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"Well, sometimes people swear at each other for the same reason... only they are very careful to only do it with people they know won't be hurt by what they say. And in a way, that is how you must treat all swearing. But some words are just plain vicious and ugly and shouldn't be used at any time. The problem is... I've heard you use those really ugly words many many times... right. So I was trying to get you to think about the words you said and why you said them... and most of all where you said them. Trust me, Taro... had you been sitting there trying to play and old lady Hawkins was sitting here in the kitcvhen with me when ye swore, I'd have scolded ye... not punished for what you said wasn't the end of the world... but I certainly would have called ye out. Is it any clearer now?"

"Sooo..." says Tam with a grin. "Tell me... when is it proper to curse and when isn't it?"

Tam teasingly cuffs his ear and waits for a serious answer.

Tam mutters something about insolent cubs under his breath and goes to finish the dishes. "Run through that piece again... from the top, using the fingering I showed ye now. It should make it more true to pitch."

Tam's head comes up with a start. "Hey now, watch where ye play that thing!" he growls in mock dismay. "Ye'll have Hope chasing me around the skies and not me brother."

"Because it is about something yer not supposed to be old enough to know about yet." growls Tam with a grin. "Sorry, Taro... in the scheme of things yer still a kid... and ummm... that is... a grownup song." (His answer is rather lame and he knows it, but unless ye give her a hint as to which song yer referring to, the poor author in the sky can't take it any further....)

Tam looks to make sure Hopian is napping soundly and motions for the cub to follow him outside. Once there he plops in his favorite chair and waits for the cub to get comfortable. "Well, they get scared for multiple reasons. Why don't you tell me why you think it scares them and I'll tell ye iffin yer right."

Tam sighs and shakes his head. "Remember what I said about swearing,,, well singing a s ong can have different meanings too. Some songs are merely pretty, nothing much to them... others well... they have underlying meaning... like a current in the stream, that mean something entirely different. and well... I really hate to break it to ye kid... even the pretty ones often mean something, at least to the ones who compose them."

He thinks for a bit and shrugs. "Some songs, like marches and songs of battle are meant to inspire and move people, either into motion or along a set mindset... others... such as love songs are written to express one's emotions...

"Other songs are designed to deliver the news and others yet to express worship and devotion. The ones you are learning to play for the temple fall into that category. They are worship songs.

"And then there are the humorous songs, which are in many ways, a whole different ball of wax... for they have almost as many uses and meanings as there are stars in the skies. Songs like the one you just played fall into those. Some humorous songs are merely silly, deisgned to make people lalugh... others are rather mean, designed to poke fun at people... I try not to sing those without good reason... As for the ones that pertain to... well... certain forms of courting and partnering are a bit iffy... many were wrote to belittle individuals the composer knew... or to question certain practices... thy cover topics often best left behind closed doors. Topics children should not know about... yet. And focus on subjects that make many people cringe... trouble is.. like getting scared... as long as it is done in good fate and not for real... most people like to cringe.. if only a little."