As we took our final water break before lunch, and all that was going through my head was 'The band geeks going marching one by one ho-ra ho-ra, the band geeks going marching one by one ho-ra, ho-ra,' each time the phrase passed through my mind it got higher pitched. It was rather annoying to have this little rendition of a children's song stuck in my head, but at the time as I was standing, sitting and kneeling on the pavement in the hot sun as Mr. Greer fit everyone into the picture, it was rather entertaining. During this part of band camp, where everyone was still learning drill and we couldn't march through at least three sets without having to stop and fix the picture, it was very boring.
"Ok everyone, take a ten minute water break since you didn't get one a while ago." Mr. Greer said, there was a sigh of relief that echoed off the field. These planned, whole band water breaks were not normally what we did. The band director's concept for water breaks was if you absolutely have to, go and take one. If you absolutely had to sit down because you were about to pass out, then do it, but, if you were just sitting there and a group of people started to gather around you and you were all just sitting there talking then the directors would go and talk to you.
About twenty minutes later we were released for our dinner break.
"We defiantly need more then just thirty minutes for lunch." I said to Madison as we sat in the dark auditorium trying to revive ourselves from our excruciating exhaustion.
"Ya think?" Madi said half sarcastically, half seriously. Madi had changed this summer. She was more sarcastic, she wore black eyeliner, and her hair was starting to get blonder. Everyone had changed. Katie, Madi, Shane, Sarah, even I had changed. My hair was longer, a little lighter, and I wasn't so shy around people, especially guys. It was guard, or maybe just high school in general, or maybe I was just growing up and had matured since the last time I'd seen all of these people that I was now spending the remainder of my summer with.
" I mean serisouly how can I enjoy staring at all the new guys in only 30 MINUTES!!," Madi shrieked catching my attention.
" NOICE!!," I responded laughing remembering when we were talking to Curtis and he just thought we had spelled it wrong. Madi is one of those people who you learn to love, her humor like no other and her 8 year old spirit can always make you feel better. We finished our food, telling Katie we were leavingshe was going tostay behind as we giggled our way down the stair, watching Halli!
That evening JJ and Sarah (the guard coaches) were there to see how the Opener had turned out, how Rainbow was looking, we had learned that one in one day, and to teach us more of Summertime. Even though Summertime came before Rainbow, and after the Opener, we learned them out of order.
"Stop! Jordan, Carlee, what did you guys work on?" JJ asked getting frustrated with everyone.
"Everything that you taught us." Jordan said innocently, and honestly.
"Everyone's eyes closed. I don't want to see a single person looking." Sarah said with frustration. Sarah was supposed to be the hard ass coach, but so far she'd only been tough, and that was only because she wanted us to succeed.
"Can we open them to toss our tosses?" Emily asked logically.
"Yes, but only then, once you've caught your flag the I want your eyes to be snapped shut again." Sarah said.
Everyone did as they were told and closed their eyes and listened to the claps of JJ and Sarah.
"Hmmm…." Sarah said aloud, "That's funny. You guys do it better with your eyes closed and you're not watching each other then you do when your eyes are open." Sarah's high pitched voice squeaked as she sort of complimented us.
"Ok girls, this is it, this is the first time you'll be doing this ith the band and with drill, just remember what your drill is and this will come second nature." JJ said to us as we all stood with our jaws dropped…. 'perform this with the band AND drill?!' I thought horror struck. "Don't worry you guys. You're a strong guard. You can do this. Just remember count, and know what's coming next." JJ said as she sent us off to our doom.
We all lived, only a few, not so key band members were hit by a few people, but all in all it went good. As nine o'clock rolled around all of everyone's drill was finished, and we were ready to march the entire show, but that would have to wait until tomorrow, for now it was time for us to all go home and sleep.