Mute Songbird (boyxboy) -Complete-

Day Two

So today I've gotten the usual 'Hey, what's your name? Huh?  Huh???' and 'If you want me to leave you alone, just say something' but really, nothing major.  Luckily it usually blows over, if the past was any guide.  I was new and interesting and by next week I'd be old news.  I liked that just fine.  And there was something about having a stroke that made most decent people realize that teasing and shit is mean.  I guess they were worried I'd spazz out on the floor or something maybe, or just knew that I couldn't help not talking.  Either way, my second day was pretty good.

Not only did I know my way around a little better, but I managed to get myself completely excused from gym.  I hadn't actually participated in Phys. Ed since my stroke because the idea of being nailed in the head by a ball didn't really appeal to me or my doctors.  At Springfield, my last school, I'd had to suit up and watch though.   Let me tell you something you won't believe; putting on ugly gold polyester shorts and sitting around for an hour a day in the dirt or on hard metal bleachers is NOT my idea of fun.  The counsellor here decided I could be an office aid instead and set me to work filing some papers.  Not exactly thrilling but I finished up in about 20 minutes and got all of my math homework out of the way before the bell rang.  Hell yeah.

Next, choir.  After this it was just history which, judging by yesterday, was going to be a lot of movies and naps, so it almost felt like having half days on Tuesdays and Thursdays.  Maybe I'd actually get to come back in the fall and do a full year here; I wouldn't mind.  In a moment of genius, I found the choir door on the first try now that I knew it looked like the entrance to the catacombs and walked in, realizing right away that I had no idea where to sit.  Luckily Mrs. Clark came to my rescue when I glanced at her and shrugged my shoulders.

"Asher?  This is Paul.  Paul, raise your hand.  Sit next to him please.  Go at your own pace and join in whenever you're ready, okay?"

I nodded and smiled, then grabbed the binder off the chair next to Paul and sat down.  To my left was a pretty girl with glasses and she smiled before looking away shyly.  I knew the feeling.  Dan bounced in a minute later; he either had class in Tennessee or just liked cutting it close.  I decided on the second since I'd seen him, okay fine, crashed into him at the water fountain yesterday.  He waved at me and I waved back, but he sat way to my right and in the back row, away from my prying eyes.  Oh well, at least I wouldn't be distracted.

There was no way I would be able to contribute for at least a week because all the songs were new and they were more complicated than what my prior choir had sung so I sat and listened, trying to memorize the sheet music and make it magically connect with some small, still functioning portion of my brain.  When the bell rang I stood but Mrs. Clark called my name before I reached the doors.

"Asher, how long does it normally take you to learn your parts?"

I grabbed my notepad and hastily scribbled:  a few weeks. It actually didn't usually take me quite that long but I wanted to build in a little bit of leeway for myself.

"That's cutting it very, very close.  We have a spring competition, States, the end May.  Is there anything I can do to help speed that up?  I'm not trying to pressure you, just hoping for some of that gorgeous tenor to help strengthen the high end, you understand?"

I nodded my head.  Have recordings?

"I do, of at least two of them, but... I'm not legally allowed to hand them out and I certainly don't have the Webber on tape.   Oh!" she exclaimed, her eyes lighting up.  "What if someone helped you?   Can someone sing with you to practice?  Let me think who would be best...."

And I swear, you couldn't have planned it better if God himself had orchestrated the whole thing. Dan walked back in the door, mumbling that he'd forgotten his hat.

"You're not supposed to wear hats in school Danny" Mrs. Clark chastised.

"If I'd been wearing it, I wouldn't have forgotten it" he joked with that thousand megawatt smile.

"Well you certainly have a point.  Danny?  What are you doing this afternoon?   Tomorrow?"

"Um, nothing.  Going home to eat everything in the house and listen to music while I do my homework.  The usual.  Why?"

"Any chance you two live near each other?" she asked, looking back and forth.

"I don't know, but his mom picks him up, right?  Why?"

"Oh this is going to be just perfect.  Danny, how would you like to be my favorite baritone this week?"

"I sure wouldn't mind since it would be nice to have another solo next year. Any chance it comes with those cookies you brought in at Christmas?"