Fat, Awkward, and Somehow In Charge

Monday, July 13- 7:50 AM

Band Camp: Year 2, Day 1

"CAT!"
Catrina barely mustered a wave before her best friend, Amanda, squeezed her tightly.
"We literally had a sleepover like 3 weeks ago," Cat giggled. Catrina's other best friend, Margo, walked up alongside Amanda.
"You can let her go now," Margo said dryly. She turned to Cat.
"And did you remember your sunscreen this time?"
"Duh. I got fried last year." Catrina pulled a bottle of SPF 100 from her bulky lunch box, waving it in Margo's face. She laughed and pushed it aside,
"Hey, I just have to look out for you reckless people."
"I feel that," Catrina said, both Margo and Amanda rolling their eyes. The trio walked through the back door, immediately entering the myriad of veteran band geeks, color guard members, and very scared freshman. Cat slid near the marimba, right next to the back door. She tugged at her shorts, which were riding up between her thighs. Looking around her domain, she noticed that she didn't see any freshmen that belonged to her section. Nor did she see last year's pit captain, Claudia. Not to mention it was already 7:45. Didn't anyone realize that 8 is late? She sighed a sigh of relief as her band director, Mr. Gould walked up. He would know what to wad going on.
"Hello Catrina," He said.
"Oh, hi Mr. Gould, have you seen Claudia around here? Or the freshmen in pit?" Catrina asked worriedly.
"Haven't you heard? Claudia quit band. She's on early dismissal schedule now."
"Wait WHAT? CLAUDIA QUIT?!"
"And I have no idea where your freshmen are." Mr. Gould turned and walked away.
"WHO'S IN CHARGE NOW? MR. GOULD?" Catrina called out, but he was already busy again. She set her lunch back down, trying to process the fact that her section no longer had any leadership. The clock now read 7:55. A blond haired girl, brown haired girl, and tall boy walked up to her.
"...Excuse me?" The blond girl asked. Cat had no doubt that she and the other two kids were freshmen.
"Yeah, what's up?" Cat asked nonchalantly.
"Is this the pit?" The girl asked.
"Yep, you've come to the right place." Catrina gestured to the assortment of mallet percussion instruments settled around her.
"Well, I'm Sarah, this is Mia, and this is Seth." The girl pointed to herself, the brown haired girl, and the tall boy, respectively. Catrina nodded, still seated with her back against the wall.
"I'm Catrina. Why don't you guys have a seat?" Catrina patted the ground next to her.
7:56, she thought. Where was everyone? Catrina turned to look at the new freshmen, who were happily chatting and laughing.
"Hey, do you guys know who else is supposed to be here?" Catrina asked.
"Oh, well there's another boy. His name is Peyton." Mia said. Catrina nodded.
"Wait, what about that other girl, Sarah? She plays clarinet, but she messed up her back," Sarah mentioned.
At that moment, who Cat could only assume to be the clarinet, Sarah, walked up. She had long brown hair and a tight looking back brace.
"Hey, they told me to come over here," she said. "Is this the pit?"
"Yeah, it is. You can sit back here." Catrina affirmed.
The girl sat down next to her.
"You're Sarah, right?" Catrina asked.
"Yeah, I play clarinet, but I can't march because of my back." She gestured to the brace she was wearing.
"Oh, well, I guess you'll have to learn percussion." Cat commented.
"Can't I just play triangle?" Sarah asked. She and Catrina began to chuckle.
"Don't worry about it too much. It's not that bad." Catrina said. She glanced at the clock. 8:01, she thought, sighing. She turned around again to glance at the freshmen behind her. Now, there was a small boy with dark hair and glasses conversing with Mia, Sarah, and Seth. Catrina figured it was that boy Peyton. Suddenly, the big band room doors swung open. Catrina was relieved to see a familiar face.
"HOOOOOPEEEEEE," Catrina groaned.
"Hey, Cat," Hope said tiredly. She yawned.
"HOPE, CLAUDIA QUIT BAND. WE HAVE NO CAPTAIN," Catrina fiercely whispered, making sure the freshmen couldn't hear her.
"What? Claudia's gone??" Hope disbelievingly asked.
"She's apparently on early dismissal schedule now," Catrina commented.
"So who's in charge?!"
"Hell if I know, we don't have anyone left from last year..."
"Oh my god..."
"Yep..."
The door swung open once again, this time, Catrina's friend Corey walked in.
"COREYYYYYYYYYYY," Catrina called out to the small emo boy. Corey pulled out a comb and began to comb his hair as he walked towards Catrina.
"Caaaaaaaaattttt," he mocked.
"Here's the deal: Claudia quit, all of the upperclassmen are gone, and it's just me, you, Hope, and a bunch of freshmen," Catrina urgently whispered.
"Wait, what? Really?" he asked worriedly.
"Yep."
Mr. Gould stepped up on the podium and cleared his throat. Catrina glanced at the clock, it read 8:07. Yep, Claudia is definitely not coming.

Glossary:

•Marimba-noun- a musical instrument consisting of a set of graduated wooden bars, often with resonators beneath to reinforce the sound, struck with mallets. (Shown at beginning of chapter)

•Pit-noun- The main emphasis of the pit in drum corps style groups are the mallet instruments: marimba, vibraphone, bells and xylophone. Some marching band circuits also allow non-standard instruments (such as the violin) or electronic/electric instruments (such as synthesizers and bass guitars) in the pit, such as the pit at my school

•Early dismissal schedule-noun- Students are only required to go to two classes a day, as they have fulfilled the required amount of credits and only need 1-4 more.

•Mallet percussion instrument-noun- A mallet percussion instrument is a melodic percussion instrument played in a particular fashion, with mallets.