An Unfortunate Miracle: Part I

Chapter Two

A Farewell Present


Author's Note: Sorry if the first chapter was a bit confusing. (The accident was on May 13.) I hope this is better. There are a quite a few references to band in here, so if you have any questions, please ask!

This will be a long chapter, the last chapter that takes place in America. This chapter also establishes a few things that are essential to keep my character from turning into a Mary-Sue in later chapters.


Author's Note Part 2 (11/22/06): This chapter wasn't quite as bad as the first, but it still needed editing. For those of you who are rereading this (though I doubt there are many), you know that some of what I established in this chapter to keep Ivy from turning Mary-Sue didn't help much. But there are other things in here, some things you know about and some things I am still considering for Part III, that you might want to remember. But most of the Part III stuff was added in, very subtly. Or at least I hope so.

Also, sorry about the weird POV change. There is a reason for it, but I will work on it so it's a bit smoother. In case you're confused, the rest of the story will be in Ivy's POV.

Yeah, so read on, and don't forget to review!


It had been two weeks since the accident. My brother Scott and I were about to leave for our first day back to school. My best friends, Kailee Hunter and Clover Maxwell, was getting my homework from all my teachers and telling me what I was missing in band. One of Scott's friends was doing the same for him.

I sighed as I pulled my dark red hair back into a ponytail. I knew that day was going to be weird. I wondered if people would stare. Would they point and whisper behind their hands, as if I couldn't hear them?

I shook my head, shaking the thought from my mind. I'm not Harry Potter, I scolded myself. Not everyone knows my name. It would be nice, though, to have an Invisibility Cloak to hide under for the rest of the year.

Scott suddenly opened my bedroom door, and I jumped, startled. His dyed black hair was getting so long, now hanging down jus past his ears, and hiding his blue eyes. I would have to make him get it cut soon.

Scott was glaring at me, looking annoyed. "Are you ready yet? You wanted to get up this early, you could at least be ready."

I rolled my eyes half-heartedly and picked up my book bag. "Yeah, I'm ready. Have you let Snuffles out?"

It was Scott's turn to roll his eyes at the name our dog, originally Snoopy, had picked up quickly. "Yes, can we go now?"

I nodded and grabbed my car keys. "Yeah."

After dropping Scott off at his school and reminding him to ride the bus home, I drove to my school.

I was 45 minutes early. I didn't see anyone I knew, but some people did look at me funny. They must have seen my picture in the paper or something. I ignored them, a skill I had perfected from all those times I had been teased in middle school, and went straight to my locker.

I had Algebra first hour, so I put my flute and my bag in my locker, grabbed my Algebra stuff, and headed for my class.

Algebra was out in one of the portables behind the school. When I walked in, my teacher greeted me.

"Welcome back, Ivy. I hope that friend of yours got your assignments to you," she said stiffly, as if she didn't trust Kailee and Clover at all.

"Yes ma'am. I have them." I gave them to her, left my books on my desk, and left.

Outside, I looked at my watch. I still had 35 minutes before class started. I decided to take a walk around the school to kill time. I saw a few people I knew, who either said hi, or just didn't notice me. If it was the latter, I didn't do anything to draw attention to myself.

As I walked by the music lobby, I nearly collided with my band director, Mr. Spiler.

"Ivy! Welcome back!" He was much more cheery than my Algebra teacher, though he was a bit creepy sometimes. "The band placement list for next year went up while you were gone. You made Concert Band." My heart soared. Concert Band. The highest band. "You also made the leadership team for marching band."

That was when I remembered. My smile fell from my face. "Sir, I'll be in England next year. That's where my aunt lives, I have to go live with her."

"Oh." He looked slightly disappointed. "I'll talk to Mr. Green about your Concert Band spot." Mr. Green was the other band director. He was in charge of Symphony and Concert Band, while Spiler was in charge of Freshman and Repertoire Band. I was in Repertoire Band. Spiler continued, "And that leaves the Low Brass without a section leader."

"I'm sorry, I really wanted to do it."

"That's all right, but do you want me to pick someone, or would you like to?"

"I can do it," I said. I noticed Kailee's boyfriend walk into the band room, and I made a mental note to tell her where he was.

"All right, I'll let you think about that. I trust you'll choose someone worthy of the spot." He left me standing outside the music lobby.

I felt like crying. I had wanted to be in Concert Band and be section leader so badly, and now I had to turn it down.

I swallowed the lump in my throat and walked into the music lobby. I found the Leadership Team list taped on to the door of the guard closet. There it was.

Low Brass Section Leader: Ivy Wolfe

I took out my pen and crossed out my name. Next to my scribble, I wrote "TBA". I put the cap back on my pen and left the music lobby. I didn't bother going into the band room like I normally did.

I sat down outside the music lobby, in front of the window, where I wouldn't be in the way. I tried to forget about Concert Band, and focused on my other problem: finding a new section leader.

I knew my options. Mike, a trombone player and the obvious best choice, had gotten the open drum major spot, so I couldn't pick him. My only other choices were Wendie, last year's flute section leader who was switching to tuba, and Justin Wallace, another trombone player and the guy I happen to have a crush on.

This was a dilemma. Forgetting the fact that I have a crush on him, you might think I should choose Justin, since he knows the section better, but it's not that easy. Wendie has more experience as section leader, and Justin has more Low Brass experience. I hit my head on the window.

This was going to be a long day.

"Ivy! You're back!"

I looked up. Kailee was standing over me, grinning. Clover was right behind her, and they both looked incredibly happy to see me. Standing next to Clover was Nick Brown, Kailee's ex-boyfriend. Kailee and Nick were a year younger than Clover and I, and all three of them played trumpet.

I stood up, giving the three of them an accusing look. "Why didn't you tell me I got into Concert Band and the Leadership Team?"

Nick's eyes lit up. "The Leadership Team list is up?" he asked, and hurried past us into the music lobby. The rest of us rolled our eyes.

"Well, since I'm going to be in England next year, I have to pick someone else to take my place."

"Mike," said Kailee.

I shook my head. "He got drum major."

"Who does that leave?" asked Clover.

"Wendie and Justin are the only other seniors in Low Brass next year."

Kailee winced. "Ooh, toughie." Then she paused. "Wait, I thought Wendie was the flute section leader?"

"She was, but she's switching to tuba."

She shrugged. "I dunno, worry about it later. I want to go find Jacy."

I rolled my eyes. Jacy Perry was Kailee's boyfriend. She was crazy about him. Head-over-heels crazy. I let her drag us down the hall, until I remembered that I had seen him go into the band room.


A couple weeks after school ended, on June 22, all of mine and Scott's things were packed into boxes. Our house would be watched over, until I was of age, by some person who had nothing better to do. We were to leave anything that we did not absolutely need. I had to leave my computer since it was too big.

I had packed my flute, my clarinet, and all my music, since I knew music would keep me sane. I even packed my green, plastic baritone mouthpiece, even though I doubted I would find a baritone to play in England. I planned on making it very clear that I absolutely would not attend a school that did not have a band program. I also packed my yearbooks, my CD player, and every CD I owned. I had splurged and bought 10 or 11 notebooks so I could write everything down. I bought Tic-Tacs, Pixy Stix, Sierra Mist, and Zebra Cakes. I didn't know what American stuff they had in England.

Carefully, I hid the list of all my friends' addresses and phone numbers inside one of the pages of my flute flipbook. I had promised them all that I would write, and call as soon as I figured out how to make phone calls overseas.

I walked in to my parents' room. Nothing had been touched since they left that night. Scott and I insisted that everything to be left the way it was. But right now, I wanted something of Mom's to take with me. I walked over to her dresser, on which she had kept all her jewelry. Typical, I know, but hey.

There was a star-shaped locket somewhere on the dresser that I had always loved. It was silver, and had both of my parents' pictures in it. It had been a wedding gift from one of my grandparents, but I couldn't remember which.

I was digging through a box of necklaces when Scott entered the room. "What are you doing?" he asked.

I closed the box, not having found it. "Looking for that star-shaped locket with Mom and Dad's pictures in it."

"Why?"

"I want to take it to England." I opened another box. There it was, lying right on top. "Finally!" I carefully took it out, undid the clasp, and put it on.

"Why do you want to take it to England?"

I gave him a look. "Don't ask stupid questions, Scott." We were both silent for a moment. "You can take something too, if you won't lose it." As he headed towards the dresser, the doorbell rang. "I'll get it. Don't break anything."

As I left, I heard him mutter, "I won't break anything."

I opened the front door, and found five people: Kailee Hunter, Jacy Perry, Clover Maxwell, Nick Brown, and the person I least expected to be at my door, Justin Wallace. I couldn't help but stare. They were all grinning.

"Hey, Ivy," Clover said.

"What's up?" Jacy asked.

"The sky. What are you guys doing here? Marching band started..." I looked at my watch. "...twenty minutes ago." I looked at Justin. "And you're a section leader."

"That's what we're here about," said Nick. "When's your flight?"

I frowned. "Um...Monday...But what does that have to do with-"

"Great!" Kailee interrupted. "Is Scott home?"

I was getting frustrated. "Yes, but-"

Justin suddenly stepped forward, taking something out off his pocket. "For you," he said, handing it to me with an odd smirk, "section leader."

I stared at the gold baritone mouthpiece in my hand. It was brand new. I looked up. "This must have cost-"

"Every vet in marching band pitched in," said Kailee. "A dollar each. We were going to get you a green metal one, but we couldn't find one."

I smiled. "Thanks." Then I suddenly realized what Justin had called me, and looked at him. "Did you just call me section leader?"

Kailee nodded excitedly. "We talked to Spiler. He said you could be section leader until you go to England."

"But – but I haven't paid the fee."

Jacy smirked. "He said you didn't have to pay it. It's a farewell present."

I glanced behind me, toward the hall. "I can't leave Scott alone."

"Bring him with," Kailee suggested. "Have him bring your clarinet, Spiler will probably let him play with us."

I was suddenly grinning. "Come in and wait while I get all my stuff." I held open the door, and they entered. Clover, Kailee, and Jacy sat on the couch. Justin nearly sat on my dog, Snuffles, before he let a low warning growl. Justin settled for the recliner. Snuffles allowed Nick to sit next to him.

"Hey, what's up with Snuffles?" Kailee asked. "Usually he's all over strangers."

I scratched behind Snuffles' ears. "He misses Dad," I said quietly. "He's been like that since-" I stopped abruptly. No one said anything for a minute. I said finally, "I'll get my stuff." I retreated to my room.

The next four days went by almost too quickly. Scott was able to march in the parade since we didn't have to wear our uniforms. He loved it. He told me he wouldn't have dropped out of band if we weren't going to England.

I said goodbye to my friends on Saturday, and for what felt like the last time, I drove away from marching band.


June 27, the day of our flight, was a depressing one. I laid in bed for twenty minutes after I woke up, not wanting to get up and start the day. Eventually, I forced myself out of bed and got dressed.

Snuffles was going with us to England. Unfortunately, the plane we were taking didn't allow pets, so he would be on a different plane with "a representative of the British Embassy". The representative showed up at about noon.

He was tall, had bright blue eyes, and his white beard extended halfway down his chest. He wore a black business suit, which he didn't seem to match him very well.

This was the first weird thing to happen to me. As soon as I saw the guy, I had this weird sense of recognition. Déjà vu, almost. But I had never met him, never seen him before in my life. Yet I felt like I knew him.

"Are you Ivy Wolfe?" He asked me, with a British accent. Definitely never met him before.

For some reason, I got suspicious. "Depends. Who wants to know?"

He smiled warmly. "I am Mr. Dumbly, with the British Embassy. I've been sent to collect your pet. A dog, correct?"

His name did strike a familiar chord in my mind, but I was still drawing a blank on the recognition. "Uh, yeah." I let him in. "His name is Snoopy, but he only answers to Snuffles."

There was a strange twinkle in his eye. "Snuffles?"

Snuffles, who was sleeping on the couch, finally woke up. He got up and trotted over to Mr. Dumbly, wagging his tail. He was acting as if he knew the man and was happy to see him. This confused me to no end. Snuffles was always hostile in some manner toward strangers.

"Does he have anything to keep him busy on the plane? A toy, perhaps?"

"Oh, yeah." I went into the kitchen and grabbed the bone I bought for him the day before. I also grabbed the leash that was sitting on the counter. I brought them to Mr. Dumbly. "Don't give him the bone until after you get on the plane, otherwise he'll devour it in, like, seconds. And I guess you'll need his leash."

He nodded. "Snuffles and I will be meeting you in the London City Airport when your plane arrives. See you then." He shook my hand, then turned to leave.

"Oh, yes." He stopped and turned back. "Please remember, Miss Wolfe, that everything happens for a reason." He left. Well. Wasn't that weird?

Five minutes later the doorbell rang again. I opened the door, expecting to see Kailee, who was supposed to be driving us to the airport. Instead, I was again shocked when I saw Justin standing there, this time alone.

"Not to be rude," I said, "but why are you here?"

"Kailee called me," he said, and began searching the pockets of his jeans. "Said her parents wanted to meet Jacy's parents today. Asked me to drive you, and to give you this." He handed me an envelope with my name on it in Kailee's handwriting.

"Oh. All right." I let him in. "The flight's at 4:30, so we'll have to-"

A crash from Scott's room interrupted me, followed shortly by, "SHIT!" There was a short pause, then, "I didn't do it!"

I sighed. Justin said, "Sounded like a lamp."

"A lamp? Scott, this is not the time to be breaking things!" I yelled as I headed for his room. Justin followed me.

When I walked into Scott's room, I saw his skateboard lying amidst what used to be his lamp. Scott was standing not to far away with a deer-caught-in-the-headlights look. "Damn it, Scott, you're not supposed to do that in the house!"

He sighed, defeated, and grumbled, "Sorry."

"Sorry?! You're lucky that wasn't your guitar!"

I picked up the skateboard and shook the broken glass off of it. "I'm packing in with everything else, and I'm not giving it back until tomorrow." Scott opened his mouth to protest, but I cut him off. "Don't argue with me. Now go downstairs and play video games or something while I clean it up." He stalked past me angrily.

I set the skateboard down and began picking up the larger pieces of the lamp. I suddenly heard Justin snickering behind me. "What's so funny?"

"Nothing. I just didn't think of you as the swearing type."

"Yeah, well, my life isn't exactly all unicorns and rainbows at the moment," I said darkly, "and neither am I. There's a lot about me you don't know." I finished picking up the bigger pieces and dropped them in Scott's trash can.

We left my house around at a quarter after two, and arrived at the airport at 2:30. Justin stood in line with us while we waited to go through security, which took another half hour.

When it was finally our turn, Justin sent Scott through first and pulled me off to the side.

He handed me another envelope. "This one's from me. Write to me. My address is in there."

I hugged him and tried not to cry as the fact that I was leaving all of my friend thousands of miles behind finally hit me. "I'll miss you."

"I'll miss you too."

"Next please," a security person announced.

Justin kissed my cheek quickly before pulling away. I stared at him in shock. He ignored my shock.

"There's something waiting for you in England, Ivy," he told me, a strange glint in his dark eyes. "Go find it. And be careful."

I smiled, trying to shake off the weird feeling that look in his eyes gave me. "I will. Bye, Justin."

"Bye, Ivy." He took a couple of steps backwards before turning around. I watched him go.

"Next!" said the impatient security person. I gave her a good glare before continuing through security.


Author's Note: I think I'll stop right there, since I don't know what else to add. Hmm...I wonder, who on Earth could Mr. Dumbly be?...Hehehe...Bumbly Bee...Amusing...