By The Book

Three

"Oh my gosh, did you see that episode of Stormy Life?!?!?" I asked Lauren just like Mom told me.
"Yes! That was crazy!! I cannot believe they ended it on that cliff hanger!" Somehow Mother just knew what people I talked to were going to say. Everyday when she tells me what conversations to have, she just knows what response they are going to give. I don't know how she does it. It kind of freaks me out, because it's like magic. But again, I never argue with Mother.

"I couldn't believe it either! I cannot wait until next week, that seems too long!!" I said replying to Lauren (another thing Mom told me to say). There was awhile of conversation of which mom directed me. Then the bell rang. The school-ly ring-a-ling bell that directed us to go into the hallways.

We walked into the hallways with lockers covering the walls. The sounds are loud students speaking millions of words, but you can't hear any of the specific words coming out of their mouths unless you stand right next to them. There was also the sound of slamming lockers, about every three seconds. Kind of chaotic and annoying, but you get used to it when you go to that place every day.

I got to my locker, and twisted my code into the lock and heard the *creeeeeking* of the hinges. I pulled out my books and things and put my backpack and coat into the locker. I slammed the locker, and walked to my first class. Me and Lauren don't have any classes together, so I didn't have anyone to walk with to classes.

My first class was orchestra. I play viola. Sometimes I kind of wish I played cello, but I'm not supposed to mention that. Mom chose viola for me, and wants me to say that that's what I like to play. I wish I had a friend in orchestra, because that's the only class that I don't have really close friends in. Actually, there are some people that seem quite nice in my orchestra that I would like to be friends with, but mother-of course- wouldn't let me. I'm not allowed to choose my own friends.

I walk into the orchestra room, put my books and things on a little desk in the room, and grab my viola from my orchestra locker. It was in a case, it's not as nice as some of the kids in my class. But it's still pretty good. Although I would like to play cello, I still like the viola... like I'm supposed to. It's still got a pretty beautiful sound, and it's a lot more easy to take care of. With a cello, you have to bring around this huge case and try to get it through doors and in between small spaces without bumping it into anything.

My teacher's name is Mr. Jam. His name is really fun, I know. It's funny that he teaches an orchestra, and his name is Mr. Jam. Most of us just call him Jam though. He is very nice, and a great teacher. Last year, we had a different teacher, Ms. Loller, and although she was kind, she was no Jam. She didn't get as much work done in a day as Mr. Jam does, Jam has a way of moving fast, but still making us learn a lot.

We are getting ready for a concert we are having later sometime in late February. The songs are very beautiful, there isn't really a theme to it, but all the songs are really pretty. I like our orchestra. Although I unfortunately don't have any friends in my class, we sound very good together.

"Alright, everyone stand up!" said Jam. We all stood up in unison. I think we all knew what we were going to be doing.
"Stretches!" he yelled. Yep, just as I thought. We do stretches a lot in this class, so we are filled with energy, and ready to play. Mr. Jam instructed us on which stretches we needed to do, and it was pretty fun. His stretches are very funny, not just like "put your hands above your head! touch your toes! stretch your rib cage!" no, Jam does it the best way. He has us dance, and act like things like animals, and stuff like that.

When we were finished, Jam clapped his hands and told us to get out are music, and we just started playing, as much as we know. We finished two songs. They sounded very good. I think we'll do great this upcoming concert.

The bell rang, meaning first hour was over, we all opened our orchestra lockers, and put away our instruments, and grab our things. I walked out of the orchestra room and headed back to my locker. I had to put my orchestra folder and book away in my backpack. Then I remember an order Mom told me.

At right about now, I had to drop things from my locker. So I purposely tried to make it look like an accident, and spilled my things all over the floor. I had a top locker, so it took more of a fall. Papers and books and stuff toppled on the ground, landing every which way. I hate when I get those orders. Because guess what? Now I have to clean it all up. But somehow, Mom just knew that someone was going to help me. And somehow, Mom just knew it was going to be my mutual friend, named James.

"Thank you." I said to James.
"No problem." he replied with a smile.

This stuff was fishy. Crazy. How?? How does Mom know these things?? How does she know who's going to be in the exact place at the exact time, and say the exact things? I have no idea. That is something I definitely cannot answer. Mom seemed to know everything. Everything about my life at least.

But like I said...

I
never
say
anything.