MiLoh BSGSSB Adventures

Happy National Day!!!

MiLoh's POV

Man,i haven't hung out with the Band Gang and all in such a long time. National Day seems like the perfect time to do it.

Everybody seemed to be waiting for that moment for ages. It meant loads of traffic jams,crowded public areas and crazy loud fireworks. But it also meant happiness,patriotism and crazy loud fireworks. Of course,it seems tradition to watch the National Day Parade every year,but this was the first year i didn't. It seemed more magical than any National Day ever.

That day coincided with the school's 63rd anniversary Gala dinner at a high-class hotel that tourists often stayed in. Of course,it wasn't everyone,it was just the fanfare group,so technically,Xuan and Rathi weren't involved. However,they needed a louder bass,so they got Xuan to join. Rathi's double bass had been lent to the String Ensemble for a short period of time,and she wanted to be there to make sure it was safe. Clarice,of course,wanted to be there to see the band in action. MSB decided to go as there would be free food,and he wanted to meet up with some people. So all of us were,in some way or another, involved in this.

Tetra,although she was a clarinet,begged to be brought along as she wanted to support Rocky,and she wanted to experience this awesome once-in-a-lifetime thing,so we brought her along. It was a really hectic time,everyone complaining about their hair and the crazy ten-piece uniform they had to put on. It was a pain seeing everyone so flustered,especially when i couldn't help. I didn't even know how to do the ties of some girls,because i can't do my own and i can much less tie my own shoelaces and always need MSB to help me. Finally,after the dressing-up,tuning and a quick 3pm dinner,we were off on the bus.

We had a hard time squeezing as we needed to share a bus with the prefects. Rathi's double bass and Xuan's tuba took up 2 seats EACH,so the rest of us had to squeeze uncomfortably. We all somehow fell asleep,erasing any craziness and letting us rest peacefully. We got there in about 20 minutes,thanks to good traffic. It was really really magnificent,with all the high-class people there staring at the slightly ragged fanfare coming in. They stared at our instruments,listened to our talk about saliva and band stuff,not understanding any of it. It felt kind of weird,since i had grown up in an environment that did not involve so much fancy-pants stuff.

We spent most of our time in the waiting room,which was just a small room that was just as bright as the outside. We tuned a lot,practised the fanfare a bit,and complained about the food "not being fresh" although it tasted absolutely fine. We also had a mini karaoke session. Ok well,not mini. The Band Gang was belting out the lyrics to National Day songs and the choir looked at us in an offended way as we sang(on purpose)very out of tune. But it was tremendous fun. I hadn't had so much fun with them since they were students.

Soon,we were called to enter. I was surprised to see so many people,and all the male teachers were wearing suits. Like,actual suits. Then i spotted MSB,looking sharper and even more scary than usual. But he looked great. "Wow,where did you get that from?"i asked casually,borrowing Clarice's shawl to cover my sloppy button-down shirt. MSB look at his suit. "I don't know. Can't remember. But i look kinda funny,don't i?"he said,grinning at himself. I shook my head. "You...you look great."i said. MSB looked at me in a moment of surprise,then smiled. The females wore dresses,and i almost puked when i saw how beautiful my wife and daughter were. "Keep it together,MiLoh,"murmured Diya through her teeth. "We still haven't started."

When we entered,a video was playing for everyone to watch. According to Xuan,it was a video about the Performing Arts CCAs and how they prepared for their respective concerts that year. I almost died when i saw myself lugging that crazy heavy tuba case in the Esplanade. Who could forget that? The Band Gang were also featured,playing Olympics:A Centennial Celebration or something like that. They sounded great. We were all amused when Diya was interviewed as the conductor,and said motivating things like "They have been known to play with excellence" and "I think it's the tradition of doing well that's always given them high achievements. I believe in the band's spirit and willpower." All of us went "aaaawwww" at a blushing Diya. "I didn't know you felt that way,Diya!!"said Xuan cheekily,to which Diya rolled her eyes. Then they were cued to walk right in front of the stage.

The moment had come. As the MC announced the arrival of the guest of honour,Clarice,from the staircase,cued the drumroll. The trumpets blared out their fanfare proudly,followed by the strong bass. The whole moment was majestic and wonderful,i almost forgot it was still National Day. Well,those songs were up to the String Ensemble,even though we did have the scores.

After singing the school song,we exited the ballroom and went to pack up our stuff to leave immediately. It was that short a moment. We went to the bus stop to wait for our coach,and just as we looked up into the sky fireworks lit up the night like a thousand jewels. "Fireworks! Fireworks!"everyone was yelling,whipping out their phones to video it. Well,bot the Band Gang. We sat together and watched the fireworks end the day. National Day plus gala dinner night really was spectacular.

As if things couldn't get crazy enough,the Band Gang started playing their memorised NDP songs. There were so many tourists in that huge crowd that snapped pictures of us making music. I couldn't feel embarrassed. I was so proud of them.

Signed
MiLoh
Ps. Happy National Day!!