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“So, if you work in the studio environment for a living, you do have to do a few things to protect your hearing. Headphones are great for a home studio for some things, but trying to hear those low-low notes for accuracy can have your mix up high enough to damage your hearing, long-term. That's why I invested in the soundproofing for this room instead of always using the headphones.”
21-year-old Melvin Trent was explaining to the friends of his nine-year-old brother Milton and nine-year-old cousin Vertran Stepforth things about the studio.
“OK, so, we need to know where you got all that, and to raise some money,” ten-year-old Andrew Ludlow said as he took notes.
“Yep, definitely setting up telephone rooms for both Papa and Cousin Harry,” Andrew's eleven-year-old sister Eleanor said.
“I mean, you can't even hear those big bass notes through this stuff, and of course Angel of Death stuff is quiet, so this is going to be perfect,” Andrew said.
“Y'all really don't like it when stupid people call the house and have to be dealt with, huh?” Melvin said.
“It's like Amanda says,” Andrew said. “That's not safe for anyone. Cousin Harry stays calmer, but you don't get anywhere with that because you just know the other person is dying, and then with Papa, although he doesn't go there as often, it's just the end of the world and you wish you could die but you just have to take it.”
“Have you considered sitting down and talking with your grandfather and your cousin about all this?” Melvin said. “I know your grandfather knows how he affects y'all because he has toned it down a lot, and maybe Cousin Harry doesn't.”
Eleanor and Andrew looked at each other.
“Well, the main problem there is, our little siblings don't know better than to be eavesdropping on Cousin Harry – he stays quiet, and half the time walks away from the house anyhow, but we gotta have something that works on time, every time,” Eleanor said.
“Curiosity kills cats and little brothers in particular,” Andrew said. “Edwina is immune because really she's just like Papa and Cousin Harry and is trying to learn which is really a whole problem by itself, and Amanda already knows it's not safe, but you know Robert is 5 and Grayson is 6 and George is 9 and living dangerously with Milton all the time anyway, so we really gotta make sure to protect him where we can.”
Melvin considered all this with a straight face, knowing he was going to fall out laughing with the adults in his family later, and then said, “I think I have a solution so you don't need to break your piggy banks: personal emergency stupidity call dampers, known in the rest of the world as foam earplugs, but the thing is, they are nice and soft and you can roll them down to any size you need. I use them to make sure Milton doesn't wake up again when he goes to sleep in here, and you can use them to help your little brothers, too.”
Melvin went and got a fresh box of foam earplugs in addition to bringing an older box that was already open.
“There are seven of y'all Ludlow cousin-siblings, so I'm giving you this whole box with 36 in it – 18 pairs,” he said. “Let me show you how to roll them up to get them in your ears, and then y'all can practice on each other. The main thing is, it's like masks on an airplane in an emergency: put yours in first, because if you don't stay safe, who is going to be able to help your little brothers?”
“Right,” Eleanor and Andrew said, and got the use of personal emergency stupidity call dampers all the way down into a drill.
“OK, I think we've got this!” Eleanor said before joining Andrew in giving Melvin a hug.
“Thanks, Big Bruh Melvin,” Andrew said. “We definitely owe you lots!”
“We're going to get Papa back in here when he gets home to make you and him some more money!” Eleanor said.
“Yeah, that one voiceover he did for that 'Hashtag: Side Hustle' beat is definitely hitting – by the time he gets back, I'll be handing y'all another royalty check,” Melvin said. “Your grandfather can come by anytime – tell him I have ten more good beat ideas for him to be on, and I also can set up for him singing!”
The two elder Ludlow grandchildren left rejoicing, and Melvin's grandfather, Thomas Stepforth Sr., eased into the studio.
“You remind me of both your great-grandfathers, both my father Theodore with me, and Big Mama Velma's Big Daddy, Valiant Moore,” he said, “and also your own father, Sgt. Vincent Trent. You are wonderful with children, Melvin.”
“Well, it is the men I grew up under, including you,” Melvin said. “I saw how you treated Grandma during the divorce time, and how Dad treated Mom – never any foolish, hurtful behavior around us, just like there never was before. And then in fairness, Capt. Ludlow has brought his voice down 98 percent, and Col. Lee stays in that garage or heading away from the house when he gets hard calls. It all goes back to something Big Daddy Valiant said when I was six to Cousin Tim when he was wilding out having fits and yelling at his family: “Grandson, listen: ain't no man worthy of the name gonna have his family living in fear of his foolishness, talking about respect. Ain't no respect in making your wife and y'all's seed scared to be around you. Calm it down.”
“And he did,” Mr. Stepforth said. “When Big Daddy Valiant – already 86 then – feels the need to roll up on you, you tend to stop doing whatever foolery you are doing."
“Well, we all know Big Daddy Valiant is bidding to live a whole 'nother century now,” Melvin said, “and so I have made up my mind that he and I are never going to have that particular conversation. No fear and foolishness around children, period – life is already hard enough for them and us.”
“Agreed,” Mr. Stepforth said. “Big Daddy Valiant does not need to have to get that Cadillac out and roll up – good, Melvin, good thinking.”
“Does he still have his license?” Melvin said.
“Just passed his last driver's test in style,” Mr. Stepforth said, “so yes: protect the children and yourself, Melvin!”