Lindsey, Tessa, Ian, Jermaine, Kaja, and Jamie couldn’t believe the reception that they got when they showed up for the first day of school. They were barely able to get to their first bell class. Because of the students and staff that knew them and who wanted to shake their hands or get their autographs.

Lindsey got one of the security officers that worked at their school to escort her down to see Mr. Simmons. She received his message and was curious what he wanted to talk about. As she walks into the band practice room, she noticed that Mr. Simmons was busy recording the new instruments the school received.

“You wanted to see me, Mr. Simmons?” Lindsey approaches his desk.

Mr. Simmons looks up at Lindsey’s voice, after checking off the new trumpet the school received. He has been busy checking the new serial numbers for the new instruments and wanted to get them done before any new students showed up.

“Lindsey, yes I wanted to talk with you. Also, congratulations on winning the songwriter contest as well.” Mr. Simmons was proud of his student.

“Thank you, Mr. Simmons.” Lindsey didn’t know he knew about the contest.

Mr. Simmons saw the surprised look on Lindsey’s face “What? You didn’t think I wouldn’t keep up with my favorite student?” A smile graces his face.

Lindsey just smiles because she didn’t know she was his favorite student. She figures Leonard or Gracie was. They had been playing their instruments longer then she had.

“I didn’t know, sir.” Lindsey felt honored.

“I have to be careful about having favorites. However, the reason I called you down here. I gave the music sample you gave me of just you and the one with you and Ian to a friend of mine to listen too. He is the Executive Director of the Georgia Youth Symphony Orchestra and would like for you, and Ian to join them. I told him about the other band members and he would love to hear from them as well.” Mr. Simmons knew Tessa would be a good addition to the Orchestra.

“It sounds interesting and I wouldn’t mind knowing more. I think Tessa might be interested, but I don’t know about Jermaine. Ian, on the other hand, is thinking about joining the wrestling team.” Lindsey wouldn’t mind playing in an Orchestra or learning.

“Well, he would like to hear you and anyone else from your band that might be interested. If you decide to join, he’ll wave the tuition for the school.” Mr. Simmons knew his friend Don Alexander would love to have Lindsey and her bandmates in his school and Orchestra.

“It sounds interesting. When do they practice and have class?” Lindsey was curious.

“The symphony meets on Sunday from 3:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., The Jazz group meets on Wednesday from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.” Mr.
Simmons knew Don wanted Lindsey for the Orchestra and the Jazz group. He loved her saxophone playing.

Lindsey didn’t know what arrangements have been made with the record company yet. So, she needed to talk with the band. She wanted to talk with Tessa and Ian as well. She knew Jermaine was going to join ROTC.

“When can I talk with him?” Lindsey wonders if he would come here or would she have to go there.

“He’ll be here Wednesday. He wants to hear you play during practice.” Mr. Simmons arranged it with him.

“Okay, I’ll know more by then what the band is going to do.”

“Good, oh, one more thing. There’s an advertising company that wants to use one of the samples you gave me. The creative director liked
what he heard and wanted to know if he could use it.” Mr. Simmons was listening to the sample when his friend called and heard it.

“He has my permission, Mr. Simmons. If he wants to buy that sample, let me know.” Lindsey adjusts her book bag on her shoulder.

“Thanks, Lindsey, I’ll tell him. He’ll probably pay you for the sample. Let me write you a pass and send you on your way to class.” Mr. Simmons writes a pass for Lindsey and hands it to her.

“Thank you, Mr. Simmons.” Lindsey accepts it and heads towards her first class.

Lindsey had American Government first thing in the morning. Since it was a college-level course she had to work a little harder. Her next class after homeroom is Algebra II. Then she had Physical Education. This week they were in the gym, so she needed to change into her gym suit.
She does get odd looks occasionally, as she changes into her gym clothes.

Lindsey just ignores them and heads out of the locker room. She had a new coach and she worked the class. Only a handful of students weren’t worn out by the end of class. Lindsey wasn’t out of shape as the other students. Her knee was bothering her, and she would have to wrap it up after class.

When lunchtime comes around, she meets up with the other members of the band and claims a table for themselves. Lindsey sits next to Kaja
“how has everyone’s classes been so far?”

“Great, once everyone stopped asking me for my autograph or how I felt while we were on stage.” Jermaine wasn’t used to the attention he was getting from his friends and other classmates.

“How many girls were giving you their phone numbers?” Jamie sits down with his girlfriend.

“Too many. How about you Tessa, how many boys wanted your number or wanted to be your man?” Jermaine looks over towards Tessa.

“I didn’t have too many boys hit on me. I think I scare them with my gothic look.” Tessa had come to school dress in her gothic outfit.

She liked the outfit Maxine wore at their concert and was thinking about making an outfit like that. She looks over towards Lindsey and Ian “are you two a couple?”

Lindsey just smiles at Tessa. She and Ian were still dating and planned on staying together.

Tessa notices the smile on Lindsey’s face “I’ll take that as a yes.”

“You do know we have band rules about dating other band members.” Jamie looks at Ian and Lindsey.

Lindsey turns her attention towards Jamie “we do?”

Jamie just smirks “nay, I just wanted to see the look on your face.”

Lindsey wanted to punch Jamie.

“I do have some news from Mr. Simmons. The director from Georgia Youth Symphony Orchestra is going to be here Wednesday and he wants to hear how well we play. He’s extended an invitation for me, Ian and Tessa to come and join the Orchestra. He extended it to you Jermaine, but I know you said you were joining ROTC and wanted to play Basketball.” Lindsey hopes she didn’t mess up.

“That’s fine and your right. I joined ROTC and will be trying out for the basketball team this year.” Jermaine didn’t mind not being asked or not joining the orchestra.

“I’m going to have to decline as well, Lindsey. I’m joining the wrestling team. Also, we have several football games were going to have to play at this year.” Ian looks at Lindsey to remind her of their band schedule.

“Damn! I forgot about our band schedule. Maybe it won’t interfere with the orchestra. Has anyone heard from Terry about practice this Sunday?” Lindsey looks towards Jamie.

“Practice is still Sunday. However, we might want to start looking for a studio for our band. My parents have been talking about tossing us out of the garage. My father and mom want to park their cars in the garage.” Jamie overheard his parents talking.

“I’ll talk with my mom tonight. She might know of a location we can either rent or maybe buy.” Lindsey hopes Barbara might know of a location.

The bell ring telling them lunch was over and they needed to head to their classes. Lindsey had band practice at the end of the day. When Ian,
Tessa, and Lindsey show-up for band practice, they are met with applause from their fellow band mates.

As Lindsey takes her seat with her saxophone, she notices Henry coming in. He was still first chair. She goes about getting her sax ready for practice.

As Henry sits down next to Lindsey “are you going after my seat this year?”

“Nope, I’m willing to follow your lead, Henry.” Lindsey played because she loved music.

She could careless about what chair she held. Music is what she enjoyed.

“Oh, come on. Do you really expect me to believe that?” Henry puts a new reed in his mouth piece.

“Yep, I play music because I love hearing the notes and how they all go together. It’s like hearing what in here,” as she points to her head “and
hearing it manifest for real.”

Henry just watches as Lindsey prepares her sax. Hers was an older model and he remembered last year when she traded in her school one and brought her new one out.

“We’ll see how well you do this year.” Henry didn’t want to lose his seat.

Lindsey watches as some of the new people get their papers to take back to their parents to sign. She remembered taking hers last year to Barbara. She looks over towards Tessa and saw that she was familiarizing herself with the new piano.

“Alright students, let’s see how rusty you guys and girls are from your summer vacation.” Mr. Simmons looks proudly at his old students and the new ones.