“Hey, Patterson, I’m going to Glen Burnie to visit my old orchestra teacher. I know you’ve been anxious to meet him. Last time we talked, he said that he couldn’t wait to finally meet you either.” Amanda was excited. She had been waiting since she got to know Mr. Patterson for him and Mr. Wade to meet each other. They were so alike that she knew they’d get along. “Would you like to join me?”
“I don’t see why not, Amanda. Today is okay, right? I hope it’s not any inconvenience but today is the best day for a while.” Mr. Patterson’s whole face was lit up. He had already been let down when he lost his chance to meet Mr. Wade at the Morgan State University performances in Amanda’s ninth and tenth grade years. “So, is there anything I should bring?”
“Hmmm, bring your saxophone and some music that I know well. Oh, and please make sure you get a trumpet part for Mr. Wade and a French horn part for Andrew as well. Mr. Wade hasn’t heard him play yet.”
“Whoa, relax. You may be the band president but you still can’t order me around like your boyfriend.” He smirked; he was only joking. His jibe about her boyfriend wasn’t far off, but it was more that she could keep him in line well than the fact that she controlled him. Whatever the situation, Patterson couldn’t complain. Amanda was the reason he had a saxophone player that could play almost as well as him and a French horn player at all. Because of her, Andrew had come up from North Carolina after he graduated high school. In dire times, Andrew wasn’t a bad backup percussionist either.
“I’ll try to keep that in mind, sir. By the way, Andrew’s giving me a ride and you can ride with us if you want. That way, you don’t have to follow Andrew’s erratic driving.”
“Sounds good. Anything else that I should make sure I have before Drew gets here?” Mr. Patterson said his name with the sort of respect a good teacher has for his students. He respected Amanda in the same way and so was glad that she and Andrew had been able to find each other. They both reminded him of himself and it felt good to be able to teach them directly from his own mistakes.
“Just your personality, my friend, just bring your personality.” Amanda patted her teacher’s shoulder and went back to gathering her stuff so it was ready to go.
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When Andrew arrived, there was a hailstorm of “hello’s” and “how are you’s”. Andrew only played with the band. If someone were to go to school records, he or she would never find him because he never went to Dundalk High.
Andrew hugged Amanda and kissed her on her forehead. “So, are you ready to go?”
“Yeah, so long as you don’t mind if Mr. Patterson rides with us. He wanted to come, but he did not want to attempt to follow your erratic driving.”
“My erratic driving? I think you’re imagining things.”
“You’re too smart for your own good. Then again, why do you think I love you?”
“Are you two lovebirds coming or do I have to drag you out at drumstick-point?” Andrew smiled again and Amanda giggled as she picked up some of her stuff and followed her teacher out the back door of the classroom. Andrew had come in empty-handed so he got the rest of her stuff (like she knew he would) and followed them into the bright sunlight.
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