Sequence 11:5
Sequence 11:5
Written by Mandi
Rated PG
A/N: This is based on my actual real life experience at Frederick Douglass High School back in 2000. It was, without a doubt, one of the most memorable moments of my life to date.
“Ennis…. Ennis,” his shoulder shook gently, five digits buried softly into his skin. Ennis woke with a start, snorted an looked all around ‘til he saw Jack’s face, smilin kindly.
“Fell asleep on my shoulder, Bud,” he grinned. “We’re almost here.”
“Almost where?” He hated mornin amnesia -- but on the plus side, it was what kept him from wakin up an screamin. Helluva thing t’remember that you’re trapped on a bus with a shitload a high school kids an all their band instruments.
“Grandpa Ennis,” Jackie knelt down beside him in the aisle.
“I want you in your seat,” he growled. “Ain’t safe.”
“You’re fine, Baby,” Jack nodded. “Where’s Annie?”
“She ain’t feelin so good, think she’s gettin car sick.”
“She need a bucket or somethin?”
“Don’t think so,” Jackie shook her head. “Says she wants some water when we stop off, though.”
“I got some bottled water here in my bag,” Jack fished ‘round and produced a bottle an handed it off to his granddaughter an Ennis wondered if he wasn’t some kinda strange Mary Poppins with that bag. “Give her this, an if she still don’t feel good once we get where we’re goin, tell her I’ll stop at a Walgreens an get her some Pepto Bismal or somethin.”
“Thanks, Grandpa Jack.” She trotted back off t’find her sister, identical ‘cept for the fact Annie was lookin a little green.
“Should be there in ‘bout ten minutes,” Jack continued. “Kids’re gonna play a concert for the high school we’re goin to.”
“Said it’s all black kids,” Ennis wiped his eyes.
“Ain’t nothin wrong with that, is there?”
“No,” he shook his head. “Jus’… sayin. Don’t got nothin like that in Wyomin, is all.”
“Guess not,” Jack sighed. “Wonder what they’d think if they came an played a concert for us. What are the kids playin, anyhow?”
“Uh,” Ennis pulled out his itinerary sheet from his back pocket. “Looks like Dwight’s got ‘em playin some Dixie funeral march, least that’s what’s highlighted.”
“Can’t wait t’hear that,” Jack smiled. “I ain’t never been to a Dixie funeral ‘fore.”
“Let’s hope you never gotta.”
“Whole school’s turnin out for it,” said a woman who looked to be nearin fifty, but Ennis weren’t good with ages. “Sorry t’drop in, I’m Maureen Berg. Friends call me Mo.”
“Pleasure,” Jack tipped his hat that hadn’t made its way off a his head, even in his sleep. “M’Jack Twist an this here’s my…”
“Ennis Del Mar,” he cut him off, but Mo only laughed.
“Don’t gotta be that way with me, if you don’t wanna say ‘husband,’” she laughed. “I got a brother, jus’ went up to Iowa an got himself hitched. Always teased him ‘bout bringin home a nice Christian girl, he ended up bringin us home a nice Jewish boy!”
“Ain’t that somethin?”
“Huh.” He didn’t really know what t’say t’that.
“Think my folks had a harder time reconcilin the religion than the fact that their son was gay. Oh, listen t’me, I’m so sorry, this ain’t even my business…”
Sure ain’t…
“Nah, don’t bother us none, do it, Ennis?”
Ennis made a face an shook his head; he knew he’d get an elbow in the rib if he did anythin different. “No bother.”
“Dwight jus’ told us you’d be along, like he was ‘preparin’ us or somethin. There are some folks who aren’t so… well, they needed more convincin, but once he let on that there wouldn’t be a trip without ya, I think some of ‘em warmed up.”
Great, thought Ennis, so there are people on here lookin at me funny. Perfect.
“Grandpa!” Jackie shouted from several rows back, rushin up the aisle an kneelin beside Ennis again. “Annie got sick.”
“’Scuse me,” Jack smiled, noddin at Mo. “I got a sick granddaughter t’attend to, from the sounds a it.”
“Poor thing,” Mo cooed. “You need some help?”
“Nah, Annie’ll be embarrassed by more company when she’s sick. Please, ya’ll, continue your conversation.”
Thanks, Jack, Ennis grouched t’himself. Hated bein left alone, specially with nosey folks.
“Jackie an Annie are such nice girls,” Mo half sighed. “My girl’s a flute player, Victoria… she goes by Vick, ever heard of her?”
“Uh… don’t know. Memory goes with age,” he tried t’joke an choked on a laugh. Dammit, he hated puttin on shows like bein Jack’s man made him a performin circus bear or somethin. The thought did make him smirk a little, though. Mo didn’t seem t’mind.
“Vick’s a junior this year.”
“Twins, too.”
“Vick was in their class in kindergarten the year you came in with all the animals,” she continued. “You’re somewhat of a legend ‘mong these kids. A lot of ‘em remember those days. You done good by them kids, not jus’ Jackie an Annie.”
“Thanks.” He wasn’t too damned sure what t’say; couldn’t tell her she’d done right, too… didn’t know her good enough t’say that. He turned ‘round t’look at Vick, wonderin if maybe he’d recognize her. Slumped over onto another girl’s shoulder, (whom he did not recognize), was a long hair redhead with a single freckle above the left side of her lip and two beside her ears. Strange, he thought, Jack’s got three jus’ like those.
The bus rolled to a stop an Dwight boarded. He looked disheveled, like he’d been sleepin, too. It was, after all, eight thirty in the mornin. Most a these kids would be half dozin through their band lesson or a math class by now.
“Alright, folks,” he bellowed, an commanded everyone’s attention, much t’Ennis’ surprise. Man like Dwight didn’t seem t’be very verbally forceful, but when he spoke, the kids listened, an apparently the adults, too. “Here we are at Frederick Douglass High School, home a the Astros!”
A few kids clapped an whooped outta politeness, or jus’ for the excuse a exercisin their voices.
“Settle. We’re gonna be gettin off the bus an headin in the gymnasium doors. I need EVERYBODY t’help unload instruments. Do not grab yours an go! Wait until they are ALL off a the bus. They’re under the cargo hold a bus number two.” He looked at his paper. “Now, for those a you who think you’re gonna act like a bunch a fools up in here, I got news. I got two parents assigned t’stay behind from Disneyworld with anyone who embarrasses this band or this school at the rally today. Ya’ll hear me?”
A few “yeses” rose up and plenty of nods went around. Somehow Ennis knew there weren’t gonna be no trouble; they respected Dwight, or feared him, he weren’t too damned sure. As long as the kids minded themselves, he could a cared less.
Ennis stepped off the bus, stretchin his back that was sore from unuse or overuse, hadn’t taken his pick a which. Mo could be seen pitchin in, haulin out instruments an handin ‘em off to random kids, some of which clearly hadn’t listened t’Dwight tell ‘em not t’jus’ take their own instrument an head in.
“Hey,” Jack appeared at Ennis’ side, lookin a little tired. “Got Annie an the aisle all cleaned up from where she got sick. She’s feelin better now that we’ve stopped, but she’s gonna go lay in the nurse’s office a the school… thankfully, it ain’t that far t’Stone Mountain, so she’ll probably be alright if we get her some medicine t’stop the motion sickness. I’m gonna walk down the street here, driver says we passed a Walgreens couple a blocks back.”
“That’s real good a you,” Ennis nodded, fishin ‘round in his pockets an producin a twenty dollar bill. “Take this, get her some Gatorade or somethin, too… don’t you get all dehydrated when ya puke or somethin?”
Jack smiled an took the folded up bill. “You take such good care a your clan.”
“S’my job.”
“Alright, folks, let’s get movin, assembly ain’t gonna wait for us,” Dwight waved his arm, herdin the high schoolers into the now empty gymnasium where kids an parents alike were helpin set up. Ennis carried a few sheet music stands in, feelin like he was bein useless if he didn’t. Felt awful weird without Jack beside him; didn’t talk much ‘til Mo strode up beside him.
“Hey… where’d Jack run off to? I saw him walkin the other direction.”
“Oh, uh… he’s goin to a drugstore t’pick up some medicine for our granddaughter.” The ease at which the words fell offa his tongue came with some surprise, an how suddenly empty it felt to say “our granddaughter” when the other half of “our” wasn’t there.
“That’s real nice a him. I saw Dwight leadin her in the front door, is she gonna be alright?”
“She says she feels fine, but probably wouldn’t hurt her t’lay down for a bit.”
“Good idea.”
“Mom!” Vick shouted, rushin up beside her mother. “This school is enormous! It must be twice the size a River Valley!” Her eyes turned t’Ennis, an he nearly jumped; one was bright blue, the other was deep burgundy brown. She looked like a tri colored border collie! “Mr. Del Mar!”
“Uh… hi,” he nodded, realizing she must a remembered him, or worse, heard a him from the whispers in the hallway ‘bout the gay cowboys chaperonin the Florida excursion. He hoped it was the former, that she remembered him an Jack from kindergarten an all the critters they brought in that day, but chances weren’t so good.
“I’m Vick Berg,” she extended her hand, then took it back an laughed when she realized Ennis’ hands were full. “Sorry, didn’t think.” She kept starin him inquisitively in the eyes with her unusual gaze; he didn’t want t’admit how uncomfortable it made him. “I went t’school with the twins all my life, they always have such nice things t’say ‘bout their grandpas… oh, and when you brought in all those farm animals? I was there for that! I got to hold one of the baby chicks.”
“Didja?”
“No one ever had a better show an tell than that!” She laughed.
“Vick, c’mover here!” A tall boy with neat brown hair called, wavin her over with a drumstick. She smiled, said a quick goodbye an trotted off.
“Heterochromia,” Mo laughed a little, noticin Ennis’ peculiar face. “Nothin wrong with her eyes ‘cept they’re two different colors. Genetic brainfart.”
“Oh, I…” He blushed, realizing he’d been caught.
“It’s okay. Doesn’t bother her, she jus’ forgets sometimes that people ain’t used t’seein that sorta thing.”
“Real beauty, that girl,” he stuttered. “Don’t see that every day.”
“More common in cats than girls,” Mo remarked. “I jus’ like t’say she’s got one a her daddy’s eyes an one a mine!”
“Good way a lookin at it.”
They filed into the gymnasium an started settin up their equipment. Ennis spoke briefly with Mo, mostly answerin her questions, tryin t’calm himself down with the reminder that Jack would be back soon. Hated bein separated from him.
After a time, small clusters a kids from Fredeick Douglass started t’mull ‘round, lookin at the visitors with great interest. Some approached an started up conversations ‘til the staff shooed them away to their seats. The parents, includin Ennis, took seats on the bleachers opposin the Astro students, an he couldn’t help but marvel at bein in the minority, what with there bein hardly an African Americans in Riverton, until he saw Jack an Annie stridin in an realized he had been all along. Annie took her seat among the band an started chatterin animatedly with her friends.
“Annie’s doin okay,” Jack informed him needlessly. “Gave her some water an some medicine, she’s feelin better.”
“I see that.”
A microphone buzzed, an a loud voice that didn’t belong t’Dwight rang through the gymnasium. Ennis admired all the conference banners hangin from the ceiling as a stout middle aged black man took the stage.
“We here at Frederick Douglass High School would like to warmly welcome River Valley High School, comin to see us all the way from Riverton, Wyoming. Please join me in showing our appreciation of their long trek to come play some music for us today.”
A wild cheer that Ennis wasn’t expectin broke from the crowd.
“With that, I’ll be handing this mic off to their high master of ceremonies, Mr. Dwight Jackson!”
The kids a River Valley applauded the loudest, a few kids whistled, an Ennis blushed an buried his face in his hands when he realized one a ‘em was Jackie.
“Well, thank you for that warm welcome,” he nodded, an went on with a few more things, but Ennis couldn’t concentrate on it with Jack’s hand slippin into his.
A few kids stood up, a tuba player, trumpet player, saxophone player an percussionist, all standin at the front a the band. A slow, somber tune started playin, an Ennis realized it must a been the Dixie funeral. The audience listened politely, clappin when it all began.
An it happened with the change a the pace a the music, the tune jumpin into “When The Saints Go Marchin In.” The gymnasium erupted, kids gettin t’their feet an cheerin, clappin, wavin their hands an dancin. Ennis felt his mouth literally drop open; no way would any band get such a warm reception at River Valley, which was more of a sports school than an arts school, but Frederick Douglass High School seemed to be the opposite; the music was magic an filled the souls a everyone in the room; even Ennis felt like dancin.
When it was over, the screams an whoops were so loud that Ennis couldn’t hear Jack when he shouted somethin ‘bout how great the band played. His heart roared in his ears with the roars a the students, the River Valley High Band standin up an takin their well deserved bows an love from their appreciative audience. Several a the kids from both schools had tears in their eyes as they grinned so hard it looked like they’d break their faces in half.
“M’glad Annie didn’t miss this in the nurse’s office!” Shouted Jack.
“Me, too!”
After a time, the portly principal took the mic again an, wipin his eyes a little, voice shakin, said, “thank you, River Valley, for that moving performance. I would like to announce that as of today, Frederick Douglass High and River Valley High of Riverton, Wyoming, are forever sister schools.”
Another loud cheer erupted, an another tear slid down Annie’s still slightly pale cheek.
“And don’t think we don’t show our appreciation for those who come to so richly entertain us; we proudly present our Frederick Douglass High School marchin band performin the River Valley Fight Song!”
With that, in marched a band dressed in snappy blue uniforms, high steppin as they blasted an empressive rendition of River Valley’s Fight Song. The watchin band gasped, applaudin loudly with the rest a the student body as the performers pranced ‘round the gymnasium.
It was one a the most amazin things Ennis had seen in all his years; the music was magic an affected everyone. People cheered an danced, an two schools separated by thousands a miles became “sister schools.”
Unabashedly this time, he took Jack’s hand in his an squeezed.
TBC
Written by Mandi
Rated PG
A/N: This is based on my actual real life experience at Frederick Douglass High School back in 2000. It was, without a doubt, one of the most memorable moments of my life to date.
“Ennis…. Ennis,” his shoulder shook gently, five digits buried softly into his skin. Ennis woke with a start, snorted an looked all around ‘til he saw Jack’s face, smilin kindly.
“Fell asleep on my shoulder, Bud,” he grinned. “We’re almost here.”
“Almost where?” He hated mornin amnesia -- but on the plus side, it was what kept him from wakin up an screamin. Helluva thing t’remember that you’re trapped on a bus with a shitload a high school kids an all their band instruments.
“Grandpa Ennis,” Jackie knelt down beside him in the aisle.
“I want you in your seat,” he growled. “Ain’t safe.”
“You’re fine, Baby,” Jack nodded. “Where’s Annie?”
“She ain’t feelin so good, think she’s gettin car sick.”
“She need a bucket or somethin?”
“Don’t think so,” Jackie shook her head. “Says she wants some water when we stop off, though.”
“I got some bottled water here in my bag,” Jack fished ‘round and produced a bottle an handed it off to his granddaughter an Ennis wondered if he wasn’t some kinda strange Mary Poppins with that bag. “Give her this, an if she still don’t feel good once we get where we’re goin, tell her I’ll stop at a Walgreens an get her some Pepto Bismal or somethin.”
“Thanks, Grandpa Jack.” She trotted back off t’find her sister, identical ‘cept for the fact Annie was lookin a little green.
“Should be there in ‘bout ten minutes,” Jack continued. “Kids’re gonna play a concert for the high school we’re goin to.”
“Said it’s all black kids,” Ennis wiped his eyes.
“Ain’t nothin wrong with that, is there?”
“No,” he shook his head. “Jus’… sayin. Don’t got nothin like that in Wyomin, is all.”
“Guess not,” Jack sighed. “Wonder what they’d think if they came an played a concert for us. What are the kids playin, anyhow?”
“Uh,” Ennis pulled out his itinerary sheet from his back pocket. “Looks like Dwight’s got ‘em playin some Dixie funeral march, least that’s what’s highlighted.”
“Can’t wait t’hear that,” Jack smiled. “I ain’t never been to a Dixie funeral ‘fore.”
“Let’s hope you never gotta.”
“Whole school’s turnin out for it,” said a woman who looked to be nearin fifty, but Ennis weren’t good with ages. “Sorry t’drop in, I’m Maureen Berg. Friends call me Mo.”
“Pleasure,” Jack tipped his hat that hadn’t made its way off a his head, even in his sleep. “M’Jack Twist an this here’s my…”
“Ennis Del Mar,” he cut him off, but Mo only laughed.
“Don’t gotta be that way with me, if you don’t wanna say ‘husband,’” she laughed. “I got a brother, jus’ went up to Iowa an got himself hitched. Always teased him ‘bout bringin home a nice Christian girl, he ended up bringin us home a nice Jewish boy!”
“Ain’t that somethin?”
“Huh.” He didn’t really know what t’say t’that.
“Think my folks had a harder time reconcilin the religion than the fact that their son was gay. Oh, listen t’me, I’m so sorry, this ain’t even my business…”
Sure ain’t…
“Nah, don’t bother us none, do it, Ennis?”
Ennis made a face an shook his head; he knew he’d get an elbow in the rib if he did anythin different. “No bother.”
“Dwight jus’ told us you’d be along, like he was ‘preparin’ us or somethin. There are some folks who aren’t so… well, they needed more convincin, but once he let on that there wouldn’t be a trip without ya, I think some of ‘em warmed up.”
Great, thought Ennis, so there are people on here lookin at me funny. Perfect.
“Grandpa!” Jackie shouted from several rows back, rushin up the aisle an kneelin beside Ennis again. “Annie got sick.”
“’Scuse me,” Jack smiled, noddin at Mo. “I got a sick granddaughter t’attend to, from the sounds a it.”
“Poor thing,” Mo cooed. “You need some help?”
“Nah, Annie’ll be embarrassed by more company when she’s sick. Please, ya’ll, continue your conversation.”
Thanks, Jack, Ennis grouched t’himself. Hated bein left alone, specially with nosey folks.
“Jackie an Annie are such nice girls,” Mo half sighed. “My girl’s a flute player, Victoria… she goes by Vick, ever heard of her?”
“Uh… don’t know. Memory goes with age,” he tried t’joke an choked on a laugh. Dammit, he hated puttin on shows like bein Jack’s man made him a performin circus bear or somethin. The thought did make him smirk a little, though. Mo didn’t seem t’mind.
“Vick’s a junior this year.”
“Twins, too.”
“Vick was in their class in kindergarten the year you came in with all the animals,” she continued. “You’re somewhat of a legend ‘mong these kids. A lot of ‘em remember those days. You done good by them kids, not jus’ Jackie an Annie.”
“Thanks.” He wasn’t too damned sure what t’say; couldn’t tell her she’d done right, too… didn’t know her good enough t’say that. He turned ‘round t’look at Vick, wonderin if maybe he’d recognize her. Slumped over onto another girl’s shoulder, (whom he did not recognize), was a long hair redhead with a single freckle above the left side of her lip and two beside her ears. Strange, he thought, Jack’s got three jus’ like those.
The bus rolled to a stop an Dwight boarded. He looked disheveled, like he’d been sleepin, too. It was, after all, eight thirty in the mornin. Most a these kids would be half dozin through their band lesson or a math class by now.
“Alright, folks,” he bellowed, an commanded everyone’s attention, much t’Ennis’ surprise. Man like Dwight didn’t seem t’be very verbally forceful, but when he spoke, the kids listened, an apparently the adults, too. “Here we are at Frederick Douglass High School, home a the Astros!”
A few kids clapped an whooped outta politeness, or jus’ for the excuse a exercisin their voices.
“Settle. We’re gonna be gettin off the bus an headin in the gymnasium doors. I need EVERYBODY t’help unload instruments. Do not grab yours an go! Wait until they are ALL off a the bus. They’re under the cargo hold a bus number two.” He looked at his paper. “Now, for those a you who think you’re gonna act like a bunch a fools up in here, I got news. I got two parents assigned t’stay behind from Disneyworld with anyone who embarrasses this band or this school at the rally today. Ya’ll hear me?”
A few “yeses” rose up and plenty of nods went around. Somehow Ennis knew there weren’t gonna be no trouble; they respected Dwight, or feared him, he weren’t too damned sure. As long as the kids minded themselves, he could a cared less.
Ennis stepped off the bus, stretchin his back that was sore from unuse or overuse, hadn’t taken his pick a which. Mo could be seen pitchin in, haulin out instruments an handin ‘em off to random kids, some of which clearly hadn’t listened t’Dwight tell ‘em not t’jus’ take their own instrument an head in.
“Hey,” Jack appeared at Ennis’ side, lookin a little tired. “Got Annie an the aisle all cleaned up from where she got sick. She’s feelin better now that we’ve stopped, but she’s gonna go lay in the nurse’s office a the school… thankfully, it ain’t that far t’Stone Mountain, so she’ll probably be alright if we get her some medicine t’stop the motion sickness. I’m gonna walk down the street here, driver says we passed a Walgreens couple a blocks back.”
“That’s real good a you,” Ennis nodded, fishin ‘round in his pockets an producin a twenty dollar bill. “Take this, get her some Gatorade or somethin, too… don’t you get all dehydrated when ya puke or somethin?”
Jack smiled an took the folded up bill. “You take such good care a your clan.”
“S’my job.”
“Alright, folks, let’s get movin, assembly ain’t gonna wait for us,” Dwight waved his arm, herdin the high schoolers into the now empty gymnasium where kids an parents alike were helpin set up. Ennis carried a few sheet music stands in, feelin like he was bein useless if he didn’t. Felt awful weird without Jack beside him; didn’t talk much ‘til Mo strode up beside him.
“Hey… where’d Jack run off to? I saw him walkin the other direction.”
“Oh, uh… he’s goin to a drugstore t’pick up some medicine for our granddaughter.” The ease at which the words fell offa his tongue came with some surprise, an how suddenly empty it felt to say “our granddaughter” when the other half of “our” wasn’t there.
“That’s real nice a him. I saw Dwight leadin her in the front door, is she gonna be alright?”
“She says she feels fine, but probably wouldn’t hurt her t’lay down for a bit.”
“Good idea.”
“Mom!” Vick shouted, rushin up beside her mother. “This school is enormous! It must be twice the size a River Valley!” Her eyes turned t’Ennis, an he nearly jumped; one was bright blue, the other was deep burgundy brown. She looked like a tri colored border collie! “Mr. Del Mar!”
“Uh… hi,” he nodded, realizing she must a remembered him, or worse, heard a him from the whispers in the hallway ‘bout the gay cowboys chaperonin the Florida excursion. He hoped it was the former, that she remembered him an Jack from kindergarten an all the critters they brought in that day, but chances weren’t so good.
“I’m Vick Berg,” she extended her hand, then took it back an laughed when she realized Ennis’ hands were full. “Sorry, didn’t think.” She kept starin him inquisitively in the eyes with her unusual gaze; he didn’t want t’admit how uncomfortable it made him. “I went t’school with the twins all my life, they always have such nice things t’say ‘bout their grandpas… oh, and when you brought in all those farm animals? I was there for that! I got to hold one of the baby chicks.”
“Didja?”
“No one ever had a better show an tell than that!” She laughed.
“Vick, c’mover here!” A tall boy with neat brown hair called, wavin her over with a drumstick. She smiled, said a quick goodbye an trotted off.
“Heterochromia,” Mo laughed a little, noticin Ennis’ peculiar face. “Nothin wrong with her eyes ‘cept they’re two different colors. Genetic brainfart.”
“Oh, I…” He blushed, realizing he’d been caught.
“It’s okay. Doesn’t bother her, she jus’ forgets sometimes that people ain’t used t’seein that sorta thing.”
“Real beauty, that girl,” he stuttered. “Don’t see that every day.”
“More common in cats than girls,” Mo remarked. “I jus’ like t’say she’s got one a her daddy’s eyes an one a mine!”
“Good way a lookin at it.”
They filed into the gymnasium an started settin up their equipment. Ennis spoke briefly with Mo, mostly answerin her questions, tryin t’calm himself down with the reminder that Jack would be back soon. Hated bein separated from him.
After a time, small clusters a kids from Fredeick Douglass started t’mull ‘round, lookin at the visitors with great interest. Some approached an started up conversations ‘til the staff shooed them away to their seats. The parents, includin Ennis, took seats on the bleachers opposin the Astro students, an he couldn’t help but marvel at bein in the minority, what with there bein hardly an African Americans in Riverton, until he saw Jack an Annie stridin in an realized he had been all along. Annie took her seat among the band an started chatterin animatedly with her friends.
“Annie’s doin okay,” Jack informed him needlessly. “Gave her some water an some medicine, she’s feelin better.”
“I see that.”
A microphone buzzed, an a loud voice that didn’t belong t’Dwight rang through the gymnasium. Ennis admired all the conference banners hangin from the ceiling as a stout middle aged black man took the stage.
“We here at Frederick Douglass High School would like to warmly welcome River Valley High School, comin to see us all the way from Riverton, Wyoming. Please join me in showing our appreciation of their long trek to come play some music for us today.”
A wild cheer that Ennis wasn’t expectin broke from the crowd.
“With that, I’ll be handing this mic off to their high master of ceremonies, Mr. Dwight Jackson!”
The kids a River Valley applauded the loudest, a few kids whistled, an Ennis blushed an buried his face in his hands when he realized one a ‘em was Jackie.
“Well, thank you for that warm welcome,” he nodded, an went on with a few more things, but Ennis couldn’t concentrate on it with Jack’s hand slippin into his.
A few kids stood up, a tuba player, trumpet player, saxophone player an percussionist, all standin at the front a the band. A slow, somber tune started playin, an Ennis realized it must a been the Dixie funeral. The audience listened politely, clappin when it all began.
An it happened with the change a the pace a the music, the tune jumpin into “When The Saints Go Marchin In.” The gymnasium erupted, kids gettin t’their feet an cheerin, clappin, wavin their hands an dancin. Ennis felt his mouth literally drop open; no way would any band get such a warm reception at River Valley, which was more of a sports school than an arts school, but Frederick Douglass High School seemed to be the opposite; the music was magic an filled the souls a everyone in the room; even Ennis felt like dancin.
When it was over, the screams an whoops were so loud that Ennis couldn’t hear Jack when he shouted somethin ‘bout how great the band played. His heart roared in his ears with the roars a the students, the River Valley High Band standin up an takin their well deserved bows an love from their appreciative audience. Several a the kids from both schools had tears in their eyes as they grinned so hard it looked like they’d break their faces in half.
“M’glad Annie didn’t miss this in the nurse’s office!” Shouted Jack.
“Me, too!”
After a time, the portly principal took the mic again an, wipin his eyes a little, voice shakin, said, “thank you, River Valley, for that moving performance. I would like to announce that as of today, Frederick Douglass High and River Valley High of Riverton, Wyoming, are forever sister schools.”
Another loud cheer erupted, an another tear slid down Annie’s still slightly pale cheek.
“And don’t think we don’t show our appreciation for those who come to so richly entertain us; we proudly present our Frederick Douglass High School marchin band performin the River Valley Fight Song!”
With that, in marched a band dressed in snappy blue uniforms, high steppin as they blasted an empressive rendition of River Valley’s Fight Song. The watchin band gasped, applaudin loudly with the rest a the student body as the performers pranced ‘round the gymnasium.
It was one a the most amazin things Ennis had seen in all his years; the music was magic an affected everyone. People cheered an danced, an two schools separated by thousands a miles became “sister schools.”
Unabashedly this time, he took Jack’s hand in his an squeezed.
TBC