Chapter 1: Prologue the boy who loved fiddle music.
Geoff at a young age was in a car accident while travelling with his friend's family, that resulted in injuries that would leave his torso and legs with many scars. Accros thé street from the hospital he was recovering is was an Irish pub with live maritime music. At night Geoff would leave the window open in his hospital room and listen to the fiddle music play.
The music that brought him joy and peace while recovering in pain inspired him. When he got out of the hospital Geoff knew he wanted to be a musician and learn to play the fiddle like the musicians who played in the bar across the street.
Geoff's parents needed a distraction for him, his release from the hospital was right when summer was starting. With all his injuries still healing, it was recommended he stay out of pools and beaches. Geoff loved to swim so it was heart breaking to hear we wasn't allowed to go. This gave him the opportunity to learn how to play the fiddle.
Most kids when learning an instrument would put in the minimum effort hoping they'd just get good after a while, but Geoff had a summer where he couldn't swim or go to the beach while his family stay at their beach side cottage. They built a little shed and sound proofed it so Geoff could practice with out bothering others.
By the end of the summer Geoff went from beginner to advanced. It didn't come to him naturally, he just practiced every day for 12 hours. When he performed for his teacher at the end of the summer, she said he was the most advanced student his age, she ever had the pleasure of teaching.
Going back to school brought a new anguish to Geoff, the car accident he survived, took the life of his friend. Someone everyone in his class like more than him. Everyone around him in the halls looked at him with disgust and blame for the loss of his friend, Patrick. To make matters worse the girls and some boys made fun of the scars visible on his arms while he was wearing a tee shirt. His first day brought an extra trial to his life in the 6th grade, the first day in Gym class. This meant getting changed in the locker room.
At the starting point of puberty, hormones kids will develop differently, having spent the summer in a shack playing the fiddle and not exercising Geoff was skinnier and more lanky than some of the other boys in his grade. Once they saw all his scars, they decided to call him "rag doll." As his body was covered in scars from the stitches and cuts. Like Frankenstein's monster or a rag doll made from patches of flesh. This gave fodder to some boys to become violent towards Geoff in the change room. He threw a punch to try and fend off one of the boys, but all it did was hurt his hand, and anger the boy he punched.
When Geoff got home he knew he'd have to change his wardrobe. He knew he wouldn't be able to wear t-shirts out about anymore, when people saw his scars they were grossed out. So he talked to his mom about hoodies and athletic wear. The next step was his own physical shape, Geoff didn't like the idea of weak, while looking at himself in the mirror he could see how scrawny he was and knew he needed help. Not just getting stronger but also finding a way to protect himself from being bullied, while protecting his hands so he could continue to play the fiddle.
Geoff got help from his neighbour, a high school student named Jacques. Jacques was was a football player and par for his name a jock. Geoff asked Jacques to train him to be stronger so he wouldn't get picked on and Jacques agreed to help him, but for a price. He also suggested that Geoff should take up martial arts to learn how to fight with out using his hands.
Geoff's new plan was in place, since he was an advanced musician he would try street performing for the money to pay for Jacques to train him. Once he was on the right path and didn't need Jacques training he then used the funds to pay for his Tae Kwon Do lessons. Plus the street performing helped him progress and a performer.
Years later Geoff was performing to earn some extra money, a man in a fine suit approached Geoff. He listened to Geoff perform a few songs and then asked him questions about his age, the school he attended and his dreams for a musical future. After a small chat the man gave Geoff his business card. It read "David Barrister, Dean of admissions. Brentford academy of performing arts."