Just The Four Of Us

Ch. 13: "Down with the tabbycats!"

Mandy's POV

The Christmas holidays all but flew by me in a whirl of parties, way too much social interaction, and gifts I have no space for. I would create a New Year's resolution list to carry out starting this January but God knows I won't be doing anything but laying on my couch watching Jimmy Kimmel. That and being forced to practice for Choral district assessment, which actually is coming up in the next 15 hours. I planned to sit next to Hannah on the bus because frankly she's the only one I'll be able to stand for the ride. Hopefully we don't fail at district. Haha...

"Okay guys pull out the first piece and we'll just start at the canon because apparently even after practicing since August you can't get it right," I snapped out my trance and flipped through the songs in my folder and began to run through it with the rest of the choir.
***
It felt pretty weird not having my ID weighing down around my neck while walking into school. That and having to wear all black and having nothing except my choir folder. I much rather looking like I'm going to a funeral than look like I'm going golfing in my polo and khaki shorts. I was kind of going to my funeral in a way. If we didn't get all ones, our choir director would definitely be convicted with mass murder.

"All choir students please report to the cafeteria with your music," blared the overhead speaker. I made my way to the cafeteria with a slowly growing crowd of students from freshmen to seniors. The sound of tapping flats increased behind me and I got a tap on my shoulder from Marley.

"Woo good I found you I hate walking alone," she added.

"Hey there dork. Oh so where are you sitting? I'm trying to see who I'll be surrounded by for the next few hours."

"I'm with Taylor near the back. Pretty sure I'm across from you and whoever. Tabatha's sitting behind you with...Keali? I think, and then Jayden in front. I checked the chart more than a couple times."

"Well then we'll all be together." I replied, happy that all my friends will be in one spot for once.

We met up with the group of teenagers in the crowded room and formed into sections. There were different levels and my friends and I were a part of the second highest choir. Soon after we all gathered together, Mrs. Hamilton (her name was actually Mrs. Hamilton okay yes I am trash but I wouldn't name a character after my obsession. I wouldn't stoop that low). gave us a pep talk and then we proceeded to load into the busses. Just like Marley had explained, she sat across from Hannah and I, with Tab behind and Jayden in front. This wouldn't be that bad of a trip.

I sat by the window and Hannah sat by the isle and closer to Marley. They started talking and honestly wouldn't shut up. I am glad they're becoming friends but I felt a little excluded. I guess Hannah took note of it and pulled up the fact that I had a mad libs app on my phone.

We all tilted ourselves into a somewhat circular shape and we took turns filling in words. In went in a cycle of me, Hannah, Marley, Taylor, Jayden, Tabatha, and Keali. The theme was a class speech and the last line was, "down with the tabbycats!"

"Literally the best speech I've ever written," I remark, still laughing in between words.

"That's our squad phrase. Down with the tabbycats!" Tabatha continues.

Marley put her hands together in the bird symbol and moved her hands upwards to mimic the bird flying and repeated the phrase out loud.

Hannah did the bird motion again and started laughing while asking, "so like are we the tabbycats now?"

"I think so."

After more rounds of mad libs, we reached our destination at a high school across the river and followed as a group through the hallway. Tab and Hannah walked up to our student teacher, Ms. Hebert and did the hand thing again and asked her if she was down with the tabbycats. To which she said yes and we all erupted in laughter.

From the hallways, we continued to file into the auditorium and sit in our rows. Marley, Tabatha, and Hannah were rambling on about how their minds would look and I just sat at the end of the row listening in. I don't mind just listening. Sometimes that's all people need, sometimes words aren't necessary.

I just didn't know how to join into their strange conversation.

Here and there they would try to include me or drag me in, mostly to check on me and make sure I wasn't lonely, I would just laugh it off and continue my silence. When choirs from other elementary, middle, and high schools walked on stage, the triumphant triumvirate would critique them and make comments here and there about their performance.

Then it was our turn. First, there was the on stage category where we sang our three pieces in front of the judges and they wrote/recorded their comments. Next, there was sight reading. We got a piece of sheet music and had a couple minutes to run through it without help from the director, then we sing it aloud. Avondale has a reputation to uphold when it comes to these kind of things and it's best to not disappoint.

Once again, I was left as soprano, apart from the rest of the "tabbycats", and surrounded by idiots. Idiots that were good singers. So I'll take it. The final minute where the music was sung aloud went mostly well, with a few mistakes here and there, but the judge was pretty lenient.

We walked out of District Assessment with, thankfully, all ones and four trophies. Another win for the choir. I also walked out of District with a stronger group of friends. A win for me.