The Last Night
=====
The stars are shining but there is no moon tonight. The stars that are my
memories will linger on, never dimming. Yet the true intensity of these past
months is gone.
Another marching season passed.
I stand here in the dark school, closed to all but the returning band students.
The hallways are dark; the only light available is that from a television,
shooting nothing but pure static through the band hall, giving an eerie illuminated
reflection in the trombones and trumpets, saxophones and mellophones, tubas
and euphoniums. Though there are hundreds of us, it is almost completely
silent here. We all share the same thoughts, and no words need to be spoken.
For the seniors, it is over. Tonight was the last night they will return
from a competition at three in the morning. Tonight was the last night they
will ever march a show for this school. Tonight was the last night at Bands
of America, standing in a block while the Finals Placements were announced.
Tonight was the last night they put their marching horns away, for tomorrow,
they will be assembling their concert horns. Tonight was the last night they
would ever wear their uniform.
My uniform…I almost don't want to put it back. The onyx black and forest
green jacket; stirrups in the ankles of the pants to pull them down; that
zipper that rusts all over whatever shirt you might be wearing underneath
it all…
I fold up the wings on the shoulder, the wings meant to make us look tougher,
the wings that flew us to Nationals and had finally rested on eighth place.
As I place my uniform, my Uniform 126, back in its place in the uniform room,
I can't help but notice the one right next to mine. Uniform 125. Nathan's
uniform. The uniform I always carried to the buses while Nathan loaded pit
instruments. The uniform I always put away at the end of the night, be it
a football game or a competition. The uniform that tonight, had instead been
placed its spot by the one who had worn it that night. I now realize...
…nothing is ever going to be the same.
=====
The stars are shining but there is no moon tonight. The stars that are my
memories will linger on, never dimming. Yet the true intensity of these past
months is gone.
Another marching season passed.
I stand here in the dark school, closed to all but the returning band students.
The hallways are dark; the only light available is that from a television,
shooting nothing but pure static through the band hall, giving an eerie illuminated
reflection in the trombones and trumpets, saxophones and mellophones, tubas
and euphoniums. Though there are hundreds of us, it is almost completely
silent here. We all share the same thoughts, and no words need to be spoken.
For the seniors, it is over. Tonight was the last night they will return
from a competition at three in the morning. Tonight was the last night they
will ever march a show for this school. Tonight was the last night at Bands
of America, standing in a block while the Finals Placements were announced.
Tonight was the last night they put their marching horns away, for tomorrow,
they will be assembling their concert horns. Tonight was the last night they
would ever wear their uniform.
My uniform…I almost don't want to put it back. The onyx black and forest
green jacket; stirrups in the ankles of the pants to pull them down; that
zipper that rusts all over whatever shirt you might be wearing underneath
it all…
I fold up the wings on the shoulder, the wings meant to make us look tougher,
the wings that flew us to Nationals and had finally rested on eighth place.
As I place my uniform, my Uniform 126, back in its place in the uniform room,
I can't help but notice the one right next to mine. Uniform 125. Nathan's
uniform. The uniform I always carried to the buses while Nathan loaded pit
instruments. The uniform I always put away at the end of the night, be it
a football game or a competition. The uniform that tonight, had instead been
placed its spot by the one who had worn it that night. I now realize...
…nothing is ever going to be the same.