Brassy & Hardly Classy

Trombone // Duke

I remember the day I met the love of my life. 

She practically sparkled under the dim elementary school lights, her elongated brassy tubes opened up to a cute little bell. I was a pint sized fifth grader making googly eyes at a trombone, it was no one else but me and her. She and I against the entire Beginning Band Universe, always has been, always will be.

Fast forward a few years and you'll find me sitting in sixth hour Signature Jazz next to the dumbest boxes of rocks I've ever met: my section. Not to sound like an ass or anything, but I'm lead trombone and I feel like I'm constantly dragging my section along with me. Including myself we have four trombones: Me, Isaac, and Carl on tenor trombone, and Annalise on bass trombone. After many impromptu after school meetings with my band director, I have devoted myself as trombone section leader. 

Carl barely showed up for class, and Isaac is an over-correcting pain in my ass. Yeah Isaac, I know what fifth fucking position is, can you believe it?  To top it all off, Annalise practically hates my guts after I tried to help her with a bass trombone solo. 

I mean, I've never played bass trombone, and I know they don't get many solos, but she just kept cracking those notes man. I had to help her you know?! Or maybe I was trying to prove something? I never know the difference these days. 

After a long fourth period of shitty practice and Wind Ensemble right after, I set up my stand and plopped in my chair for Sig Jazz. Annalise sat two chairs away from me, spacing out as always; Isaac made some lame dick joke to one of our jazz trumpets, Aaron; and Carl was out of sight. Perfect.  

Mrs. Young, our band director, was practically skipping out of her office as she came to address the class, "Hey Sig Jazz! Today is the start of a special unit."

Once everyone's eyes were locked on her and the chattering stopped, she continued.

" We will be playing Acid Jazz for a an entire concert, expanding our musical repertoire."

Isaac was slouched in his chair and mumbled, "What the hell is Acid Jazz." It came out as more of a statement than a question. 

"I'm so glad you asked Isaac!" Mrs. Young chirped, he snapped up straight in his chair, which got him a few chuckles from the class.

"Acid Jazz originated from the U.K. and is made up of elements from soul music, funk, disco, etc," Mrs. Young rambled on for about five more minutes until she split us off into sectionals. 

With a collective groan, the trombone section reluctantly followed me out into the band hall, where I found Carl standing against the wall, typing something into his phone. 

"Aye Carl, are you gonna join us?" I hollered across the hall, not even trying to mask my annoyance.

In return I got a dirty glance and a scoff, now I was livid. 

"Here, hold this" I grumbled as I shoved my trombone into Isaac's free hand. I stomped over to where Carl was standing and crossed my arms, "You know what Carl? I have had enough of your shit. Every fucking class period you spend half of your time moping your ass down this hall, what is your problem?!" The words almost stung coming out of my mouth. I never like or mean to snap at people, but it's been happening a lot recently. 

Carl shoved his phone into his pocket, "Oh I better watch out, big bad Duke is barking at his section once again," he seethed. 

My face began to turn red as he continued, " I'll admit, it's stupid and unfair of me to skip out on you guys, but why the hell would anyone want to go to a class where you're there, let alone as a section leader."