The Drum Major and the Clarinet

He got to me

I examined my drill while the sun glared down on my back. The heat from the marching field radiated off the cement and on my feet. People from the marching band wondered around finding their next set. I felt my own sweat trickle down my back. My mouth urged for water, my legs wanted to fall.

I looked up at Alex, who stood on he stand fanning himself with his hands. I glanced away from his seeing Lindsey counting out her steps from the yard marker. She marked her spot with chalk and walked up to me.

"What number are you?" She asked looking down at her drill.

"2." I said looking over onto her drill.

She led me over to the 35 yard marker and took 4 steps down the marker, and 3 steps off. She pointed down where she ended. "Here's your dot."

I marked the spot with the chalk, and stood set. I went through my fingerings again, as my sweat ran down my nose; making my nose itch.

I put my instrument to my side and scratched the side of my nose. Mr. Petek starred down at me.

"Down move while at set!" He yelled.

I jerked back up to set. My arms became weak, I wanted to relax so badly, but if I do Mr. Petek would yell at me again. I endured the pain until 5 minutes later he let us relax. He allowed us a water break.

I walked over to the grass where our water bottles laid. I collapsed on the ground next to my water bottle. I popped off the cap and chugged down half the bottle. I poured some on my forehead, and the back of my neck.

The water soothed my over heated body. I laid on the ground panting, wishing I were inside with air conditioning. The sun continued to beat down on my forehead and body. I felt weak, like the fluids in my body are flowing out of me as sweat. I felt like I was becoming dehydrated from sweating to much.

I scratched my wet head. Lindsey sat down next to me.

"What do ya thing, freshy?" She asked me about to take a drink of her water.

"I think, that this is going to be the death of me." I panted.

"Oh, it's not that bad. I survived my freshman year." She sat her water bottle on the ground.

"Why must you torcher me?" I asked.

"Just wait, when it starts getting colder out, you'll wish it was this hot out." She said.

"Highly doubtable." I sat up.

"That's what I said my freshman year. Don't worry, when competitions come along, you'll have a lot of fun. I'd say the competitions are the best part of marching band." Lindsey smiled.

"When do competitions start?" I asked.

"September." She stated.

I gave her an annoyed look, considering the fact it was still July; the beginning marching band camp. I fell backwards, laying on my back again.

I closed my eyes with my hands over them; trying to block out the sun. Blocking out the sun didn't work out that great, because of the rays that slipped through the cracks of my fingers.

I felt a shadow over me that blocked out the sun for me. I opened my fingers to see who it was. Guess who it was. If you guess Alex, then you are right. I closed my fingers again to block out the sight of him.

"Do you need something?" I asked.

"Just to talk to you." Alex replied.

"Your request has been denied." I emphasized the last word.