Doing a Mambo (Steve)

It's all my fault.

That same memory of the snow played in my mind over and over again. The EMTs carted Cory off the hospital. Back at home, I was in tears. I felt like the world had ended for me. It didn't help that my other brothers called me the spawn of the Ender Dragon day in and day out. I came out of it feeling sick and tired, not of any particular thing, just feeling like dirt in general. I curled up into a ball and just waited. There were a thousand things I wanted in this moment. I wanted to hear the sound of my band, of Alex's voice singing for Caitlin, of Andrew telling me for the millionth time that things will be alright even if he didn't know that they would be.

But I couldn't have them. My band broke off into sectionals. Alex was in school. Caitlin was teaching a class. Andrew was with a patient. I felt like vomiting. I was shaking violently and I felt cold even though there was no AC in the room. Andrew described the shaking as seizure-like in an attempt to explain what I felt, but I would have none of it. That description made me have one of these weird panic attacks. After getting me to calm down with Caitlin's aid, he put a blanket over me and let me sleep. Andrew's practice is weird to a lot of people, but it works for me. He will talk to you and let you cry on his shoulder before writing a prescription. He saved one of my students' lives by talking them out of suicide. I have even seen him write prescriptions for affection and attention as well as medications.

I pulled myself out of my daze, staggered to my feet, and alerted my band to rehearsal. The percussion was overpowering in Mambo. Kyle, on toms, lowered his stick height. The others, however, did not follow suit.
          "Play quieter, percussion." I struggled to get the words out. We ran through the passage again. Andreas complained that he couldn't hear himself or the other second flutes. I quieted the first flutes and ordered Andreas to come out more. As usual, the alto saxophones were fine. They weren't the most confident, but they were okay. As I conducted the band, I became fully absorbed in their music. The steadily pounding percussion replaced my racing heart. The trumpet flourishes, the flutes' high notes, and the steady bass line lifted my spirits. The excitement of the music took the place of the thoughts spiraling in my head. When I cut off, the band said things like "That was really good!" and "I hope it's like this for the concert!" I agreed.

The concert was today. I thought for sure I would puke on the flute section during rehearsal, but I was so excited I was not bothered by the swirling music before me. My guitar class filled in. Emilia seemed to be in better spirits. Her guitar skills improved tenfold within the last month. The song she played was sweet and bright, but at the same time plaintive. Now that Adrian was out of the hospital, she seemed happier,but still maintained that thoughtful air. Drew, another guitar student, needed help with a scale. It turned out that he was playing just fine, but that his guitar was very out of tune. After working through it for about half an hour I eventually found out that Drew's guitar was out of tune.

At home, I found Caitlin standing outside the door with a puddle at her feet. Her pants were wet as well. She was crying as well. I checked my pocket for the house key and found it. I unlocked the door and we went in.
         "Today, didn't you wear..?" Totally wrong sequence!
         "I was wet when I got home and I had to go again. However, I was locked out, so I..." Caitlin burst into tears again. In her small, quivering voice, she asked "Can you change me? The toilet paper holder keeps breaking under my weight."
         "I will. Let's get you cleaned up."
 I really should get a grab bar for Caitlin so she doesn't have to risk falling in the bathroom. However, I never seem to get around to doing it. I assisted in drying her legs so she wouldn't have to bend over too much and risk a fall. After that, I helped her re-diaper and put on another pair of pants. After that, she thanked me and ended up falling asleep in my arms. It was common for her to be tired and need a nap at the end of the day, but she rarely included me in her repose. To watch her in this ultimately vulnerable, yet peaceful state calmed my nerves. Feeling the delicate wisp of hot air she exhaled after each breath and the silkiness of her hair soothed me more than music.

I got up and changed into my tuxedo, which was an awkward and cumbersome thing to put on. Aside from that, I looked good and felt awesome in it. Caitlin woke up and tied my tie (because I couldn't) as well as making sure I had my Mambo score. She made sure I took my stomach medicine so I wouldn't be too queasy during the concert. After a good luck hug, I went on my way.

At Mindcrack, I warmed up the band. The flutes were atrociously out of tune, the saxophones weren't articulating well, and the trumpets were too loud. These were just minor problems, which I tried over and over again. Andreas was flat despite having his flute in all the way. A clarinet was sharp. Kyle was playing the toms too loud. (For goodness sakes, Kyle! Your stick height is 24 inches! Half that will do.)

I should let the music take over.

I mambo-ed through the problems and rolled with the screw in Andreas's flute coming loose. (Bad day for Andreas.) Andreas finally fixed his flute and re-joined the band. When the time came for the concert, my students filed in order of section and sat down to watch the numbers that came before us.

As usual, Mrs. Abbot completely monopolized the concert with some boring music from the choir and note block ensembles. What a waste of their talent! Have them sing their hearts out! This choir needs someone like Alex to liven things up. Emmeline's sax could elevate their "jazz number". Luckily, the time came quickly when the band had to play and awaken the audience! Finally!

The band and I strode onto the stage. Each member filed into their seat. When everyone settled in, I raised my baton and conducted. I didn't even look at my score for the most part, just mambo-ing through the music with the Mindcrack band. They sounded like an entirely different ensemble, more composed and balanced. One of the Minecraft SO's flutists is named Andreas; my Andreas sounded exactly like him. An alacrity was in the band that had never been present before.

When I lowered my baton, I felt great. The crowd roared and whistled for the band, whose members totally earned that applause. I gestured towards the band because they worked hard for this. Mrs. Abbot tried glaring disapprovingly at the audience, but that just caused the cheers to swell louder. The dance team was supposed to go up, but TNT blew off the roof of the theater.

The dance team drew their swords and fought. Seriously, dancers make the best fighters. I charged into the fray penguin suit and all. Andreas speared a creeper in the head with his flute. Kyle threw various percussion instruments at a blaze, which made for some interesting sounds. Everyone sprang into battle when I saw a woman leaping from hole to hole in the roof. She looked like Caitlin, but was definitely not her. She had these icy blue eyes, like a twisted version of Vivienne.

Then, I saw another figure trying to get her attention. The figure's gait alone indicated that it was Caitlin! I motioned for her to get down, but she refused. On and on they debated until Caitlin did something amazing. When the other woman fired an arrow, Caitlin caught it and shot it back at a skeleton. That shot made the skeleton clatter to pieces. She used her cane to block a zombie attack and soon descended into the room using the same climbing technique she uses to get from the floor into a chair. After that, she found me and, breathless, she said
         "She told me...a lot of things. I never realized..." She puffed on her inhaler. "I never realized the toll the slaying took on her. She feels displaced. She feels lost. But that does not give her the right to hurt you." I was taken aback. Emmeline came from behind me and met Caitlin and the woman I now identified as Samantha Netherfield. While they talked, I mambo-ed into the fray along with my students. It was only natural that I fight at their side.

 

(A/N: This is probably what Steve's band would have played at the concert.)