Keeping in Line Read Free Page B

was because of her former shyness or maybe due to her talent as a drummer, but she had never found a close friendship in the section.
    She sighed as she lined up and looked longingly across the Line, momentarily wishing she could march next to Andy, the quint Lieutenant and therefore well out of reach for Tony and his big mouth. Unfortunately, the way the Forrest Hills drumline set their arc, Bronwyn was at the end of the snares, directly next to the bass line. She really wasn’t looking forward to an entire season of Tony, on first bass, getting in her face. She didn’t want to tell J.D. about the situation because she didn’t want to him to think she couldn’t handle things or give her any preferential treatment. She could only hope Adam would somehow notice and maybe do something to shut Tony up.
    BWAP! J.D. snapped one of his sticks down on the rim of his snare drum and got everyone’s attention.
    Henry, in his fifth year of instructing the Forrest Hills drummers, looked at J.D. strangely, but addressed the collected Line, “Well everyone, I hope you had a relaxing summer. I want to let you know that I’m really looking forward to the coming season. I don’t have to tell you the last class left some big shoes to fill. So, I’m not going to say we’re rebuilding this year, but I offer it as a challenge to you. You all know how well last year’s Line did and I urge everyone to take that as a challenge to rise above. As you know, this year’s half-time show is going to be something a little bit different than usual.”
    Bronwyn knew what he was referring to. Usually, the Forrest Hills marching band did a combination of crowd pleasing tunes. This year, Mr. Izzo had decided to do something extra. Going for a more obscure and abstract angle, the theme of the show this year was Weather. Bronwyn looked forward to what Henry would come up with, but was a bit apprehensive about how the new sound would connect with the rest of the band.
    “Now, let’s get warmed up. Nice and easy, Eight on a Hand.”
     
    The drummers finished the warm up and before Bronwyn knew it, practice was over. She had been so intent on looking and acting the part that she hadn’t been distracted by Tony’s constant antics to try and mess her up. Overall, she was proud of herself.
    As they walked back to the school, J.D. came up next to her and commented, “You looked okay out there today, B.”
    “Th-thanks.” Bronwyn knew J.D. rarely gave out anything that sounded remotely like a compliment, but that was certainly one.
    Bronwyn put Stewie away in the percussion room and was on her way to call her Dad from the pay phone when Ben caught up with her, “Hey, Flueger, need a ride home?”
    Bronwyn smiled appreciatively. Being an underclassman, there was nothing more embarrassing than having to wait around for your parents…especially when almost everyone else in the section could come and go whenever they wanted. She answered, “That would be great. Mind if I just call the ‘rents and let them know?”
    “You don’t have a cell phone?”
    She looked down, “Not yet – they won’t let me have one until I can pay for it myself.”
    “Bummer – just use mine then.”
    “Thanks.”
    Bronwyn silently prayed that her sometimes overprotective, but well meaning parents, would go along with the plan. She turned away and said, “Hey Mom – I’m going to ride home with Ben tonight – he’s on tenors.”
    The first lesson Lucy had instructed her on was how to be more forceful. Rather than ask permission, Bronwyn stated her intentions.
    “Oh – okay, honey, be safe.”
    “Will do.”
    Bronwyn passed the phone back and they walked towards Ben’s bright red truck.
    “El Caliente,” Ben said as he unlocked the door. Bronwyn got into the appropriately named ride, and it suddenly dawned on her she had never been in a car alone…with a guy. Her tongue suddenly felt huge in her mouth and she wondered how she was ever going to pull together