Instrumental

Chapter 2

The minute the band scatters for break, our director, Ms. Cortez, catches my eye and heads straight toward me.

I’m in charge of a group that’s at the wrong end of the grade curve for her pop quiz yesterday. It didn’t matter that I knew what I was doing. Playing with this marching band will be more than reading notes and music instrumental lessons. After reaming out the sophomore band members in front of everyone, Ms. Cortez is running on a real lean mix this morning.

"Seth, grab Brooke. My office. Now." She continues back towards the drumline.

I exhale and scan the room.

Brooke Campbell is near the courtyard doors.

I move quickly, pushing folding chairs and holding back from shoving people aside in the same manner. "Brooke!" I call.

She stops short, startled.

"Ms. Cortez wants us in her office. Now."

Brooke pales.

A few upperclassmen are in the band office when we walk in, gathering papers, writing things down, and entering information on laptops.

I don’t know what to do with myself and feel uncharacteristically out of place. Everyone seems to have a purpose here.

I’m waiting for a sentence.

Ms. Cortez marches in. "Everyone out except Brooke and Seth."

Everyone scurries out of the room.

Ms. Cortez slams the door. "What are you guys doing about this?"

Brooke and I exchange looks.

"I don’t know," I reply.

"Wrong answer, Mr. Banik," Ms. Cortez retorts. "Here’s your first lesson in leadership. When something goes wrong, I blame you first."

Brooke clears her throat. "But it’s not Seth’s fault-"

"I don’t care. The buck stops with him with regards to the sophomore class."

Brooke’s eyes widen as I bite my lip.

Ms. Cortez crosses her arms. "These positions aren’t popularity contests to make you guys feel good about yourselves. They’re real, functional responsibilities that I hold people accountable to. We wouldn’t be able to accomplish what we do, and this organization would fail without them."

She pauses while I take that in.

"I’m only one person at the helm of a one hundred fifty plus member high school band," she continues. "I cannot run this place without students taking responsibility, especially those in charge." Her dark eyes zero in on me. "Seth, you need to have a beat on what’s going on in your class. If they don’t know the music and marching, you should be the first to know, not the last."

I nod. Valid point. I was told part of my duties as sophomore band representative was to help my class learn music and marching.

Epic fail there. Not that I’m the only one tasked with that responsibility. But our performance yesterday as a class squarely places this ball in my court.

"I don’t care how you do it," she says. "My suggestion is to gather a posse that can keep eyes and ears out for you. I’ve started for you. That’s why Brooke is here."

"Me?" Brooke squeaks.

"Yes. The sophomores respect both of you, and I suggest you capitalize on that. You’re in a unique position to help turn things around. They’ll take your cues and follow your lead without even realizing it. And you guys might as well tap into Xiang’s enthusiasm. Maybe she can whip up the sophomores."

That’s a good idea. I’m a little lacking in that department though Brooke is usually encouraging. Li Xiang has optimism and enthusiasm for days. She could be the entire cheerleading squad for this school.

"The like ten of you who know what you’re doing can’t carry the weight of the class," Ms. Cortez says. "You guys have to pull them up with you."

I nod. "I understand."

She stares at me for a moment. "Do you?"

"Yes?"

"Let me make this perfectly clear." She narrows her eyes. "You will fix this. We are performing in that parade. So I’m asking again, what are you doing about this situation?"

I’m used to soccer coaches hollering at us, but the pressure Ms. Cortez is putting on me is unlike anything I’ve felt before. All done without raising her voice. I’ve never been held personally responsible for so many people. And Ms. Cortez expects, no demands, results.

Man up, Seth. Get your brain in gear. No excuses. "I’ll call a sophomore meeting after band camp today to get rolling on solutions."

"That’s a start." Ms. Cortez nods. "Usually, it takes longer for problems to arise, giving the sophomore rep more time to get used to their role. I recognize that you’re at a disadvantage, but the needs and expectations will not change."

I nod. "Understood."

"You have a real problem out there, Seth," she says quietly. "It’s not all about skill. The section and squad leaders and I can rant and rave all we want. But at the end of the day, this band accomplishes what it does primarily because each and every member takes pride in what they do individually and in who we are together. That and a love for music is the engine that pushes them and keeps this organization alive." She pauses. "I know you two understand that. You need to find a way to teach it to the rest of your class."

I exhale. That just took things to a whole new level. I rather just teach them music notes and sit on them to practice.

Teach them pride? What’s there to teach? Why would you want your signature on something that’s not your best? I feel like that should be intuitive, but I guess it’s not. Why reach if it’s not for excellence?

"I’ll let you start working." Ms. Cortez leaves the office.

I look at Brooke. "Ideas?"

Brooke shakes her head and sighs. "None. I think I need a moment."

"Go ahead and take it. I’m finding Will. I need backup."

"That’s a good idea."

I walk out of the band office, scanning the room for Will Cox. He hasn’t moved from his seat, so I don’t have to search for him.

He jumps up and meets me halfway across the room. "How’d that go? I saw you and Brooke go in. Closed doors."

"Not well."

"Get hollered at good? It’s not your fault."

I shake my head. "She doesn’t holler. She just has high expectations, and we are to deliver. No questions asked."

Will raises an eyebrow.

I shrug. "Honestly, it wasn’t that bad, but it’s a serious wake-up call. We’ll need to light a fire under the sophomores."

"We?"

I clap him on the back. "You’ve just been drafted. Ms. Cortez told me to get a posse, and I need a right-hand man. She said there’s like ten people who know what they’re doing."

Will cringes.

"I hope she’s exaggerating, but I’m scared she wasn’t." I press my lips together. "She wants us to teach them pride."

He studies me for a moment. "Then we lead by example." A slow grin lights his face. "Who do you know that talks more junk than me?"

"We need to do a little more than talk junk, Will."

"I know. But that’s half the battle." He smirks. "Because at some point, you begin believing the junk. And while they’re doing that, our posse can actually help them develop the skills to back the junk."

I chuckle. "That’s your master plan?"

"It’s hard to stand in the light of such brilliance, isn’t it?"

"You’re definitely the man for the job. Go ahead and blind everyone with your brilliant example."