Chapter 2

The school bell rang to signal the start of another school year. Gordon sat in the music room as the students piled into their seats. It was nice for him to have his mixed year music class as the first class of the year. The mixed year class comprised all students that weren’t in grade 9, or freshmen to some. These were mostly all returning students who didn’t need introductory training on which end of a trombone to blow into.

As each student took their place, he recognized most of the faces in the class. One person stood out above the rest; it was a girl in the first row with flaming red hair. She looked at him with a warm smile, like she was seeing an old friend she hadn’t seen in years. He wanted to talk to her personally, to see how her summer went, but he knew he couldn’t do that. The last straggler came in just before the final bell sounded, signaling the start of class.

Gordon did attendance, but since he knew all but two students, he just checked around to make sure everyone was there. He introduced himself to the new ones and found out what their previous experience in music was. He went through his normal speech about the rules of his classroom. No food or drink, except water when they are using instruments, respect other students who are trying, respect the instruments as they are expensive, and respect yourself, give yourself time to learn and adapt to new challenges.

The rest of the period was spent assigning instruments, some light homework of reading a section on music history and informing everyone of band practice and tryouts in two weeks. Throughout class, Gordon’s eye was drawn to Kelsey, who looked sharp in a white shirt and short black skirt. He did his best to keep himself on track, but there was an awkward pause when he assigned Kelsey her clarinet. It was the same one as last year, which he had put aside for her specifically, in his office. He tried to play it off as he forgot to put it back in the supply room last year.

As the bell finally sounded to end the period and most students made their way out of class, Kelsey approached him. She was wearing a white T-shirt and a black skirt that showed off her legs. She looked like she filled out a little bit over the summer, with her hips a little wider and chest a little bigger. Gordon guessed she wore a B-cup bra, not too big but not small either. She hadn’t grown much in height, standing a few inches shorter than is six-foot frame. Her green eyes still sparkled though, sitting above her small nose dusted with a few freckles on it. Her pale complexion highlighted the brightness of her red hair. He smiled at her as she came near.

“Hi, Mr. O. Any chance we could meet at lunch to go over my practice schedule?” she asked, with that warm smile. He would have been surprised had it been any other student, but with Kelsey, it seemed like a normal request.

“Um, yes. I think I could do that. Are you thinking about trying out for one of the chair positions?” he wondered.

“I think I might, but I want to make sure I’m good and ready first. So, lunch then?”

“Yes, Ms. Moore, I’ll see you at lunch,” Gordon said, his mouth going slightly dry, and he could feel his hands shake slightly.

“See you then,” she said in a chirpy tone before spinning around and running out of class, with her skirt lifting up far enough during the spin for Gordon to see her young, milky white thighs. When he was the only one left in the room, he fell down into a chair, his legs weak. He was lucky this was his free period. He just sat there wondering what this year would bring.

Kelsey couldn’t wait for her next period to end. English was really dry, even if she got great marks in it. She was excited to have lunch with Mr. O. again. It was so nice to see him after summer break, and she wore her outfit specifically for him. Something cute, but it looked like their band uniform. She hoped he noticed.

She still had a large crush on Mr. O. She spent many nights dreaming of him sweeping her off her feet and them moving far away together, but she knew that was just childish fantasy. She imagined kissing his warm lips and running her hands through his thick dark brown hair. He had a warm, knowing look to him that put her at ease, which she couldn’t explain. Maybe it was his relaxed, caring demeanor or maybe it was how handsome he looked in his sweaters and ironed slacks. He just seemed so much more mature than the boys at her school.

Her friends, Vicki and Stephanie, told her she should date one of the football players so she could regain some respect with the popular kids. Kelsey didn’t want to do that, though. She didn’t want to date someone just to become popular. That seemed gross. You should date someone because you like them. They could date them if they wanted to be popular so badly.

Kelsey watched the clock slowly tick down to lunch. She was only half paying attention to Ms. Emery, when she was asked a question. She didn’t know how to respond, which got her scolded for daydreaming in class. That snapped her out of it. She was alert for the last twenty minutes of English till the bell rang for lunch.

Kelsey got up and went to her locker, where she got her lunch and clarinet before heading to the music room. She was stopped by Vicki, wondering where she was going. Kelsey explained she was talking to Mr. O. about setting up her practice schedule for the semester and what piece she should play for the tryout.

Vicki looked frustrated with her friend. “Why are you still doing that? Get out of it and hang out with us for lunch. Don’t you think you’ve carried this crush thing for long enough?”

“Look Vicki, you’re one of my best friends, but I choose what I do with my time. I like being in the band and I like practicing clarinet. It helps me forget about life, school, and stress. You don’t have to join, I don’t care either way, but don’t tell me what to do!” Kelsey said forcibly before pushing past her towards the music room.

When she opened the door to the music room, she found Mr. O. sitting at a piano playing a song she’d never heard before. It sounded beautiful; a quiet haunting tune that felt of loneliness. He stopped when he heard the door shut behind her.

“Hello Kelsey, got your lunch?” he asked, smiling.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to interrupt. What were you playing?” Kelsey asked.

“Oh that, I don’t know. I just sort of made it up as I was playing. Come on, let’s sit down and tell me what you need.” He gestured towards a couple of chairs in the front row before picking up a bag that probably had his lunch in it. Kelsey nodded and took a seat, and he sat down next to her.

Kelsey’s stomach was a flutter, getting to be alone with Mr. O. again. He looked great, a bit more tanned than when she last saw him, and he looked a bit more muscular, but that just could be in her head.

“Well, Mr. O., I’d like to set up a practice schedule like last year,” Kelsey said before taking a bite of her sandwich.

“Ok, you could always just book the room like you did last year. The new calendar is on the wall. Why did you need a sit down?” Mr. O. asked, looking confused.

“I know, and I’ll do that shortly. I just wanted to know what the plan for the band this year was. Are we doing the same schedule as last year? If so, is there a way that I could squeeze in more practice sessions?”

“More practice? Kelsey, I think you practice more than professional musicians,” he said, laughing, “If your progress from last year was any indication, you’ll do just fine this year.”

“I know, it’s just ... you know I can’t practice at home. I just want to be able to play more,” Kelsey said, looking into his eyes. She could see him freeze for a moment, as if lost someplace before he snapped out of it.

“Alright Kelsey, you can use my office if the other two rooms are booked, ok?” He suggested.

Kelsey smiled and nodded her head. They spent the rest of lunch catching up on what they each did through the summer. Kelsey talked about visiting friends and going to the beach when she could. She knew that next summer, she’d probably have to get a job to start saving for future college expenses. Mr. O. told her how he got a second job putting up drywall to help pay bills and that he started working on writing his own music. To Kelsey, it felt like catching up with a friend she hadn’t seen in months, much like she did with her fellow students.

She was told the date of the first band practice and that she needed a solo to play if she wanted to try out for a chair position. Kelsey signed up for practice room 1 every Tuesday and Thursday after school as usual. At that, the warning bell went off, and it was time for them to part. They both packed up to head to their respective classrooms. Kelsey had math next, while Mr. O. said he had a biology class to teach.

It was a couple of weeks into September at lunchtime, and it was the first gathering of this year’s band members. Gordon had already listened to all the potential soloists looking for lead positions in the band and was ready to make the announcements shortly. The band had filled out nicely this year. Many of the seniors were replaced by new students, who’d either transferred in or were from his entry year class with musical experience.

He settled the group and welcomed them to the band. He was hoping that this year, they would be able to accomplish what they came so close to doing the year before. He then began listing the first and second chairs for each of the sections. Most were seniors, who were in their final year, mature, and practiced. They could help bear some of the responsibilities of keeping their sections in check. The rest were in grade 11, or 3^rd year at the school with strong fundamentals, leadership, and a good work ethic.

The final one, though, the second chair of the clarinets, fell to a grade 10 student. While well regarded from her first year in the band, it was very unusual for someone so young to be given a leadership position. Murmurs and whispers followed Kelsey’s assignment, but Gordon knew she could prove herself with time. Her solo was the best of all the woodwinds and most of the band, but he knew she wasn’t ready for the first chair position. Not for her abilities and work ethic, but due to the friction that would happen with the others in her group, should she be in charge. He was afraid several seniors would quit, so he put her in the backup support role, hoping next year to move her into the lead position.

Despite the whispers and rumblings, Gordon looked at Kelsey, who was beaming with pride. She held her clarinet tight in her hands as she smiled at her teacher. He simply nodded and proceeded to get everyone back on track. Sheet music was handed out for some of the songs they needed to start practicing, both for future concerts as well as the pieces needed for competition. He chose one piece specifically because it had dueling clarinet solos for each of his chair players. If they could each nail their parts, it would be a spectacular performance.

For the rest of September and into early October, Kelsey practiced and played almost every day at school. She would stay late every day after school, working on her solo and learning all the music she needed to play. She wasn’t blind and deaf to the whispers and rumblings from some members of the band. She overheard people talking about her being a kiss-ass and flirting with Mr. O. and that she spent so much time practicing just to be around him.

Some of the senior girls in her section were the worst. They wouldn’t listen to or acknowledge any advice or input she provided. Luckily, the new first chair, Chrissy, would keep them in line. Chrissy was a nice girl, supportive and helpful to anyone in her section. She was a senior and had started playing right when she got to high school, so she knew the system and how Mr. O. wanted things to run. Kelsey liked her a lot and hoped they might become friends.

Kelsey’s current friends, Vicki and Stephanie, were becoming colder to her. They started dating a couple of guys from the football team, trying to fit in with the cool kids. She didn’t see them as much, but when she did, it was usually short and abrupt. Kelsey wasn’t too sure what to do. Losing a bunch of new people she didn’t really know was one thing, but losing her two best friends was another. She knew at some point she’d either have to make a choice or find some way to find a middle ground with them.

It was the end of the day on Thursday, when Kelsey picked up her clarinet case from her locker and headed to the music room for her regular practice session. As she passed a couple of girls, she heard them call her a teacher’s pet. She didn’t even know who these girls were or how they knew her. As she walked, she noticed a few more eyes on her than usual. She quickened her pace and made it to the room where she felt safe. As she opened the inner door, she was shocked to find Mr. O. and Ms. Emery kissing.

The sound of the door closing broke them apart, and Ms. Emery said goodbye and walked to the door, saying hello to Kelsey as she passed. Kelsey, upset from what occurred in the hallway and now seeing this, felt hot tears run down her face as she walked to the practice room and shut the door. A couple of moments later, as she was warming up, she heard knocking at the door and grudgingly opened it.

“Kelsey, are you ok?” Mr. O. asked, looking worried.

“I’m fine,” Kelsey snapped, a little more aggressively than she intended.

“You don’t sound fine. Do you want to talk about it?”

Kelsey sat there for a moment. The frustration, pain, and anguish from everything boiling under the surface finally boiled over. She put her clarinet down and started crying.

“Kelsey? What’s the matter?” Mr. O. said, putting an arm around her.

“Everything’s falling apart. My friends hate me, my band mates hate me, I’m being called names in the hall and...” she said through her tears, “I don’t know what to do.”

“Oh wow! I’m so sorry, Kelsey. Why don’t you tell me about it?” he said calmly.

Kelsey told him about her trouble with her friends, the issues with the rest of the section, and the new issue of her being talked about in the hall. During their conversation, Mr. O. kept his arm around her, and he held her hand, making her feel more comfortable. He did his best to try to help her with her problems, suggesting talking to her friends to see what went wrong. He offered to talk to the section about infighting and childish behavior, but Kelsey said she needed to figure that one out for herself if she truly wanted to be a leader. He didn’t really know what to do about the final one, as bullying and name-calling, unfortunately, do happen. He suggested she try to tune it out as best she could.

Kelsey was starting to feel better, having had the chance to vent about everything building inside her. She didn’t mention Ms. Emery, though, not at first. As they both started packing up to go home for the night, Kelsey had to ask, “So, you and Ms. Emery?”

“Uh ... yeah, you saw that, did you?” he sounded nervous to her, “It’s still new, only started a few weeks ago.”

“That’s good, right? She’s pretty, you like her, right?” Kelsey asked, prying slightly for details.

“I feel weird talking about this with you,” he said, looking at the attractive young girl in front of him.

“We’re just sharing, like I did earlier, but if you don’t want to, I understand,” Kelsey said, then started to head for the door.

“You’re right, I’m sorry,” he said, and Kelsey stopped and turned around. “I do like her, I’m just not sure about dating someone at work. It never ends well.”

“But you’ll never know unless you try, right Mr. O?” Kelsey said, trying to give adult advice.

“That’s true. Thank you, Kelsey. You are too mature for your age. I’d like to talk more, but we’d better get out of here before the custodians come in and kick us out.”

“Ok, maybe we could talk another day,” Kelsey suggested.

“Maybe. I wouldn’t want to interrupt your practice schedule,” Mr. O. said with a smile.