The Thermometer Song

Sarah replied, "Where did you get your flute?"

"My grandfather gave it to me. He taught me how to play, and I learned some songs from him. I have picked up songs from a number of people, and wrote a few myself."

"Really? With lyrics?"

"Yes, sometimes. I find that it is good to mix things up. People are freer with their donations. So, like for example, I wrote a song for one of the professors at Saint Sebastian's over on the west side of the city. He wanted something catchy that would stick in the minds of his students so that they could master a gizmo that assigns a number as to how cold or hot something is. Can you believe that? They do funny things like that at Saint Sebastian's. I know when it is cold and when it is hot without needing to give it a number. But the tune is catchy, and I find that it often works well as an icebreaker - no pun intended - when I start for the day. Let me teach it to you."

Roger whistled the harmony first, so that Sarah would know the song. The tune was similar to that of The Wabash Cannonball.

Take a break from what you're doing
And listen to my song
And if the spirit moves you
Feel free to sing along
There is much to the unlearned
That simply seems bizarre
So let me educate you
On the long quicksilver bar.

At the bottom is the blue band
Where the icy water stands
At ten above you wear your gloves
Or you'll need to rub your hands
Twenty marks out, the peppers sprout
And on the bushes bloom the rose
And at thirty, don't think dirty
But you should take off some clothes.

Sarah thought, "This place has invented the mercury thermometer, so they are somewhat beyond the Middle Ages in technology. The technology is not exactly new, but it is not widespread. I am going to guess that this city has the technology somewhere between that of Galileo's time to that of Newton's time. And scale that they are using is Celsius, or something similar. And I grew up in the one nation that stuck with Fahrenheit. Let's see. I remember 32 is zero, the melting point of ice. I memorized the conversion for 10, 20, and 30 as 50, 68, and 86 in Fahrenheit. It is not hard, just start at 32 and keep adding 18. I had to remember those temperatures when I visited overseas and needed to get a feel for the weather reports.

Roger then sang a few more verses softly, so as not to disturb the other diners. The remaining verses illustrated various temperature readings with mild innuendo, whimsy, or wit, and returned to the blue band verse as the refrain.

Roger also told her about the various ways that a busker could get people to loosen up. For example, if the busker could attract a crowd, and get people to sing, or to clap along, then the money would start flowing in. The key was to get the first person to contribute. Others would start to put coins in the till as well. One other point was clothing. Roger thought that they actually could make more money if she were wearing something. They did not have nearly enough yet for a really good performer's dress, but he was sure that they could find something simple that would meet two essential requirements for a lady busker's uniform - that it expose enough to attract attention but cover enough to leave something to the imagination and hold the men in the audience.

Sarah said, "You really have this all worked out. You said earlier that you heart belonged to another. Does she not do this type of work?"

Roger's face went blank. Sarah's stomach sank. She said, "Is my question inappropriate?"

Roger brought his right index finger to his cheek, and gently shook his head. He paused, weighing his answer.

Then he spoke softly, so that only Sarah could hear. "No, it's not inappropriate."

1. But I would rather talk about it at another time.
2. It would be hard for her to be a busker. She does not think the way that you or I do. There are some things that she does very well. And some things that she does not do very well.
3. She is a refugee. And it would be dangerous for her to appear in public.

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