with that in forever, mate!”

Bandit chuckled. “Since uni, really. I picked it back up recently after they,” gesturing to Bluey and Bingo, “earthed it up in the attic.”

Pat leaned back. “Isn’t that something?”

Bandit’s phone buzzed all of a sudden. Taking it out, he saw Joff’s phone number appear on-screen. “I only just gave him my digits and he’s texting,” he said out loud. “Interesting.”

“Who?” asked Pat.

“Old college friend. He’s playing at the markets today.” Bandit opened the text.

“I hate to do this to you, but I need your help now. Come to the stage and someone will let you through.”

Bandit raised an eyebrow. This didn’t sound good. He had only just reacquainted himself with the guy but he naturally felt drawn to help. Besides, it couldn’t have been anything big, right?

“You mean Busker?” Pat asked. “Thought I saw him the other day with that thongophone…”

“Mate, I gotta see to something,” said Bandit, standing up. “Bluey, Bingo, c’mon!”

“Oh, n-no worries, mate.”

Bandit nodded his thanks before his phone dinged again. Looking at his phone again, there was one more text.

“Bring your guitar.”

“What’s going on, dad?” asked Bluey.

Bandit packed up his guitar and sighed. “We’re going to see a friend of mine.”

+++

As they neared the stage, a security guard waved him over. “You Bandit?”

Bandit nodded. “Yeah.”

“Who’re them?”

“My kids,” he said, matter-of-fact-ly.

The guard nodded. “Follow me.” He led them backstage where Joff paced next to a table covered with snacks.

Joff noticed his arrival and ran over. “Oh, thank goodness.”

“What’s going on?” Bandit asked as the security guard departed. Joff’s hair was disheveled. “You don’t still pull your hair out?”

Joff let out a breath. “Not…often.” He shook his head. “Look, I won’t beat around the bush, mate. I need a duet partner.”

Bluey and Bingo gasped. “You do??” they squealed in excitement.

“What?” said Bandit. “What about your mate?”

Joff scratched his head. “He told me he can’t make it. He lost his voice overnight. Something about allergies.”

Bandit blinked. “Wow. Crazy.”

Joff spoke fast. “I don’t have time to look around town for a replacement so I would really appreciate you doin’ it.”

Bandit took a step back. “Nah, mate, I’m no good anymore.”

“Please, mate?” Joff pleaded. “You’re gonna make a lotta people happy. That’s what it’s all about, right?”

Bandit felt a tug at his arm. “Yeah, dad,” said Bluey, “We like hearing you sing. Shouldn’t that be enough for others too?”

“It’s just that simple,” Bingo chimed in. A-a-and here came the please face.

It couldn’t have been that simple, could it?

Joff handed him a setlist and Bandit skimmed through it. He saw songs he could play and sing in a heartbeat. One in particular stuck out to him and he gave Joff a knowing look. “I think I know which one you wanna rehearse first.”

Joff looked at the ground, flashing a nervous smile. “I’m cheeky, yeah, but let’s just try this one song, then you can tell me if you wanna do the set, okay?”

Bandit would let Joff have the song he wanted to play, and his feelings wouldn’t change, right? That’s how this would go, and he’d return to the park with Bluey and Bingo.

The two dogs took seats opposite each other and Bandit set his Burgundy Beauty on his lap. Joff’s guitar was black, adorned with a decorative rose. Bandit couldn’t help some excitement bubble up inside him, despite his reservations.

“Okay, mate,” he said, “you know the leads?”

“Like the back of my paw,” said Joff.

“We’ll see. 1, 2, 3, 4.”

Hearing that silly song with the second guitar part after so many years made everything click in place.

“I’ll take the first verse, you go second,” said Joff as they neared it. Bandit nodded, grateful to have a much better singer set the standard for the performance.

“Girls like that

Girls like that don’t go for guys like us

I wanna see the facts

And she says, simply ‘no’

‘Uh-uh’

He sounded like he had been doing this for years, so when Bandit joined in on the chorus harmony, he didn’t expect much. But he was surprised again to hear their voices blend together perfectly.

“I’ll keep on looking for that lovin’ feeling

I’ll keep on looking for that lovin’ feeling

All of the chemists and witch doctors, they know

What I’ll never ever know”

Bluey and Bingo were shaking their tails to the music and Bandit couldn’t help but grin ear to ear. His warbling voice didn’t matter nor did his slightly rusty rhythm playing. What he missed most of all about music and playing live was what Joff said it was all about. He missed making others happy with a song. And with a look toward Joff and a nod, it was all that simple.

+++

“They know, they know, they know that lovin’ feeling

They know, the chemists and witch doctors know it,

They know, they know, they know that lovin’ feeling”

“This song’s my favorite!” said Bluey, bouncing up and down in the front of the market crowd.

Chilli laughed, tapping her foot. “You kids sure are something. How’d you convince him to get up there?”

“It wasn’t us,” Bingo pointed out, “It was Joff!”

Chilli saw Joff swaying to the rhythm, and Bandit wearing the goofiest grin as he strummed. He looked so happy up there, and that made her happy as well. Few things in life were as simple as that, but she’d allow this matter to be.

The song ended and the crowd cheered. Joff gave Bandit a high paw and stepped back to the mic. “How about a round for my good friend Bandit Heeler?”

Everyone clapped and hollered, and Bandit bowed and waved. Fanding his family, he winked at them, then howled, “Who likes to da-a-a-ance? 1, 2, 3, 4!”

#fanfiction #bluey #bluey heeler #bingo heeler #bandit heeler #busker #joff bluey #chilli heeler #pat bluey #lucky's dad #lucky bluey #fluff

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