speaking and everyone on the Line was quiet, “For 3rd place Percussion honors, with a score of 90.52, Swiss County High School!”
Lucy watched as the South County drummers celebrated the award.
The announcer continued, “Folks, I want to let you know the difference between first and second place this year is incredibly close.”
Lucy rolled her eyes, if you were on either South’s or Forrest Hills’s percussion sections, this was nothing new. The announcer made the same speech virtually every year. In fact, in the past five years the combined differences between the two lines probably didn’t add up to one point.
“With a score of 92.76….the South Washington High School percussion ensemble receives second place honors.”
Lucy and the rest of the Line started jumping up and down, but her eyes and heart were drawn to the field. She watched as Sam went out to receive the award, knowing how difficult it must be with Jerm and the rest of the Forrest Hills drumline were about to receive the first place trophy.
“With a score of 92.9…the Forrest Hills High School percussion ensemble receives this year’s High Percussion ensemble. Captain, please step forward to receive your trophy.”
Jerm cockily strutted out and took the trophy from the event organizers, lifting it high over his head.
“Now, we come to the overall band awards.”
Lucy had edged her way over to near where Mandy was standing and took her friend’s hand. As feature twirler, Gina was on the field with the rest of the band leadership.
“In third place, Meadowvale High School!”
A section of the crowd went crazy. The South and Forrest Hills marching band members all held a collective breath.
“In second place…Forrest Hills High School!”
The Forrest Hills Flyers were happy, but not nearly as happy as they would’ve been had they been able to bring home the very large Sweepstakes place trophy.
“And finally, your new Hill County Marching Band Classic Champions…South Washington High School!”
The crowd erupted in cheers and the South band rushed the field. Lucy remembered her freshman year when it had been her band doing the same thing. Although second place at such a large competition was nothing to be sad about, the walk back to the buses was a little defeated. The questions were on everyone’s mind: what could I have done differently? Was I the one who lost it for us? The drumline didn’t want to rub it in everyone’s faces they had individually won as a section and kept quiet, knowing they could celebrate privately on the bus.
After a “Great job, you should be proud and we’ll get em’ next week” speech from Mr. Izzo, the marching band prepared for the long drive home. After the various sections listened to the judges’ tapes in school on Monday, the section leaders would know what to concentrate on – there was always some room for improvement and next weekend, they certainly wanted to be the ones to return home with a first place trophy and the Sweepstakes prize.
As subdued as the Line was in front of the band, as soon as they got on the bus the entire section went crazy. The trophy got passed around the bus and everyone took turns using their keys or whatever was handy to scratch their initials in it.
Jerm asked Nevada, “Did you see the look on Sam’s face?”
Lucy couldn’t help but defend her “other” boyfriend and found herself instantly responding to her captain’s question, “I couldn’t tell much from the field, but I think he looked like he respected the judge’s decision. It’s not like he flicked you off or anything.”
Nevada and Jerm both gave the bass drummer a weird look. Jerm asked Lucy, “You know this is the guy that called you a bitch, right?”
“Allegedly called me a bitch. It could have been someone else.”
Jerm rolled his eyes and said, “Well, anyway I’m glad we kicked South’s ass.”
Lucy couldn’t help herself, and commented, “Really Jerm, it was like some
Lucy watched as the South County drummers celebrated the award.
The announcer continued, “Folks, I want to let you know the difference between first and second place this year is incredibly close.”
Lucy rolled her eyes, if you were on either South’s or Forrest Hills’s percussion sections, this was nothing new. The announcer made the same speech virtually every year. In fact, in the past five years the combined differences between the two lines probably didn’t add up to one point.
“With a score of 92.76….the South Washington High School percussion ensemble receives second place honors.”
Lucy and the rest of the Line started jumping up and down, but her eyes and heart were drawn to the field. She watched as Sam went out to receive the award, knowing how difficult it must be with Jerm and the rest of the Forrest Hills drumline were about to receive the first place trophy.
“With a score of 92.9…the Forrest Hills High School percussion ensemble receives this year’s High Percussion ensemble. Captain, please step forward to receive your trophy.”
Jerm cockily strutted out and took the trophy from the event organizers, lifting it high over his head.
“Now, we come to the overall band awards.”
Lucy had edged her way over to near where Mandy was standing and took her friend’s hand. As feature twirler, Gina was on the field with the rest of the band leadership.
“In third place, Meadowvale High School!”
A section of the crowd went crazy. The South and Forrest Hills marching band members all held a collective breath.
“In second place…Forrest Hills High School!”
The Forrest Hills Flyers were happy, but not nearly as happy as they would’ve been had they been able to bring home the very large Sweepstakes place trophy.
“And finally, your new Hill County Marching Band Classic Champions…South Washington High School!”
The crowd erupted in cheers and the South band rushed the field. Lucy remembered her freshman year when it had been her band doing the same thing. Although second place at such a large competition was nothing to be sad about, the walk back to the buses was a little defeated. The questions were on everyone’s mind: what could I have done differently? Was I the one who lost it for us? The drumline didn’t want to rub it in everyone’s faces they had individually won as a section and kept quiet, knowing they could celebrate privately on the bus.
After a “Great job, you should be proud and we’ll get em’ next week” speech from Mr. Izzo, the marching band prepared for the long drive home. After the various sections listened to the judges’ tapes in school on Monday, the section leaders would know what to concentrate on – there was always some room for improvement and next weekend, they certainly wanted to be the ones to return home with a first place trophy and the Sweepstakes prize.
As subdued as the Line was in front of the band, as soon as they got on the bus the entire section went crazy. The trophy got passed around the bus and everyone took turns using their keys or whatever was handy to scratch their initials in it.
Jerm asked Nevada, “Did you see the look on Sam’s face?”
Lucy couldn’t help but defend her “other” boyfriend and found herself instantly responding to her captain’s question, “I couldn’t tell much from the field, but I think he looked like he respected the judge’s decision. It’s not like he flicked you off or anything.”
Nevada and Jerm both gave the bass drummer a weird look. Jerm asked Lucy, “You know this is the guy that called you a bitch, right?”
“Allegedly called me a bitch. It could have been someone else.”
Jerm rolled his eyes and said, “Well, anyway I’m glad we kicked South’s ass.”
Lucy couldn’t help herself, and commented, “Really Jerm, it was like some
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