Edited July 2019
Disclaimer: Not mine but fun to play with.
Chapter 4
When I got back to the bottom of the stairs that led into the band room, I gasped at what I saw. My beautiful cello was out of its case lying on its bridge with my bow woven through the strings. Arlene and Debbie were standing there looking rather pleased with themselves. I sunk to the floor and cried. That cello was one of the only things that I had left from my mother; I had some of her jewelry, her bible, and that cello. One of my favorite memories of her is when she was sitting on the porch playing Bach's Cello Suite #1 in G Major. That melody has been a part of my dreams for years; I would have Gran put it on repeat on the stereo when I could not sleep. Godric was not far behind me and fond me in a heap at the base of the stairs. He was about to ask me what was wrong when Mrs. Fortenberry and Mrs. Hyde came down the stairs behind him with fierce scowls. Mrs. Fortenberry passed me by to stalk into the room. Mrs. Hyde bent down next to me smiling gently. "Honey Mrs. Fortenberry and I saw out her window what they did to your instrument. We had just gotten done figuring out Godric's new schedule and she saw something fly up past the window. Debbie was using your bow as a baton and started twirling it around. From the window, it looked like Arlene was telling her to do something else with the bow. Mrs. Fortenberry is furious she is going to make an example of them. I am going to personally call my sister and inform her as to how her daughter is treating her fellow students' property. Arlene should know better than to abuse her position as first chair to lord over other students she also knows that is not the way to treat an interment. Has either of them, done anything else to you today? It looks like both Debbi and Arlene are going to be removed and when Dr. Ludwig hears what they have done I don't think that they will in the orchestra for a while, they may even lose their spots on the cheer squad. Her mother will be so displeased." She looked off and got lost in thought.
"Sookie how about you and I go look at what they did to see how bad it is. I am sure it looks worse than it is." Godric offered me his hand to help me off the floor. As we entered the band room a hush fell over the room. I heard Mrs. Fortenberry yelling at Arlene and Debbie in the hall. I could not make out what she was saying through the door and I really did not care. When we got to my cello Jessica Hamby had picked it up and carefully loosening the tuning pegs so that she could get the bow out. Jessica was an extraordinarily compassionate sophomore who played the cello as well. I had been jealous of her when I was in sixth grade because her long fingers made it easier for her to play with vibrato. She was a willowy girl with lovely long red hair.
She looked up at me apologetically "Sookie I think that at most you may need to have it restrung with new strings because the A and the D have warped the G and C look ok but I would get new ones anyway. Maybe a new bridge put on too. It looks like this one is cracked from the stress they put on it. Your bow should probably be restrung as well because it feels like a lot of the hairs are broken. I am really sorry that I was not down here yet to stop them."
"See it is not that bad and I am sure that we can have it as good as new in a day or two. It may take longer for your bow, but I have one at home you can use. I am going to go ask my mom if we can take you to get it fixed. Did you have anything planned for this afternoon? I am sure that Mrs. F will let you out early to go get it fixed." Godric offered before I could answer he was leading me back over to where his mother was talking rapidly into her cell phone.
"Mom, sorry to interrupt your phone call but do you think that it would be alright if we took Sookie to fix her cello? I think that the music store over in Shreveport will be open till six and it could get fixed by tomorrow morning so I could pick it up on my way into school for her." He smiled at his mom.
"Sweetheart I think that is a lovely idea. Just let me finish talking to your aunt. While I do you two should go tell Mrs. Fortenberry that you are leaving." She went back to her phone conversation.
"That is really nice of you, but I just remembered that Jason was going to give me a ride how after his football practice and I was going to be cooking dinner for some of the guys too. How long do you think it will take to get there and back? Could we maybe stop off at the grocery store on our way back into Bon Temps? Oh, I need to tell Jason I am leaving with you, so he doesn't get worried." I kept right on rambling as we walked out to the hall to talk to Mrs. Fortenberry. She was talking with Dr. Ludwig our principal and explaining to her the situation. Dr. Ludwig was a woman of small stature and huge persona. She exuded authority. I saw Debbie and Arlene sitting on the ground on opposite sides of the hall. They both looked like they were about to cry. I know it is not very Christian of me to think but I felt vindicated.
"Miss Stackhouse Mr. Hyde, could you tell me what happened with the instrument in there? Also, I have been informed by Mr. Brigant that Arlene physically accosted you during lunch. Why didn't you report it, we have a no-tolerance policy when it comes to bullying at this school. Well?" looking from Godric to me.
"I did not want to make a big deal out of it earlier because I knew that I was going to have another class with her this afternoon. She did not hurt me during lunch she just ran into me and knocked me down, so my bag spilled. As far as what they did to my cello it can be fixed, that is what I want to go do now if I can leave early Godric's mother offered to take me to the music shop in Shreveport." Just as Dr. Ludwig was about to answer Jason can running followed closely by Hoyt. He rushed up to me pulling me into a hug.
"Sook are you OK, why does it look like you were crying? Hoyt didn't tell me nothin' he just said that he had a note from his momma that said to come and get me. Coach Davis thought maybe you were hurt or something and said I could go, but to be back before practice started if I could. So, tell me who do I have to make pay, for making you cry?" He prattled on still holding me tight. Finally, when he let go and looked around when his eyes landed on Arlene accusatorily, he hollered "Why is the skank crying, the bitch is probably the one who started this. Sorry for the language is this about her knocking my baby sister to the ground during lunch?"
"Well, Mr. Stackhouse it seems that Arlene and Debbie have been bullying your sister today." Mumbling to herself "Not even done with the first day of school and I already have to suspend two students." She continued "Your sister's cello has been damaged. Mrs. Hyde here and her son were going to take her to get it fixed this afternoon. Now that you know that your sister is fine, I suggest that you and Mr. Fortenberry find your way back to class for the last fifteen minutes of the period." She walked over to Debbie and Arlene, "You girls follow me I am going to be calling your parents and you are will explain to them why it is you got two days Out of School Suspension on your first day back. While you are at it you can forget about the cheer squad this semester possibly for the entire year. If I find out that you have been unnecessarily cruel to any other students in the near future, then you will both be looking at expulsion." She marched off down the hall to her office with the girls following behind. As they went Debbie scowled at me and mouthed "You will pay for this."
"Sook are you sure you don't need me cause I would go with you if you wanted. I know how much mama's cello means to you. I would just have to tell Coach and we could forget about you making dinner we could get pizza instead." Looking me over concernedly.
"I am fine Jason go back to class they will need you more at practice then I do. I still want to cook. It will give me something to do while I wait to hear about my cello." I wiped my eye on the back of my hand to banish my second set of teats.
"If you're sure then I'll get going. I'll see you at home. Since you are gonna cook anyway could you maybe make a pie or five, I know the guys would love that? Bye Sookie." He was running down the hall and out of sight before I could respond.
"Mrs. Fortenberry I will see you tomorrow I want to go get my cello fixed." I hugged her goodbye. Jessica had gotten the bow out and packed my cello back into the case and brought it out.
"All right you two let's get going I already called ahead to tell Talbot what happened he has everything ready we just need to drop the cello off. He said that he could get it done in an hour but that he would like to look over it to make sure that they did not do anything else to it." Mrs. Hyde led the way to her car. Godric took up my hand again and carried my cello as we walked in silences to the car. When we got to it, he opened the back door for me to get in. He put the cello in the trunk and then ran around to the other side to sit in the back with me. He took my hand again. Mrs. Hyde got into the front seat quietly smiling. It took us about an hour to get from school to the music shop. Godric only let go of my hand to get out and open my door, he captured my hand yet again as he helped me out. He again retrieved my cello. We were greeted at the door by Talbot. He was a skinny man with curry dark hair.
"Let me see the damage, so I know what I am working with it did not sound that bad on the phone, but we can't be too careful." He smiled reassuringly as walked us to his office and then he took my cello out. He sat it on his worktable. "Oh my, they did a number on this one. Well, the strings and the bridge are easy enough to fix. Your bow is going to take a few weeks, since I'd have to send it out to get repaired. I suggest that you get another bow because it may have been warped beyond repair." When he went to take the endpin and we heard a soft thud when it came out in his hand. It was bent. There was also a crack I had not seen at the bottom, that went up the side. I started to cry again. "Darling, don't worry I will fix this. Well, it is going to take me a bit to do so but I will. I promise to take good care of it. Mrs. Hyde here told me that it was your mother's cello and how important it is to you. Now while I am fixing it, I am going to lend you one of our cellos. I know that they are not as nice as this one you have here, but they will do for something to practice on while this one gets repaired. I am going to need your number to call you when it is finished. We will deal with the cost then. Let's go pick you out a temporary replacement." I rattled off the house number in a daze. He walked off out into the store where the string section was. I followed behind mutely. In my rush to get my cello fixed, I forgot all about the fact that it was going to cost something to get it done. What was I going to tell Gran, could we even afford to get it fixed?
AN: Well that was chapter four. I am turning into one of those authors that drive me nuts and pleading for a review. I know some of you all are reading this I would love to hear what you all think about the story. I am having a hard time figuring out what it is that I want Sookie to dance to for her try out if anyone can come up with a good song for her to do a lyrical solo to PM me.