EDWIN MELLOPHONE HANDS

Chapter 4: Nothing at all (By Kim)

Police cars roamed the streets of the town, which aroused suspicion in the minds of the students. Why were there candles, plush toys, cards, and flowers placed outside the cold iron gates of the school? The news was yet to make its way from the lips of the teachers and into the very hearts of the students, specifically the band.

The director stood in front of the band, he wore a dire expression and an expensive black suit. The band was chattering amongst themselves as they waited for the morning plans from their director, but little did they know what he was about to say.

He stood upon the podium and drew in several deep breaths. "May I, I have your attention please…" he managed to croak in a barely audible whisper. Everyone looked up, and at that moment, everything grew still. Pangs of panic hit each of the students, and their stomachs tied in knots. Their director was never that grave looking, and his voice had never cracked when we asked them to be quiet. Something bad had happened. It was an intuition.

"Last night, Katrina Kramer was walking home from school, and she was murdered." His words, those words were like knifes that hit each and every one of the students. There were a few gasps, and the students began to tremble. "She was found in an alley, with a broken glass bottle protruding from her back…" he lost it. He completely lost it. He broke down into convulsions; tears flowed from his eyes. And as he did, the students did too. He finally regained his composure, and began to speak again. "Her mellophone was at her side, destroyed, and from the marks on her body, she had been beaten… Death takes the very best of us." Now everyone was shaking, crying, sobbing… especially Rudy, the quiet tenor saxophone section leader who stood at only four feet, nine inches, and had a will of steel. The steel had been melted, and out poured from his eyes in the form of salty tears.

That day… was to be the most remembered of all days.

Band was no longer the loud and bustling party it used to be. It had been weeks and the shock still hadn't worn off. Rudy was especially quiet. He normally would kick anyone's ass if they dared to call him short, but now they took advantage and teased and mocked him all they wanted. The steel in his will was gone.

Rudy went into the instrument storage room at lunch everyday and would shut himself in one of the miniature compartments. He would sit there and stare through the vents like he used to do when he would pop out and surprise Katrina. She wasn't going to be there to be surprised anymore. "I guess you got me back for all of the times I've surprised you." He muttered under his breath. Tears stinged his eyes.

All of the sudden he heard the storage room door open, and someone's loud and heavy footsteps pursued. He kept thinking that it has to be Mr. Spills, the director, because he always wore heavy boots, and indeed it was. Mr. Spills opened the cabinet and looked into Rudy's red, stinging eyes.

"Nothing will bring her back Rudy. We have to move on, the Christmas parade is coming up, and there is no time for any weakness. Now come on, come on out." He offered his hand to the small senior. Rudy shook his head. "I'll let you file the concert band music." Mr. Spills said persuasively. Rudy hesitantly took his director's outstretched hand and crawled out of his hiding space. "Mr. Spills?" he asked. "Yes?" "I was wondering, would it be alright if I… switched to mellophone?" Rudy looked at the ground. "Of course it would." He said. "Take your pick." And Mr. Spills showed him the large array of mellophones.

The door opened, and both turned their heads towards it, but no one was there. "Must've been the wind." Rudy shrugged, then it slammed shut, the lights went out, and there was a deafening bang.