From The Jazzy Island of Dinosaurs
It was the next morning, and the potential new name for the band was still fresh on Caleb’s mind. It was now 7:30 in the morning, and the boy just woke up. He took a fast shower, put on some everyday clothes, and walked down to the kitchen to eat breakfast with his siblings who were awake. Alyssa was now the only Grzedek kid who was still sleeping. While the four boys were eating a variety of different foods: cereal, toast and butter, fruit, basically all of the healthy choices, they thought about what their days would entail. The kids had a lot of different things that they were going to do on this fine day. Andrew was thinking about the exciting fact that he would be hanging out with his girlfriend, Eliza Colbert, this afternoon. Her family invited Andrew to come with them to Chicago to watch a baseball game. Caleb was considering the fact that he, of course, had band practice with his friends today. He was going to tell his friends the name that Adam had come up with last night. And, hopefully, everyone would agree on that name. Therefore, everything would be settled, making everyone’s life easier. Adam was going to hang out with his best friend today at around noon. He was also going with his friend’s family to Chicago today to browse the amazing city and what it has to offer. And perhaps get a deep dish pizza, as well as some ice cream. Cameron was going to spend time with their grandparents this afternoon. Not their grandparents that were here last night, but their other grandparents. The kids’ maternal grandparents live in Valparaiso, right by Highway 30, and they were planning on getting ice cream and walking around downtown today, and maybe doing some other things that would strike their fancy. Alyssa just woke up. As if that really meant anything. However, she was also going to visit their grandparents with Cameron. The real excitement for her? The ice cream. All five kids sat down at the table. The boys had finished eating about five minutes ago. However, Alyssa helped herself to some cereal and toast and butter. After Alyssa got her cereal and toast and butter, all five kids still sat at the table, continuing their thoughts about their plans for the day. “When do you guys have your band practice today?” Adam questioned Caleb. “In a half hour,” Caleb said. “Will you mention my idea for the name of the band?” “Yes, I will.” “‘The Sound of a B Flat’ is definitely a name you should go with.” “I agree.” Caleb then went back into his room to get ready for practice. He had to gather up everything that he needed for his practice. The boy thought everything was together in one area of the room. But he wanted to double-check, just to make sure he did, in fact, have everything. Bass guitar. Check. Amplifier. Check. Instrument cable. Check. Guitar strap. Check. Bass case. Obvious check. Tuner. Check. Small screw driver. Check. Rag. Check. Metronome. Check. Bass pick. Check….oh, wait. Caleb could not find his guitar pick. He swore that he had it in his guitar case. But, alas, the small green pick was nowhere to be found. And he thought he would need it. Actually, he was pretty sure he would need it. So that he would not get blisters. And if he didn’t get these blisters, then he could still play baseball with his friends. And it would be fun. Seconds seemed like minutes, and minutes seemed like hours. The boy could still not find the blasted bass pick. It was only seventeen minutes later, and he gave up. How could he have lost such a valuable treasure such as a bass pick? It should have been in his case. Surely no one would have just opened up his case and stolen the pick. And surely a bass pick couldn’t have grown legs and walked away. At least that shouldn’t have happened. Oh well. Caleb decided to quit looking. He has some more picks around here somewhere, but he was not going to take the time to look for one. The one that went missing in action has always been his most favorite pick. But Alessandra has at least two bass picks that she could let him borrow for a day or two. Just leave it at that. When Caleb came back downstairs, he noticed that all of his siblings gave him a funny look. Sure, it probably didn’t mean anything. However, it could also have met something. It could have meant that something goofy was about to happen. Also, it could have meant that something good might have happened. And then it could have been the case that something bad would have happened. But, in all sincerity, how could anything bad happen on such a good day? “You got a call from Kathryn,” Adam said bluntly. “Oh yeah? Did she get an updated keyboard, like she thought she was going to?” Caleb asked. “No.” “Is it goofy?” “No.” “Is it good?” “No.” “Is it bad?” “Yes.” “Oh no.” “Oh yes.” “What happened?” Caleb asked, desperate for Adam’s words. Fifteen seconds later…. “She just said she feels under the weather,” Adam replied, somewhat apathetically. “Great. Is Mark coming?” “No. He said he didn’t want to spread whatever Kathryn has to anyone else.” “How very noble.” Well, great. In all honesty, how could anyone get sick on such a nice day? After all, it is summer. In fact, summer vacation just now started. There should be a law where no one is allowed to get sick over the summer. It just shouldn’t happen. It just shouldn’t happen that way. It just shouldn’t happen at all. However, Caleb, Alessandra, and Tad still had to practice. Andrew and Caleb walked over to Alessandra’s house to meet up with the kids who were going to be at their own band rehearsal today. Alessandra lives only a block away from the Grzedek’s street. Therefore, they live in the same neighborhood, but on different streets. After Andrew dropped his younger brother off, he was going to meet his girlfriend at the end of the neighborhood. Andrew was going with her family to Chicago this morning, and they thought that it would be much easier to pick him up there than it would be to pick him up at his house, especially since Andrew and Caleb were walking around the neighborhood to begin with. Within thirty minutes, everyone was out of the house. Band practice today was going to be very weird because they were missing some of their more important parts: the keyboard and the drums. However, Tad could play drums today, since Mark was not going to be there. Caleb was the last kid to arrive at Alessandra’s house. When he came in, he noticed Alessandra and Tad discussing the latest issue of their favorite gaming magazine. Caleb arrived, and they put the magazine away because they both knew that Caleb wanted to practice and then go home. Well, unless no one else was home by that time, he could hang out with his friends for a little while longer, instead of practice for the upcoming concert. “Hey, Caleb,” Tad greeted. “Hey, guys,” Caleb answered. “So, we both decided that it might be best to put the practicing off today,” Alessandra said. “Did you and Tad both talk about it before I came over?” “Yes. So, I think we should just play games and have fun.” “Okay. I’m up for that.” “Kathryn should be fine by tomorrow, so we might as well just postpone the practicing until then,” Tad said. And Caleb was okay with that. What would a band be without its important elements? A band would not really be considered a band without a keyboard or drums, according to them. Even though Tad can play drums, Mark is a little more experienced. The band today would be short the keyboarder and the more experienced drummer. And that would not be good. And, to a degree, the band without a keyboarder and a drummer is similar to a clarinet without a reed. How can a clarinet be remotely playable without the reed? Someone could conceivably blow into the clarinet, but no sound would come out. Instead, the “music” played would just be a simple blow through an instrument that does not serve its full purpose. Now, how about the flute? Someone could just blow into the flute. However, he or she has to blow into the flute in a certain way. Or it would not be playable. The embouchure is really what counts in this scenario. The embouchure is very crucial for the clarinet as well, but the reed is essential when playing the clarinet. There is no reed that is required for the flute. In the school band, the kids, of course, play much different instruments than they do in their own garage band. Caleb plays the alto saxophone. Alessandra plays the clarinet. Kathryn plays the flute. Tad plays the trombone. And Mark plays…. The drums. Of course. “Does Kathryn just have what we all get every once in a while?” Caleb asked. “Yep. At least she said that she will most likely be feeling better by tomorrow,” Alessandra said. “Let’s hope at least,” Tad chimed in. “What should we do?” Caleb questioned. “Video games,” Alessandra replied. “Agreed,” Tad concurred. “I also have to agree.” Caleb, Alessandra, and Tad played video games for a while. They had alternated between games, but they spent a lot of their time playing car racing games in the common area. The three kids were having too much fun trying to beat each other at several of the video games being played. Alessandra’s mom and aunt were at home today, and they decided to get pizza for everyone. As a matter of fact, everyone decided to go to the very good pizza parlor and have lunch there. They all, especially the three kids, had nothing else to do today besides play video games. And, at this pizza parlor, there was an arcade room. So, with that in mind, Caleb, Alessandra, and Tad spent a lot of time playing arcade games that date back to the ‘80’s. And these games are ones that they have always liked. The band still played today. But not like they had anticipated.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Archives
April 2023
About my BlogMy blog contains anything and everything one should know about my books. Aaaaand a lot more as well. |