Chapter One: A New Season
I woke up before my alarm clock went off that morning. It was about five till 6:00 am and I decided to just shut off the alarm before it could make its horribly loud sound. I lied in bed for a couple of minutes trying to fight the urge to just fall back asleep until I looked over at my clock on the night stand and saw it was 6:02. Slowly I rose from my bed and made my way to the bathroom.
I turned on the lights and looked at myself in the mirror for a moment. Uh I look like a freakn' zombie! I thought to myself. I started to take off my cloths and start the shower. When the water was warm enough I stepped inside and let the water fall on me. While I took my shower I couldn't help but think about how today was going to go like.
Today, September 15th was my marching band's first band competition. Band competitions were nothing new to me since this year I was a sophomore in high school and my freshman year had been full of success for our marching band. When I first joined the marching band way back when my band director asked me if I wanted to play the mellophone, and I said yes. It wasn't such a big switch for me since in middle school I played the French horn and the mellophone wasn't too much different from it. So through my whole freshman season I became a very good mellophone player.
This year however, was different and a big part of the show depended on me. What had happened was the oldest mellophone player from my freshman year had graduated and the one who was the second oldest had moved to another town over the summer. This only left me, Brian (a boy in my grade), and two freshmen. Since I was the best player my band director appointed me as section leader of the mellophones. I was happy about the decision, but this meant a lot of pressure on me. I was the youngest section leader of the band and for our show this year I was to play a very large solo in the second movement that pretty much took up the whole song.
I stepped out of the shower and dried myself off with a tower. Then I made my way back into my room put on a clean pair of underwear, a bra, blue jeans, and my maroon band t-shirt that read Morrison Marching Indians in gold thread. Looking back at the clock I quickly dried my brown hair and put it up in a messy pony tail. Then I bent down to put my shoes on and quickly ran down the stairs with my mellophone case in hand.
"Aren't you going to eat something?" my mom asked waiting by the front door.
"I don't have time right now mom, I'm going to be late if we don't leave now!" I told her as I grabbed my black jacket from the closet.
"Well could you at least just grab a piece of fruit or something other wise you'll be to weak to march today," she said.
I rolled my eyes and walked into the kitchen to grab an apple. We both walked outside into the chilly fall morning air and jumped in the car. The ride there only took about four minutes but it felt like forever. I was already nervous, great. When we finally arrived at the school I quickly got out of the car also hauling my horn case with me.
"I'll be here at 11:00 when you get back ok." She said through the passenger window.
I nodded to her and started too walked towards the band room entrance when she called to me again.
"Ally don't be nervous you'll do great today," she said waving goodbye.
I waved back then walked through the door and into the band hallway. When I got inside many of the other students were scurrying around trying to find their marching shows, uniforms, instruments, etc. I however, was prepared. I walked to my band locker and opened it. Inside were my marching shoes and my uniform. I grabbed them then with whole hands made my way back outside and to my bus where the other students were already loading their things and some already seated.
Once on the bus I made my way to the back where I saw my friend Jess waving and calling my name to come sit by her. I smiled at how loud she was compared to everyone else. When I finally got situated making sure my instrument was in a safe place and my uniform and shoes were together I sat next to my friend.
"Oh aren't you so excited!" she squealed. "It's our first competition!"
"Yeah I suppose I'm pretty excited," I said.
"You're just saying that because you're nervous," she said.
"I guess I am a little."
"Don't be it will be fine!"
I smiled and nodded to her. I guess I was just so nervous since it was my first time playing a solo. A couple of minutes later the buses started and we were off. The drive to the place we were going was about three away and we had to get ready for a parade show once we got there. Then later on that evening we would perform our marching show. Yep it was going to be a long day.