Short Stories

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Gabrielle tuned her flute before band class. She listened while Andrew and Mary disagreed once again about Challenge Day.

"Andrew, no one come close to how well I play," said Mary.

Andrew shook his head. "I don't know. If it were me, I wouldn't be so sure of myself. I've played trumpet as long as you've played flute. I still practice every day in spite of all my other school activities. You've never stuck with taking lessons nor do you practice regularly. To improve, you need to practice every day."

Mary threw her cascading blond hair out of her eyes. "I'm good. I know it. Everyone else does, too. Nobody will ever steal first chair from me. But if someone tries, they're the one who'll be sorry."

The bell rang. Mr. Banks quieted the students by tapping his baton on the music stand. When the room quieted, he asked, "Are there any challenges today?"

Gabrielle raised her hand confidently. Today she'd be victorious. "Mr. Banks, I'd like to challenge Mary for first chair, please."

He looked at her apprehensively. "What music have you chosen, Gabrielle?"

"The Washington Post March."

Mr. Banks turned to Mary. "Do you accept Gabrielle's challenge?"

"Sure," said Mary.

Gabrielle watched Mary move toward the practice room. Before Gabrielle began, Mary smiled at her sure of victory. When she'd finished however, Mary's confidence melted. Gabrielle had played flawlessly. Shocked by Gabrielle's improvement, Mary made mistake after mistake. They waited silently for Mr. Banks to call them from the practice room. Mary knew she no longer held first chair.

"Congratulations, Gabrielle. You've progressed remarkably. The vote was unanimous. First chair belongs to you."

The rest of the class period remained extremely tense. Mary stared at Gabrielle throughout rehearsal, feeling like a volcano ready to erupt. When class ended, Gabrielle hurried to put her flute away. She wanted to see Kim before second period.

"Hey Kim! You won't believe what happened in band class. Meet me at the benches for lunch. I've got something to tell you you'll never believe. I can hardly believe it myself!"

"What? Don't leave me in suspense, That's not fair," said Kim.

"Can't talk now. English class. Been late twice this week. Benches -- 12:15. Be there."

Gabrielle checked her watched, waiting for Kim. Finally she arrived, dropping her backpack and purse.

"So?? What's up?? You're acting like you won a million dollars or something," said Kim.

"It's better! I got first chair flute!!" said Gabrielle, talking so rapidly Kim barely understood her.

"But how? You've struggled for first chair ever since school started. How'd you do it?" asked Kim.

"I didn't tell anybody but Mom's been paying a college girl to give me lessons. She's real tough, making me practice two hours a day. That's why I couldn't go with you to the mall after school," explained Gabrielle.

"Sounds to me like it paid off. By the way, how'd Mary react?"

"She's steamed. She didn't say anyhing all class period, but one look at her face and it told me exactly what she thought."

Finishing their lunch, they walked to the grassy area behind the library to relax before their fifth period classes. Not far from where they sat, Gabrielle saw Mary surrounded by a group of girls. Within earshot, both Gabrielle and Kim heard the conversation.

"I don't believe it!! Kim, she's talking about me!" Gabrielle whispered.

"Leave it alone. You did your thing. Be happy about it. Don't let her attitude spoil your day."

Stubborn and headstrong, Gabrielle couldn't let the issue drop. She wanted to have the last word.
"What's the problem, Mary? Can't take defeat graciously and learn from your mistakes? I played better than you did. Simple."

"Look, the others voted for you because they felt sorry for you. You've been last chair all year long. You're not better than me even if the others thought so." Mary was yelling at Gabrielle now, causing a crowd to gather.

"I think you're angry because you're wondering if Andrew voted for me or you. You're threatened he might not want you as his girlfriend anymore because you've acted so childish about losing first chair," said Gabrielle.

Mary shook her head, laughing at Gabrielle. "Don't be silly. You're not his type. He likes multi-talented girls."

"I'd be careful how I talk. I don't know why I bother. Believe what you want. I hope Andrew wises up and sees you for who you are -- a liar and a gossip," said Gabrielle.

Unknown to all of them, Andrew overheard the disagreement, following Gabrielle and Kim. Gabrielle spotted him coming up behind her. She ran, sure of what Andrew saw and heard.

"Gabrielle, wait!" shouted Andrew. "I want to talk to you."

Kim stepped between them to prevent Gabrielle from being upset by Mary or Andrew. "Get lost, Andrew. Why don't you find Mary and put her back on her leash before she bites someone else," yelled Kim.

"You, be quiet! I'm talking to Gabrielle. Gabby, if you won't talk to me, at least listen. I'm on your side."

Gabrielle nodded in approval. "Go ahead, Kim. I'm okay."

"Okay, I'll go," Kim said, frowning.

When Kim left them, Andrew sat down beside Gabrielle. She waited for Andrew to speak.

"I wanted to congratulate you. You really improved since school started." Andrew wiped the sweat off his forehead. "I'm proud of you. After hearing Mary going off on you, you didn't let her off the hook." Nervously, he continued. "But, I'm also sorry." He stared at the ground unable to look at Gabrielle. "I'm sorry Mary talked to you that way. She didn't want you to know, but, her parents couldn't afford private lessons for her. She's been teaching herself."

Gabrielle touched his hands. "Look at me. Mary's not your responsibility. I needed to prove something to myself. Because of the sacrifice I made, I discovered I could be as good as anyone else if I tried. I also learned it was the wrong way for us to become friends. Mary always made a big deal about her being your girlfriend. And I'll be honest, I got tired of, 'Andrew did this, or Andrew said that,'" said Gabrielle.

"I know. I'd like it if we could ALL be friends," he said.

"How?" asked Gabrielle.

"Why not offer to help her with her lessons? You don't have to tell her, unless you decide she needs to know. She'll probably rebel, but it's worth a try."

Gabrielle had the sinking feeling first chair wasn't the challenge she thought it would be. She faced a greater challenge.

"Thanks, I'll offer to help her. And don't worry, I won't tell her what you told me. Wish me luck?"

"Good luck, friend," he said.

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