((This is fun, I forgot how much I liked writing this story. Oboes are such magnificent instruments, aren't they? Love you all reviewers, by the way, you are indeed smashing chaps. And I'm learning the violin now, because I have a mad Phantom obsession, lol. It's cool, but not as cool as the oboe of course!

Ah, everyone should name their instruments. My friend's flute is named Eldira, and my violin which I am just starting to learn is named Evelyn))

It was early December, and the Christmas concert was upon us before I knew it. I had Chandler, and we had been playing...oh, so gloriously playing...for at least a month now. It was funny how close one can get to an inanimate object...our school had this huge fire in the boy's bathroom one day, and we all had to evacuate the building, and I was just so worried about not being able to get to Chandler in time before we were let out. Thankfully I did, and I got him. But it was funny how much of an attachment I had developed to that random oboe I found one day.

But the concert was up and coming, and I was most definitely ready for it. I had come in to the wind ensemble rehearsal one day...it was really nerve wracking, because I was a freshman and of course everyone there was upperclassmen who were giving me that, "OMG you're a freshman!" look. And because the guy I liked...a trumpet player by the name of Tony...he was there.

Yes, it was unfortunate he played the trumpet. But the reason I liked him was because I heard him sing during marching band season...and guys with good voices, like Broadway voices, made me swoon and melt into little puddles on the floor. Call it my obsessive listening to Phantom of the Opera and swooning over Michael Crawford on the soundtrack...that could have started it. But this definitely finished it. And Tony had the best voice I've ever heard of any guy in this school.

It was a shame he happened to play the trumpet.

Oh, I was so nervous playing in front of him! But Lycia, the junior oboist, she was there, so mostly I just blended in with her and was just another oboist. I don't think he noticed me...at least, I hope he didn't. Or I hope he did...it was one or the other. Crushes are so confusing, and considering this was only the third guy I've ever liked, it got confusing and complicated.

But that didn't matter. Right now, the concert was upon us...Chandler and I were going to make our debut! The first real debut I had made since...well, since fifth grade really, when I played with that symphony. All those other years were dead years, filler years, with a horrible band director and idiot trumpet players.

This year, I decided, everything was going to change. Once again I found myself wrapped in that glory that was oboe playing, with that dream I had once back, and it was covering me and I was just starting to realize just how much I always loved this. It was kind of like the song "She was There" from The Scarlet Pimpernel...I had never let this go, this love for oboe playing. And it was back, my dream was back. I...I don't know. I could still be an oboist...

But is that what I wanted?

Yes. It was. Of course it was. There was nothing else in this world I wanted but to be an oboist, but to...

"Hey, Kathryn, come on!" The day of the concert, I was interrupted from another one of those random reveries I had gotten so used to by my friend poking me with her flute. The concert band was going up now, and I was going to play...well, I had to play with them first. I hoped it would be over soon...the music was really easy, and I practically had some of it memorized we played it so much! Not to mention I was so incredibly excited. After the concert band was done, I'd watch them all file out while I'd remain sitting, and the wind ensemble would come in and sit around me...

Oh! Glorious days! This was going to be beyond wonderful! I felt my excitement mounting as we got onto the stage, and I took my place between the clarinets who were fairly normal, and the giggling bass clarinets who seemed to think that wrong notes/the band director/squeaks were the most hilarious things on the face of the earth, and would burst into giggles at least once per period. The lights were out, and I arranged the music on my stand, clutching Chandler with cold fingers.

The lights went on, and Mr. P turned around and acknowledged the audience.

Then we played. We did wonderful, our concert band, even considering the lack of experience we had. I played, and it was splendid. The trumpets were kind of bad during that last song, but, well, that was funny. It was always funny when trumpets messed up.

Then before I knew it that was over, and the concert band was leaving. I remained on as the lights went out for a second time, getting all my wind ensemble music in order. I glanced at Mr. P briefly, and he gave me a reassuring smile. I looked over there...and there they were. There was the wind ensemble...the advanced band. I felt a shiver of apprehension and excitement.

They all got seated, Lycia grinning at me and waving. She set her music next to mine and got everything out. There was a brief lull when the choir sang, and then once more the lights rose...

I was surrounded by unfamiliar faces entirely, and I was the youngest person there, a tiny, insignificant freshman.

But tonight...I was not just tiny and insignificant, though I was still a freshman. I was a freshman who was good enough to play with the best band in the school.

Mr. P raised his arms again, and I brought the reed to my lips.


And oh, the glory of music and life suffused me! I played as I had never played before, my notes blending and harmonizing with Lycia's. The music was all around me and I was one with it, Chandler and I played in a glorious harmony...oh, take that Mr. Jameson, take that trumpet players and all of you...I was part of this band, this advanced band, and I played so well!

I was on an all-time high as the concert ended. Sweet beauty filled me, a love of music was around me, and I knew at that moment that this wind ensemble would be a place for me...next year, when I was a sophomore and could be in it officially, it would be my place.

And I knew likewise at that moment that this place, in an orchestra, was the one place that I wanted to be for the rest of my life.

((short, yes. But I have to get to play rehearsal...I'm in The Scarlet Pimpernel at the moment, part of the chorus, and yay I have three sung lines in the title song! dances Will write more soon, my chaps. Next chapter I think is going to be kind of long and deep))