AHHHHHHH!!!!!! - Post #245

I DID IT!!!! AHHHHH!!!!

A recap may be necessary, due to a recent lack of postage.

--Flashback--
We see a girl, nervously attending her first jazz band meeting. She's new on the saxophone, only had it for two weeks, and doesn't have a clue why she's trying this except that she's crazy about a certain drummer over thataways. But we all know that.

Anywho, they're practicing out on the stage, and as she sits under the lights and struggles through the songs reading off Scaryman's music, she feels the magic of jazz sweep over her like the warmth of the sun on a cool morning. She feels alive. Here is a challenge, something she can work at and improve in, the challenge school just isn't giving her. Here is something to believe in.

Cut to a week later. She struggling, but loving it. She's putting in the time and the work, and she's improving, if only a little. Her teacher says she's crazy to try jazz band after three weeks, but she says she just likes it, doesn't hope to get anywhere. Still, when Mr. Duffman announces there will be tryouts, she's crushed. There's no way she can beat the other second alto, and no way she'd want to. He's a senior. She has no chance.

But still, she does her best, going over and over the two assigned pieces until her lips are dry and chapped and her fingers numb and sore. Her eyes tear with frustration. Where is the sudden rush of talent that comes in the movies? The sudden fast forward to excellence, to success? Curse reality!

The day comes. The audition. Her, the senior alto, and little Jerry. Of course, she has to play first. First, it's just with the rhythm section - the drums, bass, and guitar. Essentially a solo. Her mouth goes dry and her palms are sweaty, knees weak, arms are heavy (heh, moving on), and she struggles through. It's not perfect, shaky, bad tone, and she messes up a lot, but she makes it through. Then again, with Mr. Scaryman, the first alto. This is better, she's good backing up someone else.

Things could be made slightly better by the manila folder and pencil sign her drummer holds up from his corner of the room. "U ROCK."

Then the senior alto goes, blows them all away as expected, and Jerry, who's hardly been playing long enough to count, but who gives an amazing show for the amount of time he had.

Then the announcement from the Mr. Duffman. "I'm going to take Mr. Scaryman, Ms. Tenor Sax, and Mr. Bass out into the piano room to deliberate. I'll tell you this much." A glance straight at the girl. "I do not like to double up on parts. But there are a lot of options. I'll be back."

They leave. Time passes slowly. She's resigned herself to failure, but is okay with that. She put forth a noble effort, most would say. Perhaps a little too ambitious.

They get called in. Mr. Scaryman, Ms. Tenor Sax, and Mr. Bass are gone. Mr. Duffman looks seriously over the top of his glasses, and tells them the story. The senior sax's tone was amazing, in fact, he overpowered Mr. Scaryman. Because of his talent for saxophone, he is going to pick up baritone saxophone for the winter concert, then be granted first alto for the spring, a very challenging but impressive position. he is satisfied. Little Jerry will be playing clarinet, his native instrument, on two pieces in the winter, and has a shot at the baritone in the spring.

He turns on the girl. She doesn't dare to hope, but the words somehow some out of his mouth. She will be playing second alto for the winter concert, and the spring one as well. It will take work, but she balances Mr. Scaryman and later the senior alto adequately.

She leaves the room in a daze, is hardly able to tell her drummer, bounces back into the band room (getting a disturbed half-smile from Mr. Scaryman), and is on a cloud. She can't believe it. She did it.

---End Flashback---

Um. Yeah. I can't believe it either. Like...holy crap. I did it. This is going to take SO much work, but I did it.

Jazz band...

<3

--Iona