October 4, 2007

 

I always knew there was something strange about his sister.  There was just this feeling, the type that sticks with you.  It all started last summer, where, to my great surprise, things were turning out pretty exciting.  I had just gone over to my neighbor's house to give them a banana cream pie (don't ask) when I heard a scream, a bang, and a crash coming from the nearby hydrangia bush.  Now, being in eighth grade, I had enough knowledge to know that it was out of the ordinary for an inanimate hydrangia bush to have strange noises coming out of it.  I stopped and looked around for the possible cause of the noise, but was interrupted by my next door neighbor, who, as he told me later, was enticed by the pungent smell of banana "Is that banana cream pie that I smell?"  David grinned as he approached, arms outstretched eagerly toward the pie.  Although I was a big fan of pie, I was in no mood to talk about socream pie drifting through his open window.  After a last glance at the bush, I decided it was safe enough to approach him, as he was stepping over the continuing line of hydrangia's.   mething as boring as that.

 

 

Today is October 8, 2007. 

 

My name is Sarah.  I decided long ago that I would make sure that my life would be exiting and full of adventure.  Never in my life had I imagined that I would be sitting in a rusty 1970's fire truck, being attacked by a twenty year old one ton elephant.   No, I am not crazy.  It all started last summer when my parents won a safari in Africa.  Of course, we never thought it would turn out like this.  Imagine my surprise when I stepped into a vintage fire truck that was being used as my safari tour vehicle.  Not only that, the person in which I was entrusting my life with (aka my tour guide)  was dressed somewhat similar to Captain Jack sparrow in that major blockbuster pirate movie, Pirates of the Caribbean.  Due to my addiction to sour dill pickles, i had brought along my trusty piclke dish for comfort.  (Hey, some people have chocolate, I have pickles)    to be continued................

 

 

The date of this fine afternoon is October 9, 2007

 

 

Okay, so here's what happened.  I walked into my house.  Not something that people do every day, I know, but I am an extremely talented individual.  I put my backpack on the floor and looked around.  Aaah, the comforting scent of cookies baking in the oven.  It felt like home.  But wait.  It didn't feel like home.  Something was different.  But what.  I surveyed the room inconspicously for the thing that was causing my distress - wait!!!!  That was it!  OH MY GOD!!  Someone had left their dirty laundry - oh the pain - you'll never believe this- on the kitchen table!  What a terrible crime!  A disaster!  Who would do such a thing!  I thought back to this morning.  Had it been there?  No.  I will get to the bottom of this!  Be afraid.  Be very afraid!  I'M WATCHING YOU!!  (yes, I mean YOU!)  This story will be continued by Avril Smith (aka me) at a later date once I find out who could have committed such a crime...

 

 

Today is October 10, 2007

Magna Carta II

 

1. long, run on sentences
2. characters that are fake and unrealistic
3. futeristic and "space" novels
4. Something with a depressing theme
5. Vampire novels or gory books
6. Extremely serious novels that don't have a single sense of humor
7. Historical fiction
8. forever describing the same thing and bringing the same thing up

    

9. Original and unique ideas that I have never heard before

Characters that are in there 20's

A book that takes place in the same place for the whole book.

 More then three different genres

 

 

 October 11, 2007

 

I was at my house one morning, and, having just awoken from a deep slumber, was groggy and tired.  So, seeing a mysterious dog sitting at my kitchen table, eating my corn flakes, was something that jolted me directly out of my slumber and into shock.  I rubbed my eyes and cautiously looked back over to my table.  To my great surprise, the dog looked back at me and said in a strong cockney accent

"Top of the morning to ya!"  In my shock I choked on my words, causing a tremendous sneeze, which resulted in me flying backwards onto my bum and the dog laughing so hard that he almost fell off his chair.

"What?  You've never seen a dog trying to eat his breakfast in peace?"

"Um, no."  This resulted in a one minute staring contest, which the dog won with a laugh. 

 

 

October 15, 2007

 

When somebody finishes my novel, I want them to remember the characters, and to feel like they could relate.  I want them to remember the struggles, and the drama, and the humor.  I also want people to feel a little sad that it is over, and to want to read it again and again.  I want them to be affected by the situations and want them to want to be there with the characters.  This should affect them so that they think about the novel long after it is done, and possibly even want another one.  They should feel as if the characters are speaking to them, and that the reader is the only person lucky enough to know what they have going on in their minds.  I also want them to enjoy reading it and obviously not want to put it down.  The person should feel a mixture of sadness because of the ending and happiness for the character. 

 

 

I imagine my opening scene being an argument between Alice and Austin.  This will not be how the story begins, though, because the story will then start at the beginnig of how she got there.  The scene will be in an empty classroom and the fight will be about the choice that Alice has to make about staying full time in the public or private school.  The classroom will onlook a volleyball match being played just outside of the window, and sounds of shouting people will be heard.  The classroom will be a little bigger than an average size classroom, with desks all throughout the room, but none touching.  There will be a chalkboard facing the north, a window facing the west, a door facing the south and another window facing the east.  The walls are freshly covered with new pant, and the building is only about 5 years old.  The argument will be exclusively between Austin and Alice.  Alice will be wearing a black collared shirt with ruffles down the front and short pink plaid shorts.  Austin will be wearing a collared blue polo ralph lauren shirt with belted kakhi pants.  Alice's hair will be up in a tossled bun, with Austin bangs hanging just barely into his eyes.  Alice's shoes will be red puma sneakers, and Austin's will be Red by Marc Ecko exclusive white and gold sneakers.

 

 

 October 22, 2007  The book name is The Gospel According to Larry by Janet Tash

Boy sets up website under alias name and posts forums about his feelings about consumerism.

Website becomes hugely popular, with The Gospel According to Larry (the name of the website) festivals.

People begin to wonder who the real Larry is ( his real name is Josh Swenson) and start trying to find out who he is.

A person exposes the real creator of The Gospel According to Larry (Josh) and he becomes overwhelmed by the excessive media attention.

Josh fakes his own death by "jumping off of a bridge"  and going into hiding to hide away from people.

The series is continued with the book "Vote for Larry"  where he runs for president, comes in last, but still makes his point.

 

Hi everyone!  I hope that my novel keeps your interest!  It's about an ordinary girl with an extrodinary talent that gets the opportunity to show it off to the world (I know that it sounds like a lifetime movie, but just give it a chance).  I have chosen to post the whole novel, but you shouldn't feel obligated to read it all!  Please tell me what you think about the first part or the whole thing, however much you have read.  I would really appreciate it!  The novel is in yellow.

 

There are a few things you need to know about me before we go any further.  The first is that I am passionately in love with New York City.  The second is that I am a teenager, which can bring up complications including sarcasm, stubbornness, and complete lack of cooperation in general.  Bering this in mind, you'll have to stick with me.  I might go on rants or raves or completely lose my mind.  But my story needs to be heard.  Or maybe I just need to tell it.  I don't know.  Either way, I am going to tell you about when I was 14.  Insecure, yes.  Misunderstood, yes.  Crazy?  You bet.  This is my story, though, and this is how a part of my childhood changed my life and made me who I am today.  And I turned out pretty well, I might add.  Some people think I'm weird.  I think it's just me, Alice Mariner.  Welcome to my wonderland.

 

 

     "Alice, I have some news for you."  I grabbed my mom's sweaty hand and searched her face for a sign.  She looked up at my dad for approval, and when he nodded she turned back to me and looked me in the eye.  Her chest heaved up and down as she beamed at me.  "Alice, I want you to know that your father and I are going on an expedition."  She searched my face for a reaction, which she got immediately. 

     "Mom!  You had me worried!  I thought that some family member had a terminal illness or something!"  I jumped up and went to look out the third floor apartment window.  My eyes carried on over the city and beyond.  "You go on expeditions all the time.  Why is this one any different?"

My mom looked uneasily up at my dad and then at the floor.

     "Honey, I know that you don't like it when we go away, but that's our job.  In order to bring in money for the family, we have to work."  I sat back down and looked up at them.

     "It's not that.  It's just that I don't like having to go live with Aunt Pearl in Soho.  She has no sense of humor."

     "That's what we're getting at.  The expedition is to the Scottish Isles.  We'll be gone for seven months.  That's longer than we have ever been gone.  And your father and I have decided that we don't like Aunt Pearl very much either.  After all, I had to live with her as a child."  She chuckled.  "The point is, you won't be going to Aunt Pearl's."  My mind raced with where my next seven months would be spent.

     "Please don't make me leave New York.  It's the only place that I truly love.  I can't go somewhere else."

     "You're not.  We're thinking of sending you to boarding school.  Here in New York of course."

     "What!  No!!  I'm not going to boarding school!  You can't make me!"  I started to run up to my room but my mom stopped me.

     "Alice, hear me out.  The school is fore students that are gifted in the areas of music, art and drama.  It's a specialty school.  You would only go there for the music classes on the weekends and after school.  You would still go to P.S. 52 during the day and get your grades there.  Consider it a summer school during the school year.  You have to get a scholarship, though.  That's why we're telling you about this now.  Although your regular school will begin at the end of August, this school will start in the middle of September.   You have an audition that you will have to attend next week.  By the end of the summer, if you get excepted, you will go to an orientation.  The school is going to be a lot of fun.  Alice, please don't worry.  You'll do fine."  My mom looked at me with earnesty in her eyes and dropped my hands.  She looked anxiously at my father and he looked at me.

     "Alice, you have an audition set up for next Wednesday.  If you could put something together than that would be great. We were thinking that you could try out in voice and rock guitar.  Think of the new oppprtunities.  Anyway, you're always complaining about how the kids at P.S. 52 are so different.  The kids here are just like you.  Plus, the schoool has a fabulous reputation with employers and the city and with colleges.  Please.  Try it for me and your mother."  He had made it sound very tempting.  I would try it.  After all, a new door opened is a good one. 

     "Okay, I'll do it."  I beamed.  I spun around to ge to my room to put together an audition sequence.  My parents called me back.

     "Alice, you should do something that you can do really well."  My mom advised me.  I stood and thought for a while.

     "Okay, I'm going to sing No One by Alicia Keys and perform the guitar part from Games by One More Chance."  One More Chance was my favorite band.  I smiled and turned to practice.  I had the feeling that it was going to be all right.  I heard my dad's voicecalling from the living room.

    "There are thousands of kids that apply for this Alice!  I want you to try your very best!"  And then, quieter.  "Oh, who am I kidding.  You are the best of the best."  I could almost imagine my fatheres eyes crinkle as he said that.  That really made me smile.

 

    One week from the day of that speech, I walked into the local independent music store wher the auditions were being held.  In the brochure for the auditions the school had said that auditions in a place other than the school and possibly in front of customers gave them an idea of how we were in front of crowds.  I had just taken the subway to the corner of the street and had walked the rest of the way down.  I loved the atmospher of the city, and all the different kinds of people.  There was a large sign in front of the store that said 'Columbia Adademy of Music auditions here!'.  I opened the door to the store and walked over to a table where you could sign in.  The store was very comforting, and I was quite familiar with it because I had been there multiple times before.  I was greeted by a man in his late twenties at the table and after I signed my name was given my number for order of auditions.  I was 125.  This should be fun.  I made my way over to a table in the corner and put my guitar on my lap.  It was just my dad's beat up acoustic one, but with a bit of luck I was skilled in electric sequences if I had an amp.  I sat there for about five minutes when a man about fifty came out of a room in the back.  He clapped his hands to get everyone's attention.  The room could now hold no more people it was so jammed with kids with musical instruments of all sizes.

    "I would like to thank you for coming to the Columbia Academy of Music's auditions!"  He paused for applause.  "I would like you to know that there are thousands of you, from all over the country, that are applying for this scholarship.  There are only a couple hundred of you that chose to take this route in the audition process.  I have just been told that there are 209 of you here.  We will call numbers, starting at one, and you will come up to this makeshift stage here-"  He pointed off to a corner where some kids were standing.  "-and you will preform you talent or talents.  It is a very prestigous honor to get this scholarship.  I wish you all good luck."  He went over to a long table with three chaira set up on one side.  There were two other people besides the person who had just spoken, and I assumed that they were our judges.  A women judge called out 'One' and a kid came up to the stage with a tuba.  I had a feeling that this was going to be a long afternoon.

 

    Finally, after an hour of every instrument I could imagine (not to mention some kid playing the vaccuum.  I had a feeling that he was not much competition) I was really tired by the time my audition came.  The women called out 'number 125' in a monotonius drone.  I had the feeling that she was as bored as I had become.  I went up to the stage and put my guitar on the stool next to the microphone.  The lady looked up at me.

    "And what will you be doing for us today?"  The other two judges looked bored.  I had to admit, none of the other kids had anything worth mentioning.  I coughed into the microphone.

    "Um, first I will be doing Alicia Keys' song No One and then I will be doing One More Chance's guitar piece from their song Games."  The judges nodded at me and looked up at me in anticipation.  I stepped over to where a CD player had been set up and popped in the CD for Alicia Keys with just the background music for her song.  I quickly went back over to the microphone and listened for my cue at the the beginnig of the song.  When it was my turn to sing, I just opened my mouth and did what came naturally to me. 

 

     "I just want you close

     Where you can stay forever

     You can always be sure

     That it will only get better

     You and me together

     Through the days and nights

     I don't worry cause

     Everything's gonna be all right

     No one no one no one

     Can take away of what I feel for you

You you Can take it away from what I feel

     When the rain is pouring down

     You will always be around..."

 

 

 

 The words came out just right and on key, and I knew that I was nailing it.  The lyrics of the song were so sweet and I admired the writer of the lyrics.  I noticed that the three judges sat up in amazement when they heard me start to sing.  I almost lost my concentration on the song when I saw the looka on their faces, but was able to keep my composure.  When the song ended I got a standing ovation (okay maybe not) and I felt really good about my audition in the singing catagory.  I bowed and then when the applause had died down I went and got my guitar and put it over my skinny shoulders.  I looked down at the judges who were looking up at me with their mouths open.  The female looked around at her colleagues and coughed, then examined her clipboard.

     "Well, that was very good.  I remember that you are doing the electric guitar next.  I'm ready when you are."  She sank down comfortably in her chair and looked at me with anticipation.  I hooked up the amp to my guitar and started playing the song.  The judges faces were somewhat similar to when I had sang.  I played the song with all of my heart, making sure that I held the right keys for the right amount of time and putting my all into the piece.  When I was done, everyone in the room clapped and the judges were busy scribbling on their clipboards.  I unplugged my guitar and stepped off the stage, where I was stopped my the man who I recognized to be the owner of the music store.

     "Where did you get lessons for that?  I mean, our lessons here at the store are pretty good, but nobody your age ever ends up playing like that!"  I chuckled and shook my head.

     "Actually, I taught myself."  I smiled up at him, waiting for his reaction.  The smile was wiped immediatly from my face when I saw the look on his.  His eyes got big and he stared off into space.

     "You've got a god given talent, my dear.  Truly amazing."  He was whispering now, and I soon could not hear what he was saying because he was walking away.  I sook my head and wondered if that is how I would be treated if I got into the school.  I thought that my chances were pretty good considering the looks on the judges faces.  The man who had given us the speech over an hour ago at the beginning had said that we could leave after our audition was done, and as much as I wanted to stay for another possible hour in a cramped music store, I decided to take that option.  The warm New York air hit me as I left the store, but I still ached to be inside my apartment and tell my parents how the audition had gone.   I had a good feeling.    

 

    Two months later, as the summer came to a close and I knew that I would have to be going back to P.S. 52 no matter what, the anticipation of getting a letter from the Columbia Academy of Music grew.  And then one day, when I least expected it (that's how it alway's goes, isn't it?) the letter came.  I had gone down to the lobby of the Belnord Apartment building and asked the doorman/building manager if my family had any mail for the day.  He knew that I had been looking for the particular piec of mail, so he drew out the process of checking our P.O. box. 

    "Why hello Miss. Mariner, what can I do for you today?"  

    "You know George!  Did it come?  Did you see it come?"  I had known George ever since I was five, he was like the older brother I had never had, as he was only about 25.

    "Well, I don't know.  I'll just have to get out the key from way in the back room in the safe, open the box and check your mail for you.  That's going to take an awful lot of time."  I stood my ground, as this was the most important piece of mail that I had ever waited for.  He grinned and lumbered over to the back room to carry out the procedure that he had just described to me.  I waited for about five minutes until he came out of the back room smiling and triumphantly holding an old gold key.  "Let's see what we've got."  He stuck out his tounge and worked the key into the slot of mailbox number 45, a silver box that had the name 'Mariner' plastered across the top.  After a minute he had success, and pulled a thick pile of mail from the box.  He flipped through it, and I could easily tell that he was taking his time.

     "George, come on!"  I reached over his receptionist's desk to grab for the stack of mail, but he was too quick for me.

    "Oh, all right."  He dejectedly handed over the pile of mail and I hurried through it, only having eyes for the 71st and First street address.  I squeeled when I saw the address that I was looking for and dropped the other pieces of mail.  George laughed at my excitement.  I ripped open the envelope and pulled out the three-folded piece of printer paper.  The letter was typed in a business format and me eyes eagerly scanned the pa

 

                                                                                                                                                    East 77 and Third Avenue

                                                                                                                                                    New York City, New York

                                                                                                                                                    August 27, 2007

 

    Dear Alice Mariner,

 

                    The faculty at the Columbia Academy of Music has carefully reviewed your audition at Coconuts independent music store and we have decided that your talent in the area of music and your bubbly personality are something to be considered here at the school.  That is why you are the Columbia Academy of Music's 2007-2008 recipient of our scholarship!  Out of 10,008 applicants, you are the lucky winner!  We congratulate you on this accomplishment and look foward to a successful school year with you.  There will be an open house for you to get acclimated with the school on September 2, 2007.  The school year will begin on September 10, 2007 (a Monday).  We hope that you attend the open house because it gives you some essential information on the upcoming year.  I once again congratulate you on recieving the scholarsip.  See you soon! 

 

 

                                                                                                                                                      Sincerlely,

                                                                                                                                                             Sarah Pintra, President

 

     I squeeled and jumped up and down when I heard the news.  Without even a glance at George, I ran up the stairs to tell my parents.  I thought that I could hear him yelling after me and could imagine his smiling face.

     "I guess you got it, then!"  I laughed and rushed up to my apartment, where I then realized that I had left the mail sitting on the floor of the lobby.  Just as my mom opened the door I put my finger up and rushed downstairs to get the stack.  When I got back to my apartment, my mom was still standing in the dorway with her mouth open. 

     "I got it!"  I screamed, and when she saw what the paper was that I had in my hand she screamed with me and we hugged and did a personal victory dance (no details needed).  My dad came into the room to see the commotion, and when he heard he did a similar dance.  I could tell that they were proud, and I was proud of myself.  We finally sat down like civilized people to talk about what would happen from here. 

     "Well, Alice, it says here that the open house is on the second of September.  That's the first Sunday after P.S. 52 starts.  Your father and I leave on the 9th, so that works out perfectly so that you can sleep over the day before the school year officially starts.  Do you think you understand?"  I nodded, eyes shining with excitement.  I had always loved school, but had always complained that I needed a change.  This was my perfect chance.  I knew that P.S. 52 started on August 29, the Wednesday before the open house.  It all worked out perfectly.  For once in my life I couldn't wait for the school year to begin.

 

    I waved to my mom as she dropped me off at P.S. 52, my public New York City school.  I had gone there all of my life. so it was kind of disappointing that this was my last year here.  The thing with me was that I just can't act myself around people that I don't like, so they kind of think that I'm a boring person, but I'm really not.  I waved at my friend Pam, who was sitting on a bench at the front of the school.  I slipped in next to her and began to tell her about my luck with the Columbia Academy of Music.  She squeeled in delight, but seemed worried about whether she would see me every day still.  When I assured her that she would, I went inside and said inside to all of my friends.  I was glad to see them, but I still was extremely excited to go to the Columbia School of Music in a few days.  I found that it was the only thing that I could think about all day.  And when the day was done, I realized that I really do need a good break.   

 

 

On September 10, a cold fall Monday in New York City, I boarded the bus that would take me to the place of my dreams.  I gazed up at what would be my future for the next seven months.  It was, to say the least, big.  There were four large gray stone buildings in a square formation, each one labeled in stone either art, music, dance or drama.  Off of those were smaller connected buildings with the same grand architecture.  I felt someone poking me.

    "Are you getting off or not?"  The bus driver raised his eyebrows and looked down at my backpack.

    "Yeah, I'm coming."  I muttered as I quickly gathered my things and stepped off the bus.  On each of the large buildings were paper banners labeled 'Orientation Welcome New Students!!' and under those was a table with kids sitting there.  I was amazed at how many other kids were there- and how many had not taken public transportation.  From all corners of the block came cars that I had seen in commercials.  I thought I recognized the mustang logo, and saw quite a few BMW's.  No wonder I had needed a scholarship - these kids were rich!  I made my way through the swarm and to the music registration table.  

    "Name?"  I looked toward the sound and saw a kid with his head down with long blond hair.

    "Um, it's Alice Mariner.  I got the scholarship."  He looked up and jumped when he saw me.

    "You've never gone to a private school, have you?"  

    "No, how do you know?"

    "You don't look like anyone else, that's all."  I had noticed that too.  Everyone here was, well, gorgeous.  Preppy.  Really nice clothes.  I was suddenly worried that I would not fit in.  The boy seemed to notice my concern. 

    "Don't worry.  With a little help you'll be fine.  Let's see.  I've got a schedule here of events for you.  If you need any help, somebody will be there."

    "What if there isn't anybody?"  He looked at me in annoyance.

     "There will be.  Next!"  I shook my head and went over to the side of the table to look at the schedule of events.  I got the feeling that somebody was watching me, and sure enough, when I looked up, a guy quickly looked away.  I looked over at him.  He was leaning by the orientation table.  He noticed me looking at him, and he approached to give me his hand.

     "Rico.  You?"  He grinned at me when he said it, and I couldn't help but notice how perfect his face was.  I mean, his teeth were straight, his eyes were even, everything.  Usually something isn't in line.

     "Alice Mariner."  I adjusted my book bag.  "Do you have a last name?"  He crooked his head and raised his eyebrows playfully.

     "Not that you need to know.  I'll see you later.  I have something to do."  He started to walk away and then turned back.  "I'll tell you what.  Do have anywhere you have to be tonight.  Have a curfew?"  I shook my head.  "Good."  He smiled and his eyes twinkled.  "Come to dorm room 847 at 8:45 p.m. tonight after the closing speech.  Tell them Rico sent you."  He continued to walk away.

     "Wait!  What if I don't get in!  Where's room 847?" 

     "You'll get in.  Eighth floor.  Goodbye."  He ran off down the driveway, almost getting hit by an orange Mustang GT.  I smiled and walked off toward the front of the music building.  I glanced at the schedule. 

 

 

 

 

 Ha!  Even the school called Rico by just his first name!  I checked my watch.  It was 8:49.  I wanted to get a good seat, so I heaved open the stone front doors and went inside to the lobby.  I was blown away.  The first thing that I saw was the gleaming marble flooring, and the grand mahogany staircase splitting off to two sides.  A receptionist sitting at a desk off to the left smiled and held up her finger, as she was on the phone.  I walked around in wonder, looking at everything around me.  Everything was really gorgeous, with gleaming marble and dark rich woods.  The girl at the receptionist desk came up behind me and smiled.

     "Okay, so I just need to look at your schedule and then I can tell you where to go.  I think that the stuff starts in a few minutes, so I'll try to get you going.  Where does it say you'll have your orientation speech?"  I looked at the sheet.

    "Um, it says auditorium number 5 with Austin Victoria."  She smiled.

    "Ah.  You're lucky.  Most of the people giving the speeches are boring unless you get Austin or Rico."

  "Who's Austin?"  She started walking past the mahogany steps and I ran to catch up with her.

    "I'm surprised that you haven't heard of him already.  He was at the table in front of the building giving out stuff.  Blond hair.  Nice face.  He's kind of a legend around here.  If you're liked by him, then the next five years of your life are going to be a lot easier.  And Rico?  He's just a lot of fun to be around.  He actually is in the music and dance departments."  The description of Austin sounded a lot like the kid at the registration table.  I wonder if I would get to talk to him again.  He intrigued me.  I looked at my current surroundings.  We had reached an area where there were three different rooms on each side of the hallway, each one well spaced out.  The girl started talking again.  "Okay, for future reference, these are the auditoriums.  They each have a number on them.  There are six in all, and you have number five, which is right here."  She gestured towards the door marked '5'.  "And if you need anything, my name is Rachael Hunter."  She stuck out her hand, which I took.  "I'm always around."  She started to walk away.

    "Wait!  Why does everyone here have such an air of mystery about them?  'I'm always around!' Really?"  I stared at her in confusion.

    "Don't worry.  You'll get used to it."  And with that she was gone.  I was just thinking how nice it was not to have so much noise when the door to auditorium five opened and the kid who I thought was Austin peeked his head out. 

    "Hey, I was just starting.  Come in."  I glanced at my watch.  I didn't think it was time yet.  The more time away from a room full of teenagers, the better.

     "I don't know.  I might just stay out here for a while."  He placed his hands on his hips and raised his eyebrows.

     "Are you saying that you would pass up the chance to see me to stand in some deserted hallway?  Think of the fun you'd be missing!  I mean, this school is cool and all, but it's not that cool!"  He smiled and gestured for me to come in.  I made my way toward the door.

     "You think that this is bad!  You haven't stepped one foot in a public school, have you?"  He laughed and tossed his hair around out of his eyes (I hate when people do that.  They look like dogs).

     "Well, I guess you could say that my parents are richer than normal."

     The auditorium was as beautiful as would be expected, and Austin's speech was as witty, informative, and enjoyable as people said he would be (a lot of people think highly of him).  He told us what the school was about, the founder, what kids did there, famous people who had graduated, all that stuff.  I was surprised at the high reputation the school had gotten ( that explains the jaguars!) and found that the kids on the video (yes there was a video) were really talented.  Not that I wasn't, but I had never gone some place where people were on the same level that I was.  I knew that I belonged.  The next few hours went uneventful, with a tour of the three campuses, and with Rico leading the way.  He was actually really funny and easy-going, the type of guy that was really fun to be around.  I couldn't wait for the party tonight.  Lunch was chicken alfredo (now that's my type of lunch!) and I sat with Rachael, Austin, Rico, and a few other really nice people.  Apparently it was a big deal that I was sitting with them, because I had like ten girls come up to me and tell me how lucky I was.  Austin and Rico said that I was hilarious, which (I guess) is something that doesn't happen to a lot of people.  I was excited to get my class schedule, so that's where I went.  Rachael showed me where all of the classroom's are and I was able to find room 158 easily.

    "Hey, I'm Alice Mariner."  I said to an older man with kind eyes standing out in front of the classroom.  I adjusted my book bag and looked at him.  He looked up at me and smiled.

    "Right.  I found you on my list.  Jut go right in and you'll get an explanation of your schedule and where your classes are.  Since your not here for full time you'll only go to choice and music, but they give you you're core classes anyway."  He opened the door and I stepped in to find about twelve other kids sitting around at tables.  They had their feet propped up on desks and their hair down.  They looked so relaxed.  I saw Rico in the corner and went over to sit next to him, since their were no other kids from lunch.  He looked up to see who was there, and when he saw me he smiled broadly and pushed over his stuff.

     "Hey, how's it going?  What's that?"  I noticed that he had been doing something on a sheet of paper.  After further investigation, I found that he had been drawing some sort of bird.  It was really good.  "That's really amazing.  I thought that you only were in the music and dance departments."  He looked at his drawing, up at me, and then shook his head.

     "Oh!  You're talking about this!  You were right.  I'm only in the dance and music.  But art is another passion."

     "So you're really talented in the arts."  He shifted around in his chair and put his drawing under his backpack.

     "Yeah, I guess you're right.  But I can't act.  Not at all.  I'm really bad."

     "Oh, you can't be that bad."  He laughed.

     "Trust me, I've tried.  And we know how that went, right Amy?"  He looked back at a blond girl sitting towards the front of the room.  She glanced at him and laughed.  We were interrupted by a short, slim woman about fifty with graying hair, who shushed us.

     "I would like to welcome you all back, and to those of you who are new, I hope we have a wonderful year.  Now, I won't keep you waiting because some of us are extra talented and got to two different departments.  Rico."  Everybody laughed.  "I will be giving you your quarter one schedule and the name of your music instructor or , and then you can go off to meet them.  Each meeting with an instructor is ten minutes long.  If you have extra time before first core, feel free to check out your dorms."  She got a stack of thick paper sized envelopes out and tapped the top one.  "Your dorm keys are in here.  If you don't have time to look at your rooms, you can do that after 8 o'clock tonight before you go home.  Enjoy!!"  She started walking around the room and handing out envelopes.  Whenever somebody got one they ripped it open with glee.  I was equally excited when I got mine. 

 

 

     I was excited about going to see my instructor, so I rushed off to see him immediately.  Thanks to the help of Rachael, I now knew where everything was in the school, and was able to find the rooms fairly easily.  My first stop was Mr. Vand in room 54.  I opened the door to find what looked quite similar to a very comfortable New York City coffee shop that I had once been to.  The room was large and open, and the windows showed a view of the bustling city streets below.  Tall table big enough to sit three or four people were set up around the room, each one uniquely brightly colored.  Plush chairs were set up in the corners and there was a coffee and cappachino bar near the eat side of the room.  There were posters of current singers set up around the room, and lesson books piled all around the floor.  I almost didn't notice the man sitting behind a dark wood desk because it seemed so weird in this 'classroom'.  I had almost mistaken the room for the teachers lounge, but was welcomed by the man's booming voice.

    "You must be Alice Mariner!"  He got up from behind his desk and made his way towards me, pushing his dark glasses up hid slim nose.  "It's so nice to have a new student here in the music department!"  He put his arm around my shoulders and started to lead me around the room, gesturing with the other hand all the way.  "I saw your audition!  Stellar!  I was amazed by your voice range.  You are also an amazing guitar player.  Now, why don't you help yourself to a coffee and sit down.  The other kids should be coming any time now." And almost as if on cue, the door opened and in stepped Rico.  Mr. Vand shouted and raced over to hug Rico, where they then started to excitedly talk about their summers.  I went over to the many coffee machines, and finally decided that a hot vanilla chai sounded just like what I needed.  I turned back around to Mr. Vand as I was stirring my cream in.

     "This is all free?"  I made my way to a tall table, and Rico took his turn at the coffee machines.  As he was walking over he whispered in my ear.

     "It's great isn't it?  Mr. Vand is awesome.  I glad you got in here."  He gave me one of his winning smiles and pressed the button for a mocha frappachino.  Noise from a blender filled the room.  Once it stopped, Mr. Vand looked up from a paper on his desk and remarked to us:

     "There's only one more student coming, so we shouldn't have to wait much longer."  Rico looked up from his coffee.

     "Wow, you have a small class this year."  Mr. Vand nodded in agreement.

     "Their are some new teachers that have been added to the staff for that reason.  Less kids in a class means more individualized attention.  Also, this year, if a kid has two different instruments, such as Alice, they only have one instructor.  That means that you guys can have choice classes.  The system has really improved more and more each year.  I'm impressed."  The door opened and a tall boy with dark clothes walked in.  He plopped himself in an armchair and put his Ipod in his ears.  "Hey, Dave!  It's nice to see that your in my class this year.  Last year you had Mrs. Hammonds, didn't you?"  Despite the high volume on his Ipod, the kid seemed to have heard every word. 

     "Yeah, she was a real joke."  He bopped to his music.  Mr. Vand raised his eyebrows and slowly walked away.

     "Okay... It's nice to know that we all have such positive attitudes.  Rico, Alice, grab a table or chair.  Dave, get yourself a coffee.  I'm going to be talking about what our objective is for this year."  He grabbed his chair from the back of his desk and took a deep breath.  "Okay, so for you, Alice, we know that you will only be here for weekend classes and after you get out of your other school.  What that means is that you will have your music instruction class and your choice constantly throughout the times that you will be here.  You will have the opportunity to take your core classes on weekends, but after school mainly you will alternate between me and your choice.  For the other two, the schedule is the same.  You get up at seven, breakfast is at 7:30, you have two cores in the morning, everything that you are used to.  Like I have mentioned before, Alice will follow a regular schedule on weekends.  Do you have any questions?"  He sat back in his chair and looked at all of us.  When I saw that no one else was speaking, I asked a question.

     "What is a music instruction class, anyway?"  He nodded in approval.

     "Ah, good question.  A music instruction class helps you develop your skills as an artist, like in your case..."  He paused to look through a file  "Ah, here you are.  You are a voice and guitar student, so you will be practicing those two things."  Rico sat up in his chair.

     "You play guitar?  That's awesome!"  He held out his hand for a high five, which I gave him. 

     "Well, if that's it, them I guess we've got some time where you can check out your dorms.  I think you'll be happily pleased with how they were furnished this year.  And you all got a personal note from your teachers.  I'll see you at the beginning of the term!"  I waved to him and slung my backpack around my shoulder, all the while throwing out my now used coffee cup and pushing out of the door. 

     "Hey, Rico, wait up!"  I ran to catch up with him.  "Where are the dorms?"

     "Oh, you know the big mahogany steps when you first come in?"

    "Yeah"

    "Well, you go up those, go to the elevator at the very end of either side and press the floor level your on.  Like I'm in room 847, so I press 8.  The girls are on floor 1-5 and the boys are on 6-10.  See ya."  He waved and ran off to tackle a boy with glasses and brown hair.  I made my way back up to the front of the building and climbed the majestic stairs.  They curved gracefully up toward the top.  At the top, a bronze plaque read:  

Floor One Dormitories: Girls Only

 

I made my way down the hallway to the right and found the elevator, which had a line of people waiting to get in it.  As I walked down the hallway, I noticed how the clean, simple lines of the gray, cement colored doors added an air of elegance.  The reminded me of the Belnord Apartments where I had lived all of my life.  The elevator beeped and brought me back to reality, and I boarded the small compartment with about four other people.  I recognized Rachael Hunter, who smiled.  

    "What floor, everyone?"  A girl with bright red hair asked.  

        "2"  said Rachael.

    "5" said a girl with black fingernails. 

    "3"  said a strawberry blond with bubbly face.

    "I'm three too."  I commented.

    "Was that three or two?"  The girl with the red hair chuckled.  "Okay.  And I'm 4, so I'll just go up according to number.  That means you should get ready to get off."  She gestured towards Rachael.  She pushed the number 2 and we shot up into the building.  Soon after Rachael got off and the girl pressed 3.  Once the bell rang and the door opened, the strawberry blond and I got off.  Once the door had closed, she spoke.

    "Hi, I'm Samantha, what's your name?  Are you new?  What room are you?  I'm 854!"  Boy, she was as bubbly as her face!

     "Hi, I'm Alice, yes, I'm new, and I'm in room 301."  I said considerably slower.

     "Wow!  That means your right there."  She gestured behind her.  "Gotta go, bye!"  And off she went down the hall, never to be seen again.  Sure enough, the room that she had pointed to had a brass fixture that read 301.  I rummaged in my backpack for the key and my watch.  It was 1:20, I had about 10 minutes.  I took the key, which was in the form of a card, and slid it into the slot in the handle.  A green light went on and I heard a small buzzing.  I turned the handle and cautiously stepped in.  I was overcome by the large, airy feel and natural light.  This room was huge!  There were tan Berber carpets that were spotless, a window with a window seat that had a plush brown seat on it, and the bed, off to the right.  Oh, the bed.  It was a full size, with a princess-like fluffiness about it.  The bedspread was blue and brown and upon closer look was satin.  The bed itself was four poster in a dark mahogany wood that resembled the stairs.  A large headboard completed the look, and I couldn't help but sink into the soft fabrics.  As I sat on the bed and felt the satin, I noticed the other components of the room.  Directly to the right of the bed was a matching nightstand with a phone on the top and a large cupboard space below.  In front of the bed, on the adjacent wall, was a large cabinet, which I soon found held a TV.  Taped on the TV was a note, which brought back the memories of Mr. Vand.  The note read:

 

    Alice,

 

         We here at the Columbus Academy of Music appreciate that you have chosen us as your school.  We hop that you find your room comfortable.  If you have any questions, just call the main office.  The phone numbers of every building in the school is beneath the phone book in the nightstand.  We look forward to a successful year in music with you!

                                                                                                                     Sincerely,

                                                                                                                                     Sarah Pintra, President

 

I put the not in the back of the cabinet and went around to the rest of the room.  In two of the corners were armchairs, slightly worn, but they looked very comfortable.  At one of the other corners was a sitting area and coffee table with four beanie bags (yes, I said beanie bags) and at the last corner there was a desk with a rolling chair and a light.  At my further inspection, the window seat was of soft suede.  I rounded a corner to find the bathroom, which was, to my great surprise, made out of the same marble that was in the lobby.  At the sink there was a full size shampoo and conditioner, along with other perks.  Fresh towels were on racks by the tub, and a note taped to the wall informed me that housekeeping was down the hall, and that there that the school transportation went by a drugstore on weekends.  I sighed and looked at my watch.  1:28.  I would have to hurry.  With a longing glance at the room, and the reassuring knowledge that I would get to come back, I headed down to room 307, Mrs. Hickock.

     I entered the Language Arts room a little late, but to my surprise, there were only about ten other kids there.  Mrs. Hickock frowned at me and looked at her watch. 

     "As you might have been told, the class started at 1:30.  It is now 1:32."  The kids in the class frowned at me sympathetically.  "Take a seat."  I nodded and sat down at a desk.  She took a deep breath and began.  "If this is your first year here, I'm going to give you a little background.  This school offers six levels of classes for each subject.  Each course lasts three quarters out of the year.  This class, pre-language arts, is traditionally a seventh grade level class, but an eighth grader might take this class for one quarter out of the year, so this class is mixed.  You can take the same class through two grade levels.  I teach this class four times a day, so if you have this class again in the year, you might have it with me at a different time.  When you go onto L.A. 1, you will have a different teacher, Mrs. Standsted.  Do you have any questions?"  Everybody seemed to be getting it, so Mrs. Hickock went to her desk.  Okay, in each class you will be having a placement test.  The purpose of it in here is so that I can put you in the appropriate spelling, reading, or writing group.  The test will take about fifty minutes.  If you have extra time, come to me.  Good luck."  She passed the tests out and went back to her desk to sit down.  L.A. was about average for me, so I took up the whole time.  Once I got to the end, I went up and passed it in to her and gathered my stuff to go to Algebra One.  I was excited about this class, as it was advanced.  I wound my way through the endless hallways to my next three classes, where we had a placement test in each, and I think I did pretty well on each of them.  Once I was done with that, I was excited with the anticipation of going back to Mr. Vand to practice what a class would go like.  When I entered the room, it smelled strongly like coffee and men's cologne, but for some reason it comforted me.  Mr. Vand greeted me with a smile, and waved me over to a tall table where he, Rico, and Dave were each sitting with a coffee.

     "Get yourself a coffee and sit down, Alice." 

     "Oh, I think I've had enough caffeine for the day."  I chuckled as I sat down.

     "Fine with me."  said Mr. Vand.  He took a deep breath.  "Okay, so I hate to say this, but I'm going to give you guys some homework to do."  Rico, Dave and I groaned in unison.  Mr. Vand sighed and rolled his eyes.  "It's not hard.  I was just wondering if you each had your instrument."

     "Huh?"  I said.

     "I mean, like, do you have a guitar, Alice?"

     "Oh, right, I get you.  Um, I have this really old acoustic guitar with no hookup for electric.  That doesn't really help, though."  Mr. Vand nodded in agreement.

     "Okay.  So."  He looked down at a list he had on a keyboard.  "All I'm saying is that sometimes people play better on there own instruments.  Dave, I am very aware that you are not going to be able to transport a grand piano through the streets of New York, so I think that you will be glad to know that there is a piano over there."  He gestured to the corner of the room, where, to my surprise, there was a jet black full size piano.  I was surprised that I had not noticed it before, because it stood out in the 'coffee shop' atmosphere.  Dave nodded and went over to the piano to try out the tuning.  He quickly played a few bars of a song, and when he spoke, it was like a light had suddenly come into him.

     "Yeah."  He stroked the top of the piano lovingly.  "This one is a lot better than the one at home."  He sat down at the stool and stared at the piano.

     "Well, that's one happy student."  Remarked Mr. Vand.  He leaned in closer to Rico and I.  "And that's saying a lot for him."  He straightened up.  "Okay.  Rico.  Last year, if I remember correctly, you managed to bring in that really lovely drum set with the red.  Do you still have that?"

     "Oh, yeah.  I've been practicing on that thing all summer.  I've become rather attached to it, really.  I think I could get it here in a U-Haul like last year."

     "Okay."  Mr. Vand checked Rico off his short three person list.  He looked up at me.  "That just leaves you then, Alice.  Obviously, I think I can scrounge up a microphone, but, I think it would be useful to you if you could invest in a good electric guitar.  There's a music shop down on East 55 and Third.  They have some really good prices and the people there are really supportive of young musicians.  That's where the school gets all of there instruments.  In fact, anyone who goes here gets a discount there.  Once you get a student ID card, you'll get 20% off.  Find one that fits you."

     "How will I know?"  Mr. Vand smiled.

     "Trust me, when a musician finds their instrument, they know.  So, if when the term starts in September you had your own guitar, that would be great.  It's okay if you don't, though.  I have a few in the back that are really cool, vintage actually.  It's just that sometimes people like to have a custom guitar with stickers and stuff."  Rico cut in.

     "Yeah, you should see my drums.  I've got those world stickers all over it."  I smiled as I imagined Rico banging on a drum set full of world stickers.  Mr. Vand looked at the clock and jumped up.  It's just about time for you guys to leave, but I just want you all to know that I am extremely passionate about what I do, and the only thing I want for you guys is for you to be happy.  I want you to succeed too, but my main priority is that whether you become a lawyer or a record producer, I want you to walk away from here knowing that you had a good time.  I didn't have anyone who encouraged me when I was your age, and I want it to be different for you."  His eyes glistened.

     "Now if only every teacher in my life spoke like that."  Laughed Rico as he patted Mr. Vand on the back and went out the door.  Dave followed him, never taking his eyes off the piano in the far corner of the room.  I started to walk away but then turned back.

     "Mr. Vand, can you play all the instruments that you teach?"

     "Yes.  And I enjoy every single one of them."  I shook my head in amazement.

     "And how many instruments is that?"  Mr. Vand thought quietly.

     "Let's see... that would be 9, not including singing."  He looked at me bluntly.

     "And you never got encouraged.  Well then, what has this world come to."  I shook my head and walked out the door, but I could have sworn that I heard a small sob coming from the music room as I was walking away.

     I had no idea where music composition was held, but after asking around, I figured out that it was taught by the 22 year old Ms. Trivento, a hip teacher that was apparently adored by everyone and their brother in Manhattan (and to everyone who has never been here, that's a lot of people).  The class was held in room 555, which I slipped into with Rachael Hunter, who I soon found out was a fellow singer.  I was greeted warmly by Ms. Trivento, who was, in my opinion, a little obnoxious, but I'd rather have her than anyone else.

     "Welcome to music composition!  I'm so glad we have such a big turnout this year!"  It was true.  The classroom was larger than I had expected, and was filled with about forty kids.  "For those of you that have never taken this class, I will explain it to you now.  The one project and purpose of the class is to make your very own, ten song CD, of which everyone will get a copy."  The room buzzed with excitement.  A group of four or five different musicians will get together to form a band or solo artist.  For example, a person who sings, a person who plays guitar, a drum player and a percussionist will get together to form a CD over the next two and a half months.  You will be aided by one of New York's top producers, and one group will get their CD published in the local independent music store!"  The classroom buzzed louder.  "Okay but here's the kicker."  She waited until everyone was quiet.  "This year we are going to have the hit band One More Chance come to our school!"  She beamed and clasped her hands together.  A girl in front of me fainted and hit her head on the floor while all the other girls in the screamed at the top of their lungs, me included.  One More Chance is a hit boy band that has girls all over America swooning at the sight of them.  They are in all the top magazines, and every girl in America has her favorite One More Chance member.  The band was made up by three teenage best friends: John, 19, Ed, 18 and Cody, 14.  Each member had his own look and personality, which was examined every night by those celebrity gossip shows.  Cody was rumored to have been going out with the hit star of a tween sitcom, but no one knows for sure.  Cody was the sensitive, shy one, with his curly blond locks.  Ed was the silly, funny one with his blond, highlighted hair always falling in his face.  John had the biggest sense of style (he reportedly spent one and a half hours straightening his hair every morning) and was the brains of the group, as he had executive produced the bands two albums.  Their first album flopped and they were not very well known, but with their sophomore release simply titled One More Chance, they were noticed by fans all over.  I swear, every girl between 13 and 20 (me) has their CD.  Ms. Trivento shushed us and waved her hands around to get us to quiet down.  All of the guys in the room looked around with no idea of what was going on.  The school nurse leaned over the girl who had fainted.

     "She's going to live, everybody!"  The nurse yelled as she jumped up with her stethoscope.  Ms. Trivento shook her head and raised her eyebrows.

     "Really, guys, it's not that exciting.  I mean, just because One More Chance is coming to the school for nine months and getting to know all you guys-"  She was interrupted by the loud screaming.  "You know, it is pretty exciting.  They are going to be just another kid at the school.  I mean, they're taking time off to get a dorm room, attend regular classes with you guys, and give you free concerts and memorabilia."  She laughed as a girl with jet black hair grabbed Rico by the shoulders and shook him while he stared at her like she had three heads.  "Okay guys, I know that this is going to create a lot of buzz, but try to pay attention."  Next to me I heard Rachael snort.

     "Like that's ever going to happen."  I laughed and turned my attention back to Ms. Trivento.

     "Think about what you are going to do for an album when we get back.  One More Chance will be here on the first day of class, so, uh, fix your hair ladies!"  She smiled and shook her head while everyone filed out of the large, auditorium-like classroom.  I looked back at the schedule that I had gotten at the beginning of the day, which now seemed like so long ago.  It was 7:10, right on time to go to dinner in the lunchroom.  It was spaghetti and meatballs, really well cooked with just a hint of garlic.  Once again, I sat with Rachael, Rico, and Austin, where we talked about One More Chance coming to the school.  Rachael said that she thought that we would become great friends with Cody, Ed, and John.  I noticed that I was getting a lot more guy friends over here, something that rarely happened at P.S. 52.  It was getting dark and I was getting tired, so I asked Rico what time the party would end.  He said whenever I wanted to leave I could, so I called my mom and asked her if I could stay until 10 p.m.  I got the OK, so I gathered my stuff and headed for auditorium #1.  When I got there, the room was buzzing with conversation and it echoed slightly around the room.  I could hear girls talking about One More Chance, or just about their favorite member, and I chuckled with the anticipation of meeting Cody, Ed, and John.  I took a seat next to Rachael, who was having a conversation with the girl on the other side of her about Ed.  I sat down and looked at the front of the room to where the president of the school was standing.  She was very business like, but fashionable at the same time.  She had a fitted red business suit and matching pencil skirt with lots of bracelets up and down her arms.  She examined the room in front of her and quickly took a sip of water before coughing slightly into the microphone to get everyone to settle down.  When the room got no quieter, she coughed rather loud and dramatically, making several people jump.

    "Is everybody listening?"  She stood and waited until there was complete silence in the room.  She took a breath and continued on.  "When I was a girl I had a dream that-"  

    "My children would be judged not by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character."  Austin had boldly stood up and confidently said the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. quote.  Mrs. Pintra smiled broadly.

    "That too, Austin, but that wasn't exactly what I had planned to say."  I laughed.  I could see why people admired both Austin and Mrs. Pintra.  "As I was saying before I was rudely interrupted by someone-" She pointed bluntly at Austin "-in the audience.  When I was a girl, I dreamed of building a place where kids could just, well, be.  As a child I felt misunderstood.  I wanted a place where kids who were talented, and kids that cared could go and have a positive high school experience.  If I had my way, this school would have no tuition, but just simply an interview to make sure that the kids were sane."  Kids laughed in agreement.  "Unfortunately, the only way that we can have that fancy marble floor in the lobby is is we have this miracle object called money."  She looked around at her co-workers, who nodded knowingly.  "I hope that this year goes better than the last, and that next year goes better than this one.  I would like to shout out to the senior class of 2008-"  She paused as what I assumed were the seniors cheered loudly.  "-and I wish every new kid here, whether they be 13 or 18, the best of times."  I screamed along with all the other new kids.  Rachael and about all the other people in my row glared at me.  I shrugged and smiled.  "I would like to tell you all to do your best, enjoy yourself, and above all, use common sense.  This is New York City, people!  There are going to be people that are out to get you!  Watch yourself and we won't have any problems.  I would als like to express my gratitude to One More Chance,, because they are not getting paid for this and they have a busy schedule already without having to go visit a bunch of screaming girls!"  Almost as if on cue, all of the girls in the gym started to scream, me included.  This time, not only the people in my row, but the people in the rows in front and behind me glared.  Mrs. Pintra smiled down at us with a smile and continued with her last piece.  "I can't wait to talk to every single one of you once the term begins!!"  She clasped her hands in pleasure.  "Good night everyone!  If you don't have a ride, DO NOT GO OUTSIDE.  You are teenagers in the dark in New York.  Get somebody to come!  I hear that there are a few parties going on also.  Really Rico, you couldn't have waited another month?"  She joked playfully.  I was jolted back to the memory that I had been invited to room 847 for that party with Rico.  I quickly went out the door of the auditorium with the steady swarm of kids.  The windows were pitch black with the lack of light outside.  I was glad that I was not out in it right now, and I was also glad that I had a ride, like Mrs. Pintra had said.  I made my way up the stairs to the dormitories, because the elevators were packed with kids, who I assumed were going to similar parties.  When I got to room 847, I jumped in surprise at the size of the doorman standing in the hallway.  Needless to say, he was big.  I approached him cautiously. 

    "You afraid of me?"  He must have seen the look in my eye despite the darkness.  He flexed his muscles and I jumped.  He laughed.  Making little girls have nightmares.  Really.  I wentup to him again, this time with what I thought looked like confidence showing on my face.  "Name?"  He looked me up and down.

    "Uh, it's Alice Mariner."  I shifted uneasily. 

    "You're in."  He said immediatley.  I was surprised that he knew, because he had no clipboard.  I was a little creeped out that this guy knew who I was, but went into the room while the guy was smiling at me.  The atmoshere changed as soon as I stepped into the room.  There was a disco ball hanging from the roof, and Rico was being a DJ behind a booth to the left of the room, and the beat of the music throbbed in the room.  I was surprised that I had not heard it from the hallway.  I had thought that my room was large, but if this was Rico's room, he had it pretty good (not to mention that he had a built in disco ball in his dorm room.  I think that I'm going to like this place).  When Rico looked up and saw me, he quickly put down his earphones and came over to me, arms outstretched.

     "So glad that you could make it!  I hoped that you wouldn't miss the amazing DJing talents of Rico."  When he said "Rico" he motioned to himself dramatically, to which I laughed.

     "I wouldn't miss it for the world."  I shouted over the sound of the music.  I coughed because of the strain that I had put on myself.  Rico ran over to the other side of the room and opened up what had been the TV cabinet in my room.  He opened up what looked like a mini fridge and got me a water.  I opened my mouth in amazement, but only for a moment because I had to cough.

     "You have a minifridge built into your room!!"  He looked at me with a puzzled face.

     "I thought that even first years got mini fridge's.  Maybe you missed it.  You should check your room the next time you go in there."  I took the water thankfully and gulped the whole thing down.  Rico shook his head.

     "Boy, you really were thirsty."  He laughed.  "Come on to the dance floor.  How long do you have?"  He asked as I moved to the center of the room where some other kids were already dancing.  I just decided to have the time of my life while I possibly could, and deal with my so called "real life" later.  I wondered of the kids at P.S. 52 could imagine, me, Alice Mariner, dancing here in the middle of a dorm room with a minibar and a rather good looking Mexican exchange student (something I had found out about Rico at Lunch today).  I don't think that they would believe me.  I was astonished at how fast the day had gone, and how much fun I had had.  I couldn't wait until I could come here again.  It would only be a week, but I think that I will miss this place.  As the music and lights throbbed around me and my body moved to the beat, I found that I was more comfortable here than I was at the school that I had gone to for eight years straight.  That's how things work though, right?

 

 

    The bell rang as I walked into Bananas instruments and music store down in Soho, an area of Manhattan famous for it's arts. After I had come home from the open house, I had told my mom what Mr. Vand had said about investing in a guitar, and to my surprise, she gave me $300 and told me to knock myself out tomorrow. Well, tomorrow has now come, and I was extremely excited about picking out the instrument. When I entered the store, a young man with creases around his eyes smiled and made his way over to me.

    “I've never seen you here before. Is this your first time?” He inquired, grinning all the while. I smiled back.

    “Yeah, it is, actually. This is my first year at the Columbia Academy of Music and Mr. Vand sent me here to find a guitar.” The man nodded as if he knew and then turned around and motioned for me to follow. He stopped abruptly and peered into my face. Suddenly his eyes lit up and he shook his finger at me.

    “You are the scholarship winner, are you not?” I grinned sheepishly and he nodded in satisfaction, then turned and started walking again. At the end of the album part of the store, there were a series of doors that led to some unknown place. He went to the one directly in the middle and twisted the handle. He stepped back, letting me walk in first. What I saw took my breath away. From the outside of the building, the store looked small, but I soon found that I was wrong. In addition to the albums section, there was the room I had just stepped into and yet another door leading further into the structure. Inside of the room were, to put it simply, guitars. On one wall to my left were acoustic guitars of all colors, shapes, and sizes. This was cool, but it was what was on my right that made me so excited. The largest selection of electric guitars that I had ever seen in my whole life sat on the wall. They came in all shapes, but the thing that amazed me were the designs. Every color and pattern was on the guitar, and a stand on the left side of the wall displayed how you could get your instrument personalized. I gaped in amazement at the man, who had by this time joined in the room.

    “You like it then? He smiled. Each of the other doors out in the main store lead to a completely different instrument.” My mouth opened even wider and I finally found my breath.

    “It's really cool.” That was the only thing that I could get myself to say. The man walked in a circle around the room.

    “Okay, the first thing I need to know is what you are looking for. Type, color, budget. Things like that.”

    “Okay...” I thought. “I need something electric for under $300. That's really all I know right now.” He nodded.

    “The guitars go up in price from the left to right side of the wall, so I would say that you could do anything up to here.” He pointed to a place in the middle of the wall.  I noticed that the guitars on the right side of the wall were a lot nicer than the ones on the left.  Hey, I would take what I could get.  I looked at all of the guitars in wonder.  I looked at the store clerk for help, as I was extremely overwhelmed. 

     "Here."  He took off a simple white guitar from the very left of the room.  "This is about as basic as you get.  It's going to work the exact same as the ones down there-"  He pointed to the other side of the wall.  "But these just don't look as nice.  Here, try it on.  Are you right or left handed?"  He slung the strap over my shoulder.

     "Thanks.  I'm right handed, but with the guitar I'm left handed.  I dont know why, but I just can't play with my right hand!"  I positioned the guitar so that it was comfortable to me.  The man looked at me with interest.

     "Play a few chords for me, will you?"  I nodded and played the opening song to "Games", the One More Chance song that I had played at my audition.  He nodded in approval.  "Yes, yes, I can see why you got chosen.  Do you like that one though?  That is a substantionally lower cost than your budget will allow.  Why don't you look at some of the ones farther down?"  I took off the guitar and started walking farther down the hall.  The guitars were all beautiful, but none of them struck me as the thing that I was looking for.  Then, I saw it.  It was simple, but it was perfect.  The majority of the guitar was jet black, but all around the guitar was swirls of sparkling gold.  The neck was gold with black strings.  I loved it the moment I saw it.  I simply pointed at it.

    "That's it."  I said.  The man nodded.

    "It's amazing how people just know it when they see it."  He took the guitar down.  "Do you happen to like One More Chance?"  I nodded and wondered why he was asking the question.  "This is the One More Chance edition guitar.  Aren't they coming to the school this year?"  Once again I nodded.

    "How much is it?"  I was a little apprehensive about spending all of my mom's money on a guitar.  The man looked at the tag hanging off the bottom of the neck of the guitar.

    "It's 225 plus tax.  Which means that you might be able to get an accessory or two.  The guitar comes with a case and a matching pick.  Would you like me to ring you up or is there anything else?" 

    "No, that's going to be it for today.  I promise you that I will not be coming in here again with $300."  He laughed and stuck out his hand. 

     "I'm Nick Porter, the owner of Bananas.  I have a feeling that I will be seeing you a lot more these days as your education furthers."  I shook his hand.  "I'm just going to go to the back room and get you the case for this."  He tapped the guitar.  "You look around.  I'll be right back."  He went into a back room with a key.  I walked around the room and looked at the acoustic guitars.  I saw one similar to the falling apart one that I had at home and could know see what it would look like if it was not so used.  In the far corner of the room was the "personalization" center.  Upon a closer look I found that it was just stickers that you could put on your guitar case that said the name of the store and fancy picks.  I decided to pick out a sticker for my first guitar case that was about medium size and said "Bananas" and had the store logo behind it.  I felt that it would be the first of many more that I would collect.  Nick came out of the back room carrying a case.  I was curious about the door in the back that lead to a long hallway.

     "What's that back there?"  I pointed to the doorway.  Nick looked back and saw what I was pointing at.

     "Ah, that is the lesson rooms for the guitars.  We give lessons on the weekends for beginners.  I will assure you that you are not somebody that would fit into that category.  It's really just to get people started off."  He opened the case and then saw the sticker that I had picked out.  "I'm glad that you picked one out.  You'll find that wherever you go with your guitar, at a soveneir shop or a gig for your school, there will be a sticker bearing the name of the place.  I've seen people that have absolutly no room left because they have been so many places."  He put the guitar in the case and took a pick and my sticker with him back to the main room of the store.  "Come on, I'll ring you out."  I followed him back to the room.  He took all of my things to the register and put them all down on the top.  There was a customer in the store looking at records.  Nick greeted him, then started punching numbers into his cash register.  "Okay..."  He punched more numbers.  "That's going to be $250 plus $1.25 for the sticker plus tax.  He pressed a red button which made a loud "ding".  "That will be $266.33.  Wait, you go to the Columbia Academy of Music though, so I have to give you 20% off.  Your total will be $213.06.  Wow, you got a really good deal on that."  I pulled out the wad of money and handed him the amount.  I was glad that I had something to give back to my mom.  Once Nick gave me back my change, he pulled off the back of my sticker and placed it in the middle of my case.  "Now, if you need anything else, you just come back here.  Do you need sheet music or anything?"  I shook my head.  "Well, good then, it was nice doing business with you."  He shook my hand a final time and waved.  I walked towards the door.

     "Thanks a lot!  I really appreciate it!"  I felt very artistic walking out of the shop in Soho with a guitar in my hand.  I sighed.  I couldn't wait to show my parents this guitar!  It was so amazing!

 

 

     It was September 9th, the morning that my parents would leave and I would head off to the Columbia Academy of Music.  I had gotten an especially good sleep last night, maybe it had something to do with the fact that that was the last time that I would be sleeping in that bed for some time.  I felt a pang as the realization that I would not be seeing my parents for the next seven months sunk in.  I thought about all of the other expeditions that they had been on and how they had only been for about a month, a time that I had gotten used to bearing.  I hoped that nothing happened to them.  They had always been so good to me.  I forced myself out of my bed with the sudden realization that I would also not be seeing this whole apartment for the next seven months, either.  I looked around at the suitcases that I had packed over the last week and thought to myself, why hadn't I thought of this before?  I stumbled over to the only bathroom, something that I had formerly despised, but now seemed emotoinally attached.  If you have never had your family leave you, then you probably don't know how I was feeling just then, but I can assure you, it is a terrible feeling.  I got dressed and went to the living room where I found my parents re-checking their plane tickets and making sure that they had packed everything that they would need.  My mom was examining her camera, as she was a photographer, and my dad was making sure that he had packed all the necessary equipment for both of their laptop computers.  They did not see me coming, but I embraced them in a hug, anyway.  My mom started to cry, and I could see that my dad was trying to make it so that nobody could see his emotions.  I was their only child, after all.

     "I'm going to miss you, mom."  My mom smiled down at me and put down her camera.

     "We're very proud of you, Alice.  We hope that you have a good time at the Columbia Academy of Music.  I want you to tell us every single detail."

     "And keep your grades up, too."  My dad added with a playfull smile.

     "Have fun in Ireland, you guys.  I wish I could go with you."  I hugged my mom tighter and then let go.  I knew that we would have to be leaving soon.

     "Hey, the next time you see us we could have scottish accents."  My dad said with entusiasm.  "Why don't you go get your bags.  The taxi will be here any minute now."  I nodded and went to go get my stuff.  My footsteps echoed against the shining word floors as I ran into my room for the last time.  I gathered up my suitcase and got my new guitar.  My parents were so proud when they saw that I had picked it out myself and made sure that I had gotten a good deal.  I had a whopping seven suitcases with antything from clothes, to my toothbrush, to my large collection of CD's.  I started to lug out my first two suitcases when my dad knocked on my open door and came in.

     "Need some help?"  He laughed when he saw me struggling with the overflowing suitcases.  Then he reached in his pocket and pulled out a key.  "This is a key to the apartment.  It is to be used for emergencies only."  He looked me in the eyes.  "I mean that, Alice.  Your mother and I trust you to use it only if you need it.  I put down the suitcases and grabbed the key from his fingers, then hugged him.

     "Thanks for trusting me, dad."  I went back over to my luggage. 

     "Here, I'll help you with that."  My dad grabbed two suitcases and dragged them out to the living room.  After multiple trips, I double checked my room to make sure that I had left nothing behind, then went back out to my parents.  I heard the taxi horn beep.  I wondered how all of our luggage plus my guitar would fit in the tiny trunk of the taxi cab.  I hugged my parents, then sighed and started the trip down the elevator to the lobby.  My dad locked the door of the apartment, and with a final longing look, we piled the stuff in the taxi.  It turns out that they had requested one of those special big taxi's with the big trunk, so everything fit.  We piled into the cab and told the driver to go to the Columbia Academy of Music.  My parents would then drive to the airport.  The driver of the taxi raised his eyebrows when he heard where we wanted to go.  He was of mexican descent, and spoke in a thick accent.

    "Is it your first year?  I have a son that's in the eighth grade.  His name is Rico.  Do you know of him.?"  I sat foward in delight.

    "Yeah, I met him at the open house.  He never told me that his dad was a taxi driver!"  The man was now driving and beeping his horn like mad.

    "Well, he's not very proud of that."  He swerved in front of a bicyclist.  My mom looked at him in wonder.

    "I don't mean to affend you, but how do you afford the tuition when you drive a taxi?"  The driver laughed.

    "To make a long story short, I had a very rich uncle that died, and I wanted my son to have the best life that he could have in America.  He's a very talented boy.  I am very proud of him."  He pulled up in front of the school.  "This is your stop.  I'll help you get your stuff out of the trunk."  He got out of the taxi and went around to the back.  My mom turned to me.

    "I guess this is it, honey."  I could see her eyes glistening in the sunlight.  She hugged me for a while and then let go, and my dad then did the same.  I choked on my words and could only manage to whisper.

    "Bye, you guys."  I quickly got out of the taxi before I broke out in tears.  I ran around to the back where the man was just unloading the last of my packages.  I double checked that none of them were my parents', then thanked the driver.  He waved goodbye then went back around to the drivers seat.  When he was just about to get back to the front, I remembered a question that I had thought to ask. 

     "Hey, wait up!  What's your last name?"  I was going to find out what Rico's last name was.  It had been bugging me.

     "It's Sanchez.  Why?"  Success.  I grinned.

     "No reason.  Thanks again!"  I waved and went around to the side of the taxi for a final goodbye to my parents.  They rolled the window down.

     "I love you, Alice!"  They called in unison as the taxi rolled away.  I waved until the taxi was a yellow speck of swerving car that almost caused three accidents (at least that's what I counted!).  I realized with a pang that that was the last time that I would see my parents for a long time.  I sniffed and then turned out of sight of the crowd of kids that were going into each of the four campuses.  When I turned back around to get my luggage, which was standing in the way of a BMW, I saw Rico heaving three of my suitcases on his shoulders.  I laughed.

    "Hey, Rico!"  He smiled and attempted to wave, but was not able to because of the load on his shoulders.  "Thanks, I'll get the rest."  I started ti pick up the rest when Austin came around the corner and picked up two suitcases and my guitar.  I took the two remaining suitcases and we made our way to the front door of the music room.  We struggled under the weight of the luggage, but we all managed to wave to Rachael, who was sitting at the receptioist's desk.

    "Hi you guys!"  She shouted over the buzz of noise with entusiasm.  Rico, Austin, and I raced to the elevator so that we did not have to wait for it.  When the doors closed we all put the stuff down in the small cavity with relief, and I pressed the button for level three.

    "What do you have in those things?"  Austin yelled as he wiped the sweat off of his forehead.  When he realized that he had rose his voice, he looked down sheepishly and muttered, "Sorry."  Rico laughed at his outburst and piled the stuff back on his shoulders as the bell rang, signaling that the elevator had reached it's destination.  We walked the couple of feet to room 301, and I took out my key and put it in the slot.  When the light buzzed green on the handle, I opened the door for Rico and Austin, who once again dumped my luggage in relief.  Rico plopped himself on my formerly neat bed and put his hand over his forehead dramatically.  Austin and I laughed at his silliness.  I was still a little sad that my parents were gone, but I knew that I had to embrace this new life.  Austin was looking at my guitar case and examining my sticker.

    "Hey, you got your guitar from Banana's too?  That's awesome!  Can I check out your guitar?"  He looked at me expectantly.  I nodded with a smile, and he eagerly zipped open the case.  When it was all the way open he gasped and looked lovingly at the object inside.  "Can I touch it?"  He whispered while stroking the side.  I laughed and yet again nodded.  He picked it up with the greatest care and tried it on.  Rico looked up at it with obvious approval touched the side.

    "Wow, you got a really nice one."  He circled Austin.

    "Did you doubt that I would?"  I asked, half teasing.

    "Yes, actually.  It's really cool.  For some reason, it really firs you, I can tell."  He pushed my luggage to the far corner of my room.  "Austin, put the guitar down.  You haven't looked at something like that since you first saw One More Chance on TV.  I can't wait to see your face when you first see them in person tomorrow.  You'll be in the middle of all the screaming girls, but you'll be screaming the loudest."  He shook his head in dismay. 

    "Hey, Austin you like One More Chance?  That's a One More Chance guitar!"  Austin looked in approval at the guitar and took it off.

    "Yeah, I love them."  I frowned at Austin and whispered to Rico,

     "Hopefully he doesn't like them the same way I do!"  Rico laughed and Austin looked at us with narrowed eyes.  Rico got up and went over to the door. 

     "You guys want to go grab a bite in the lunchroom?"  Austin and I nodded and got up to follow Rico.  I stopped in my tracks before I left.

     "I think that that's the first time that I have actually wanted school food!"  Austin and Rico laughed and we all headed downstairs.

 

     After a fullfilling snack, Austin, Rico, Rachael, and a few other friends went down to tennis courts (yes, I just said tennis courts in New York City) and we played on into the night.  Rachael and I won, and by the end of the day I was tired and thankful for my spacious dorm.  I fell right asleep, with no signs of homesickness.  I knew that in the morning I would have to unfortunatly go to P.S. 52 and live a regular school day before I got to go to Mr. Vand's guitar lesson and meet One More Chance.  I had been quietly taken aside by Ms. Trivento, who had told me not to boast to my school about meeting them.  In fact, she said just not to talk about anything that went on here alltogether.  As long as I got to go here for free, I was perfectly okay with that, and I had readily agreed.  I woke up the next morning with the sun in my eyes and the fresh feeling of a new school year.  I got up, got ready, packed all of my stuff for school, and rushed down to catch the subway.  It pulled up a block from my school, and I got to my first class just in time.  Nobody really new that I was going to the different place except for Pam and maybe some of the teachers, so I was not asked any questions.  I secretly laughed when I heard a few girls swooning over Ed, and wondered what they would think if they knew that I would be meeting him in a space of a few hours.  After the day had ended, I once again caught the subway and walked up the grand steps to the Columbia Academyof Music.  Outside of each of the buildings was a guard, because the only way that you could get into the building was with a student or faculty ID card, which we were getting before supper tonight.  I approached him with more ease than the one at Rico's party, as this guy looked like he had not had a cheeseburger in his life, and to my surprise, greeted me with a smile.

     "Can I get your name?"

     "Alice Mariner."  The man flipped through a few pages that he had on a clipboard that he was holding and pointed to a name.

     "Ah, there you are.  Now, just to make sure that you are who you are, we need to ask another question.  I believe you, it's just for security purposes."  I nodded.

     "Sure."

     "Okay, um, what dorm are you?"  Well, I was expecting something a little harder, but okay.

     "301."  I said easily and he swung open the door, where I was greeted by the swarm of kids after a hard day of classes that I had not participated in.  I rushed up to my room and got my guitar for my first lesson with Mr. Vand.  I got my case and ran down the steps to room 54, which was on a floor below the main level.  I opened the door and was greeted by the scent of coffee and Mr. Vand's warm smile.

     "Hey, did you get a new guitar?"  Mr. Vand questioned as he got up to examine my case.

     "Yeah, she did, I saw it this morning.  It's really awesome."  I looked over to see Rico sipping a drink in one of the comfy chairs in the corner.  Beside him was the most beautiful drum set that I had evewr seen, bright red just like Mr. Vnad had said.  I smiled at the wide assortment of world stickers that Rico had also promised would be there.  It made my case with the one sticker seem silly to me.  I walked over to the set while Mr. Vand opened my case.

     "Have you really been to all of these places?"  I asked Rico.  He nodded and set his drink down.

     "If you look closely you'll see that they are mostly from all around Mexico.  I used to play on the streets for money when I was younger on my dad's old beat up set.  I used the money to buy this."  I continued looking around the set when I heard someone gasp.  I turned to find Mr. Vand looking at my guitar with the same look that Austin had given it. 

     "You did a nice job.  This one is a really good quality.  I like the design, too."  At that moment Dave walked in and rushed to the piano in the corner, where he storked and stared at it.  Rico leaned over to me.

     "I think he's in love with an inanimate object."  I laughed and shook my head.  At least the kids here were passionate about things.  Mr. Vand put my guitar back in the case and I went over and grabbed it.  I sat down at one of the tall tables, then got up and got a coffee.

     "So, how didi the first day go?"  Ii asked.  I was dying to know how everything had gone.  It was Mr. Vand who answered.

     "It was realy good, so I've heard.  I've been getting One More Chance ready all day, though, so I never got to see anything in action."  He went over and sat behind his desk.

     "It was cool.  If you call geometry cool."  Rico commented with a scowl.  Strong, loud piano keys came from the corner, where Dave was attacking the keyboard with some dead guys song.

     "Okay guys, we should really get started.  The way a class works is that I pick a piece or a song, and you guys each learn it on your instruments.  We also analyze the song to try to figure out why the artist picked the instruments that they did and stuff like that.  After spending the whole day with One More Chance and realizing that they are not only some "teen group" but also fabulous musicians, I chose their song "Australia".  He got up and passed around sheet music to each of us, each sheet specialized for our instruments.  "Tonight, for homework, I would like you all to learn the first 10 bars of the song, and then tomorrow we can meet and talk it over.  For those of you who have never done this before-"  He looked down his glasses at me, "after a group has learned their whole song, it will be performed.  And hey, if we're lucky, I could have One More Chance come in a talk about the song if you want."  At the mention of this, I nodded my head eagerly while Rico looked at his fingernails and Dave played the first 10 bars of the assigned song.  He was really talented.  "Okay, are you all in music compostion?"  We nodded.  "You should be in a group together.  You could make some really cool music.  Bye!"  We all got up and started to leave, me with my guitar, Rico and Dave without their instruments. 

     "Hey, how do you guys practice?"  I was curious, since their instruments were too heavy to carry back and forth.

     "I've got a keyboard in my room."  Dave muttered as he pushed open the door with his foot, letting it slam back on Rico's nose.

     "YOW!!!!!!"  He jumped back and started screaming after Dave in what I assumed was spanish.  He looked at me looking at him and took his hand off his nose with a smile.

     "I've goyt this little drum set that I use.  It's in my room too."   I ran to catch up with his long strides as we headed to music compostion.  I checked my hair to make sure it looked all right.  After all, I was going to be meeting One More Chance!

 

    When I walked into the room, it was buzzing with teenage girls with little plug in hairdryers and straighteners.  Rico looked at each other in amused surprise as we saw Austin fixing his hair while some shocked girl was yelling at him to give back her hairdryer.  I took a seat among the crowd next to Rachael, who was combing her hair in the same place over and over again.  I felt bad for Ms. Trivento, who was running around in  frenzy, her own hair a mess.  She finally stopped running in circles to rest in a spot near the center of the front fo the room and took a deep breath before going, "Shush!".  Everyone looked up in surprise as if they had no idea that she had been there.

    "I know that we are all excited for One More Chance-"  Girls all over the room screamed at the top of their lungs, and I copuld swear I could hear a guys voice coming from Austin's direction.  All of the other guys looked around in dismay as their girlfriend's screamed for somebody else.  Ms. Triveno yelled over the noise.  "That is not the only thing that will be happening on this class!  Before you even get to see them you have to get in your groups!"  People were not listening.  "OKAY, THAT'S IT!  I'M NOT GOING TO LET THEM COME OUT HERE IF YOU DON'T GIVE ME 10 MINUTES!"  It was a very effective method, as everyone in the room was quiet, and when Rachael dropped her hair pin, everyone spun around to look.  "I am going to give everyone a handout.  Read it over and when I say 'go' follow the directions on the paper.  I'll hand the papers out now.  Sge walked around the room, passing the papers around eagerly.  Soon enough, I got one.

 

Directions:  Day One of Music Composition

 

• First, get together the group of people that you would like to make your record with.  These are the requirements:

 

            Each group must have a singer, up to two guitar players, one person on drums, and one piano player.  Additional instruments may be added to this like a trumpet, saxophone, flute etc.  The maximum number in a group is 7 people.  Permission must be asked for any more.  The minimum number is 4 people.  Less then that is NOT permitted.  Each group gets one songwriter and one music composer, regardless of the number of people in a group.

 

• Each CD must have 10-14 songs.  Depending on the number of songs, there is a requirement for the number of original songs.  The list is as follows:  

 

    10 songs total............ minimum of 2 original songs

    11 songs total............ minimum of 3 original songs

    12 songs total............ minimum of 4 original songs

    13 songs total............ minimum of 5 original songs

    14 songs total............ minimum of 6 original songs

 

• Your groups songwriter and music composer will write/compose the songs.

 

• Each group gets a team of music producers for support.  The producer/performer that you get will be chosed randomly.   The following is a list of the producers. 

 

Paul Rancid, producer for Columbia Records

     Tina Blackstone, producer for Hollywood Records

     Joe Stine, producer for Arista Records

     Lisa Fields, producer for Rhino Records

     Tim Truman, producer for Sony Records

     Sarah Trit, producer for Island Records

     Kevin Lestho, producer for RCA Records

     Susan Smith, producer for Epic Records

     David Groban, producer for EMI Records

     Special Guest, One More Chance

 

• Today you will get in your groups in be assigned your producer.  Remember, one lucky group will get to work with One More Chance!

 

     "Okay, go!"  Ms. Trivento shouted with a clap of her hands and rushes of kids ran to meet each other.  I looked over at Rachael with a gleam in my eye and she looked back with a laugh.

     "You play guitar, right?"  She inquired.  I nodded.

     "I don't remember what you play."  Actually, she had never told me, but, I thought I'd ask.

     "Violin.  I know that it's kind of weird, but I love it."  We grabbed onto each other so that we would not get separated and made our way through the crowd, looking for a familiar face.  We soon found Austin, who was standing on a table and holding a sign which read "I play the guitar and I am a really good person!!".  Rachael made her way over to him.  She looked up in his face and snapped her fingers to get his attention.  "Hey, you wanna be base?"  He looked down in surprise and jumped off the table.  He was out of breath from shouting to people.

     "Who's lead?"  He looked around, everywhere except at me.  I spoke up.

     "I'm lead guitar and singer."  He nodded.

     "All right, I'm cool with that.  Hey, let's find Rico."  He set off and threw his sign behind him onto the flooor.  We found Rico leaned casually against the wall in his chair, filing his nails.  "Um, Rico, why are you filing- you know what.  I'm not even going to ask."  Austin shook his head.  Rachael spoke.

     "You want to be drums?"  Rico nodded and joined our group.

     "Hey, do we have a piano player?"  Everyone shook their heads.

     "I don't think that I know a piano player."  Rachael muttered.  At this point Rico and I looked at each other and nodded.

     "We'll be right back."  Rico motioned for me to follow him and made his way through the room, which know had little groups of people standing around.  We found Dave near the back, looking hopeless.

     "Hey, Dave, you want to be our piano player?"  I asked him loudly.  He looked up in surprise and pointed to himself.

     "Me?"  He nodded his head up and down furiously.  Rico laughed.

     "Okay, okay, we get it!  Don't hurt yourself!  Come on, we're back here."  Dave got up and followed us back to our spot.  Just as we were settling in and grabbing chairs, Ms. Trivento whistled.  She looked around at the groups, her eyes darting back and forth.  Once everyone was quiet, she spoke.

     "Okay, one last thing.  I would like someone in your group to make a list of everyone in your group and what job they will have.  Leave a space at the bottom for your producer, and then write the total number of people in the group.  After that, I'll wait.  Go!"  I grabbed a piece of paper and started to write everyone down.  Everyone else in the group crowded around to watch me.

 

    Alice Mariner...........Lead singer and guitarist

   Austin Victoria.........Bass guitarist

    Rico Sanchez...........Drummer

    Rachael Hunter.......Violinist

    Dave Drannen...........Pianist

 

 

5 people

 

     Rico looked at me in wonder. 

     "Okay, you're good."  While I was writing, I had incnspicuosly added his lat name to the list.  "How do you know?"

     "You're dad was the cab driver that drove me here yesterday."  I suddenly felt a pang for my parents.  I pushed it aside.  Ms. Trivento whistled again.

     "Okay, people.  It is my great pleasure to welcome some of the graetest producers in the country, and of course, One More Chance!"  Everyone screamed and clapped as the adults came out.  A totla of nine came before a man with a big stomach and a bald head.  He ushered to someone behind the stage, and then suddenly the three blond members of One More Chance were on the stage, much to the delight of all the girls in the room and Austin.  Rick, Moe and Devin waved to everyone and beamed.  All the girls in the room were standing up and clapping.  I couldn't believe my eyes, but Moe was wearing mustard yellow leather pants (?).  Ms. Trivento seemed a little struck herself, as she was only three years older than Devin, the oldest.  She brought herself back to reality and whistled yet again.

    "In this bucket-"  Someone from behind her brought her a painters bucket.  "-are the name's of all the people that you see before you.  I have counted a total of 10 groups, and there are 10 names here.  I will go around the room clockwise, and randomly select a name for each group.  I'll start right here, in front of me."  She pointed to a group of all boys, dresses in dark colors with rings coming from everywhere on their face.  I glanced up at One More  Chance to see Ed say something to make the other two laugh.  I really hope that we would get them.  Ms. Trivento dug around on the bottom of the painters bucket until she clutched a small piece of paper.  Everyone held their breath, because, although the producers were cool, we all knew who everyone wanted to get.  Ms. Trivento slowly unwrapped the piece of paper and read it before announcing it.

    "And your producer is-"  She paused for dramatic effect.  "Tim Truman of Sony Records!"  The rest of the groups exploded in applause when they learnt that they had not gotten One More Chance.  A man in his mid-50's stood up and went to sit by them.  "You might want to write him down on your list."  Ms. Trivento added.  "That goes for everyone."  She moved onto the next group, who, to their disappointment and every other person's relief, got Susan Smith of Epic Records.  The next group was the group before us, and they got Tina Blackstone, who the members of One More Chance clapped enthusiastically for, because she was with Hollywood Records, which was who they were signed with.  Austin clasped all of our hands and started chanting some sort of prayer to the ceiling.  I could see Ed, the funny friend, stifling a laugh.   Ms. Trivento grabbed a piece of paper from the bucket and read it.  She glanced up at our group and I tried to read her eyes, but they gave away nothing.  "You producer is..."  Again she paused for dramatic effect as she had done three times before.  "One More Chance!"  Everyone in the room groaned and looked at us with longing.  Kids were whispering things like "I knew we should have been with them!"  When Ms. Trivento had spoken, Austin had jumped up in excitement and then sat down again in embarrassment.  As Cody, Ed and John mad their way over, they laughed at Austin's outburst.  Their audience was about 99% female, after all.  Rick came over and shook all of our hands, making Austin near to the fainting stage.  Ed and John asked us to introduce ourselves and also shook our hands before sitting down.  I then sat through the other groups as they got their producer.  I felt bad that the producers were not being applauded for.  I mean, they were the top producers in the country.  After everyone had finished, Ms. Trivento gave us one final talk before letting us talk in our groups alone.  "Like has been mentioned before, you are being assigned a composer and songwriter.  Your producer should come up and recieve these people and then you should mark them down on your list before handing it in.  After that, you should talk about what songs you want to do and the number on your CD.  Thanks!"  She turned and went back to her desk, while John went up to the stage to get our people from the group of kids standing around waiting to be picked.  Cody and Ed turned to us.

     "It's really cool to work with kids our age.  I mean, usually we're so busy with shows and appearances.  I can't remember the last time I had a good sleep!"  I liked Cody already for being so comfortable with us.  He treated us like we weren't just fans.  Austin looked at Ed and smiled.

    "Trust me, the pleasure is all mine."  Ed looked at me.

    "Is he usaually this way?"  I thought, trying to come up with something cunning,as Ed was the one with the sense of humor.

    "This is his mild side."  I leaned in so that only Ed could hear me.  "You have no idea what he does on his weekends.  Actually, I have no idea what he does on his weekends."  Joe leaned back and laughed.  Everyone in the classroom looked around to see who had made him laugh.  They were jealous, I could tell.  John came back with two kids following him, one boy and one girl.

    "Guys, this is Sarah Bird and Troy Devons.  Sarah is going to be writing our songs and Troy will be composing.  Somebody might want to add that to our list."  He glanced in my direction, as I had the pencil and was nearest to the piece of paper. 

 

 

    Alice Mariner...........Lead singer and guitarist

   Austin Victoria.........Bass guitarist

    Rico Sanchez...........Drummer

    Rachael Hunter.......Violinist

    Dave Drannen...........Pianist

   One More Chance...Producers

    Sarah Bird................Songwriter

    Troy Devons.............Composer

 

5 people

 

    I got up and handed the piece of paper to Ms. Trivento, who smiled and held onto my arm before letting me go back to my group.

    "You're very lucky, Alice.  Lots of people would love to be in your position right now.  You have a great opportunity to make friends with superstars.  I hope that you use it to your advantage."  Letting go of my arm, she turned back to her desk.  I walked back to the group with a puzzled mind and a confused look on my face.  To my surprise, Moe was telling his brothers that he expected me to be the funny one.  Devin and Rick stared at me with wonder as if to see if my face matched my personality.  It must have fit, because they nodded and looked back down at everyone else.  It was Moe who spoke again.  Just like in the band, he seemed to be the leader.  "How do you want to pick your song lineup?"  Everyone stared at him blankly, so I spoke up with an idea that had popped up into my head.

    "Maybe everyone in the group could pick a song that they would like to cover and then the rest could be One More Chance song's, to honor the fact that you are here."  Everyone looked around at the reactions and Moe laughed.

    "Funny and smart, I like that!"  Rico nodded in approval at the idea.

    "I like it too.  Everyone in favor of Operation "Alice Mariner does it again" put your hand in the middle."  He slapped down his hand and everyone else's followed.  I put my hand lightly over the top and blushed in embarrasment.  I was really proud of the things that I was doing here.  I had found some sort of inner confidence that I never knew I had.  We all took our hands out of the middle and sat back in our chairs.  Rachael spoke up.

    "Let's make that our homework assignment.  Each of the members that will be playing an instrument or signing has to come up with a song they would like to cover.  Is that okay with everybody?"  We all nodded and got up to leave.  Austin shouted down to the stage.

    "Bye Ms. Trivento!"  She looked up in surprise from her computer moniter.

    "Do you guys have a plan for tomorrow?"  She asked with concern.

    "Yeah, it was all Alice's idea."  Everyone looked up in surprise to see Dave talking.  Ms. Trivento nodded.

    "I can't wait to see what you can come up with!"  She smiled and waved and then turned back to her computer moniter.  We all filed out of the room.  Cody, Ed and John waved goodbye and went back with their manager to talk.  I walked in sync with Rachael back to our dorms to clean up before dinner.

    "They really like you."  She said with a sigh.  I looked at her in wonder.

    "Who?"  She slapped my arm.

    "One More Chance, silly!  They think you're amazing!"

    "Well, that's because I am!"  She slapped me again, both times playfully.

    "I'm sure that you'll be their best friend by the end of the week."  She sighed and shook her head.  "I just want them to like me so much!"  I hugged her while we were walking up the front steps.

     "They already like you, I know it!  You're an amazing person!  You know that!"  I looked into her eyes earnestly.  "trust me Rachael, people like you a lot more than you think."  I laughed at my own wisdom.  "You know, people usually say that to me.  It's strange.  I'm so different here."  Rachael looked at me as we got into the elevator and punched our floors.

     "It's a good different, though."  I looked over to her, wondering why somebody would say that to me.  I said one last thing just as the bell rang and the door opened onto her floor.

     "That's about the nicest thing that anyone has ever said to me, Rachael.  I really appreciate that."  She smiled and stepped out onto her floor.  She waved as the door closed and she disappeared.  I sighed silently in the empty elevator as it shot up to the next floor.  It seemed like it had been such a long time since I had been alone, when in truth, I had been alone just yesterday.  I felt another pang for my parents as I got out of the elevator but yet again shrugged it off.  I took out the key to my room and slid it in the slot to hear the now familiar buzz and see the green light blink on before I swung open the door.  I walked over to my bed and jumped into the soft mattress, face first.  I got up quickly because they smelled unfamiliar and not like home, not to mention that I hadn't even made it from this moring.  I groaned as I remembered my homework from P.S. 52 and looked over to my blue backpack that I had swung into the windowseat.  I looked out onto the New York City streets and went over to my bathroom to wash my face so that I could get a good place in the dinner line.  After another quick glance out the window to the cabs and pedestrians, I rushed out of my room and ran down three sets of stairs for excersise.  Refreshed, but now tired, I walked slowly into the dinning room.  I didn't need to hurry because there were only a couple of kids in line.  When I got up to the back, I noticed for the first time that there was a woman standing there with a clipboard.  She smiled at me.

    "I'm here to give out student ID cards.  I just need your name and grade."  I nodded and remembered somebody saying that we would be getting those pretty soon.

    "It's Alice Mariner.  I'm in the eighth grade."  The woman nodded and reached into one of six boxes.  I noticed that the one that she opened had "8" written on it in black marker.  She took out a large bindle held together by a rubber band and sifted through it.  

    "Is that spelled M-A-R-I-N-E-R?"  She looked up at me briefly.  I nodded and she took out an orange card.  This looks like you."  I took the card from her and waved goodbye as the line moved forward.  It had my name, grade and instruments that I played on the front.  There was also a place to sign on the back and a student ID number.  I stuck the card in my pocket when it was my turn to get food, and was almost caused to drop my tray by Ed, who had snuck up behind me without me noticing and had given me a nine-volt.  I jumped a good foot into the air and turned around in disgust, which soon turned to laughter when I saw who it was.

    "You scared me!  I almost dropped this!"  I gestured to my tray and he laughed.  He had picked up a similar tray and was now getting it filled with food.

    "So, did you get one of those fancy cards?"  When I turned around to answer him I saw Rick and Devin in the line as well.

`    "Yeah, just now.  Do you get one?"  He shook his head and grabbed a soda out of the cooler.

    "Since I don't actually "go here" I don't get one.  But I've got this VIP card so that I can get into the building, along with my manager and parents."

    "You're parents are here?  Where are they?"  He laughed as we moved into the dining room to find a table.

     "Oh, they don't come with my brothers and I.  They're just here to make sure that we don't get into too much trouble."  He laughed again at some long-forgotten memory.  We sat down at a table near the back and started to eat.  More kids started to enter the lunchroom, and there was a huge traffic jam where the lady was giving kids their cards.  Cody and John sat down at our table as Austin slapped down a pencil at the seat next to me.  Amy came up with an overflowing tray.

     "I see that your not cutting back on anything!"  Joohn remarked.  He looked down at his own tray with his cesaer salad and light dressing and laughed.  Amy whipped an orange card out of her back pocket and stuck it in our faces.

     "Hey, Alice, did you get one?"

     "Yeah, why are they orange?"  She stuck her card next to her pile of mashed potatoes and sat down, just as Austin sat down next to me.

     "Each grade has a different color.  Seventh grade is red, eighth is orange, ninth is yellow.  And so on and so on."  I nodded and took a bite of chicken parmasean.  To my surprise, it actually tasted good.  Cody wiped his mouth.

     "So, are you guys our fans?"  We all turned our heads to see him and nodded ferociously. 

    "Do you guys want to go to a concert of ours?  We've been looking for some people that we know to be in the front row, just so that we can make sure that the really crazy fans aren't up front."  Everyone nodded in approval.

    "Umm, but we are the really crazy fans."  I remarked quietly while cutting apart a particularly stubborn piece of cheese.  Moe laughed hysterically.

    "I like your sense of humor, Alice.  It reminds me of myself."  He shook his head and cut violently at his own piece of cheese.  Cody smiled and stole a look at me.  He seemed like a really cool person.  I couldn't wait to get to know him more.  The lunchroom buzzed with conversation, and throughout the whole meal about thirty girls came up and asked one or all of One More Chance to sign something.  It would really bug me if people interrupted me every five minutes.

     "How can you take that?  I mean, how do you deal with the crazy fans?"  I asked while sipping my drink.  Cody smiled at me.

     "Not many people ask us that.  I think it's great that we have fans right now, because we all know that one day people might not like us anymore.  And plus, those people pay for everything that we have.  It does get kind of hectic sometimes.  That's why we have people like you in the front row of our concerts.  So that we don't have as many incidents with bodyguards and fans.  I mean, we don't want them to get taken away.  Really, we do that for their own good."  He went back to eating and in a few minutes dinner was brought to a close.  after I had put my tray back, I started to head back up to my room to start on my homework, but was stopped by Cody.

    "Hey, thanks for treating us like real people.  We really appreciate that."  Cody smiled at me again then started to walk away.

    "Hey, where are you guys staying while your here?"  I ran to catch up with him in the middle of the hallway.

    "Oh, well, we each got our own room here, just the leftover ones.  But we have our tour bus too.  I hate to say it but we can't just hault everthing for this school.  We still have to do appearances and stuff."  He waved and walked off up the hallway towards the front of the building and the grand steps.  His footsteps echoed as his sneakers squished down the hall and I smiled at my good luck that had occured since I had gotten here this afternoon.  I walked off toward the steps after where he had been so that I could get a start on all of my stuff, when I heard footsteps running up behind me just as I had reached the foot of the stairs.  I turned around to see John.  His hair was all messed up and he was out of breath, but he still smiled when he reached me.

     "Sorry, I just realized that I forgot to give these to you guys."  In his hands were the front row tickets and VIP passes.

     "Do you know where Rico is?  I've asked around and I can't find him.  Can you give him his?"  He stretched out his arm and I took the pair of tickets and passes. 

    "Yeah, sure, I'll look in his room."  John nodded.

    "Thanks.  Gotta go find Rachael.  Do you know where she is?" 

    "Uh, I think she's still in the lunchroom."  He rounded his shoulders in defeat.

    "I better get going before I miss her.  See you tomorrow!"  He ran off in the direction that he had come and I waited until his footsteps had faded until I climbed the grand steps.  I was surprised that nobody was going to there rooms, although I had heard that there was a study period for the Academy's schoolwork.  Everyone must be there.  I hoped that Rico had chosen to go to his room.  I hadn't seen which way he had headed out of the lunchrrom, there had been too many people.  I ran up the reat of the steps and into the elevator, which was still open from some kid getting out.  I watched as the button with the "three" illuminated and I shot up into the building.  It was only when the door opened that I remembered that I had to go to level 8 to Rico's room, so I waited impatiantly until I got up to his floor.  I was surprised at what I saw because the decorations were so different.  I mean, in the girls hall it waspainted white and had random pictures scattered around, but in the boys hallway it was a deep, mysterious gray with no pictures whatsoever.  Instead of the floor being carpeted, there were wood floors.  I walked silently acroos the hallway that I had been to before, but felt so unfamiliar.  I guess I hadn't noticed because it had been so dark.  I felt like I was trespassing where I shouldn't have been.  When I reached the middle of the hallway and room 847, I nocked silently on the door.  Nobody answered so I knocked again, this time louder.  Still, nobody came, so I pressed my ear to the door and was not suprised to hear loud drum practicing coming from the inside of the room.  I laughed inside and banged on the door with all of my strength.  The drumming stopped abruptly and I heard Rico's feet pattering from the other side of the door. 

    "YOU KNOW, CAN ANYBODY GET A LITTLE PRIVACY THESE DAYS-"  The shouting stopped when the door opened and Rico saw who it was.  "Oh.  It's you.  I thought that it was somebody else.  Come in."  He looked sheepishly at his feet and stepped aside to let me in.  After he had shut the door, he spoke again.  "So, what do you need from me?"

    "Actually, John just came up to me and gave me those tickets that he talked about."  I pulled out his ticket and VIP pass and handed them over.  He took them and looked them over.

    "Devin's the oldest one, right?"  I nodded and headed toward the door.

    "Sorry to interrupt.  Bye."  I opened the door halfway.

    "Hey, did you get yours?"  Rico asked before I left.

    "Yeah, he gave me mine too.  I'll see you tomorrow."  I waved and shut the door behind me.  I hadn't gotten three steps before the I could hear the drumming started again.

 

    After a good hour of math and L.A., I was tired, frustrated, and angry.  The sun had set in the sky by the point that I had finished, and I had had to try out the blue table lamp on the desk (it works!).  I was just about to retire for an early night when I remembered that I needed to pick a song for music composition.  I knew that it would be important to pick one that I could stick with, since I would be working with it for the next few months.  After weighing my options, I finally decided on Alicia Key's No One, the song that I had sang at my audition.  It was in my vocal range, and it also had a great part for Rachael on the violin.  I wrote in down on a scrap of paper, not looking foward to going to P.S. 52 the next day, but extremely excited about getting to ge back here.  It was just such a different atmosphere here, I was getting used to it already.  I changed into my pajamas and flopped into bed, falling asleep almost instantly. 

 

     The next morning I woke up at the crack of dawn to the sun rising in the distance.  The light poured in through my closed curtains and I sat up in my bed with a groan.  As I realized that I had some time before I had to get up to get ready for school.  With a sigh of relief I sank back down on my bed.  It was only 6:00 in the morning.  I listened to the sounds of New York waking up and slipped into something in between a daydream and sleep.  After a lazy half hour, I got up and opened my curtains to let in the new day.  Taxi's swerved around obstacles in the road (people) and I laughed when I wondered to myself whether one of them was Rico's father.  I changed into my public school clothes (yes, I have two sets for the two different schools) and packed up my backpack before heading out my door.  I slipped quietly out of my dorm room, knowing that very few people would be up, as school here started at around 8:30.  I walked through the empty hallways, my feet echoing with every step I took.  I clattered down the front steps to the front door and slipped out.  Once on the street, I headed to the subway and went to my school.  A math test, yet another orientation speech, and another meal that didn't catch up to my now higher standards awaited me when I got there. 

 

    I came off the subway after school tense and sweaty.  The social scene there was very different there than at the Academy.  Although you might think that everyone who meets me thinks I'm hilarious, this is not the case.  I am, simply put, a geek.  It was a relief to put my new shiny orange ID card in the slot outside of the school and gain entrance.  The hustle and bustle that was going on inside was now familiar to me.  I waved to Rachael who was, as I had expected, at the receptionist's desk, and ran up the stairs to change into a different set of clothes and grab my guitar.  Last night I had learned the first ten bars of the song "Australia" and was surprised at how musically apt the members of One More Chance were.  I could not wait fot their concert, which was being held in New York City next Friday.  I ran down the steps with my guitar and slipped into Mr. Vand's room just as he was about to close the door.

    "Oh, good, you're here.  I thought that you had something else to do!  Take a seat."  I got myself a much needed coffee and sat down at one of the high table's next to Rico.  I sipped thoughtfully as Mr. Vand spoke.  "I hope that you all did your homework last night.  I would love to go over this afternoon."  We al nodded and told him that we had done it, so Mr. Vand came over to his spot at what he called "the conducter's table."      

    "Okay, you guys.  The first day is the most exciting.  Go over to your places and take up your instruments.  Does everyone feel pretty comfortable with the song?" 

    "Yeah.  I had a question, though.  Did you want us to do the first ten bars after the introduction piece, or including it.  I included it just to be sure, but I didn't know."  Dave had brought up a good point.  There was a part at the beginning of the song where there was no music, but just like a recording of their voices.  I had been unsure of what to do myself.  Mr. Vand slapped himself in the forehead.

    "Sorry you guys.  I really should have specified.  I wanted you to do the first ten after that.  But that's okay if someone didn't."  He looked around uneasily at the three of us.

    "That's what I did."  I had gone ahead and done the first ten after.

    "Yeah, so did I."  Dave peeped from the back of the room.

    "Excellent.  Let's take it from the top then.  did you learn the lyrics, Alice?"

    "I knew them before!"  I said with a whole lot of entusiasm that made Dave jump out of his piano chair.

    "And from the beginning, 1, 2, 3, 4."  We all started playing from the beginning of the song.  I had been hesitant that the group would not start at the same time, but I needn't have worried.  We all started perfectly from the top, and when my cue came, I began to sing.  It enede abruptly because we had only done 10 bars, but when we had finished Mr. Vand's eyes were closed and he was nodding in approval. 

    "That was amazing you guys.  That's very rare that a group will get it completly correct the first time.  You did fabulous.  Do you feel like it was cut short too soon?  I know that that's the vibe that I was getting from you."  He looked around for an answer. 

    "Yeah, I think that we should just learn the whole song tonight and then work out any problems that we have tomorrow.  Are you okay with that?"  Dave had spoken up loud and clear from the back, stating his firm opinion.  He had really shown everyone in a matter of days that he really had a strong voice.

    "I think that that sounds like a good idea if Alice and Rico agree."  Mr. Vand looked at us for approval.  When he saw us nodding our heads he nodded his own.  "It's a plan then.  For homework you'll learn the whole song.  You can pack up you instruments and go."  He stepped down from his podium and went back to his desk.  While we were picking everything up, he jumped up from behind his desk.

    "Oh, I almost forgot!  I need to give you a permission slip for something."  He rummaged around in his desk drawer and pulled out a thick stack of papers.  "This is a permission slip for the annual first quarter battle of the bands.  For Alice, who has never done this before, all of the muscial classes get together and hold a battle in froont of top judges to see who is the "best"."  When he said best he made quotation marks with his fingers.  He gave me a piece of paper.  "This year it will be held at the Gramercy Auditorium.  Since it's technically a field trip, I need you guys to get it signed for me by next Friday.  The trip will take place the Friday after that."  Rico, Dave and I high-fived each other and each took a slip of paper.

     "Hey, Mr. Vand, who do you want me to get it signed by, since my parents are kind of halfway across the world right now?"

     "Well, that'a a very good point.  I think if I sign it that would be sufficient.  Would you like me to do that right now?"  I nodded and handed it back to him.  He took out a pen from his breast pocket and scrawled his signature on thr piece of paper.  "Now I just need you to sign the bottom of the paper here."  He pointed at a apot near the bottom and I signed and dated on the line provided.  I gave him back the paper and waved before grabbing my guitar case and heading out.  I tried not to bump anybody with my case as I was going through the large crowd of people.  It was a welcome relief when I slipped into music composition and out of the hectic hallway.  Ms. Trivento waved hello without looking up as she heard the door squek open and I waved back even though I knew that she could not see me.  I took my place at a table where Rick, Moe, Devin, and Audtin were already sitting, and put my guitar case underneath the table. 

    "Hey, can I see your guitar?"  John asked me as I was putting it away.  I pulled it up again and handed it to him.  He carefully zipped open the case and took out the guitar.  He gasped when he saw that it was his edition.  "Oh my gosh!  Cody, Ed, look!  She's got one of our guitars!"  He turned to me and beamed.  "I never thought that anyone would actually want to buy it!"

     "I told you so!"  Shouted Cody and Ed in perfect unison.  We all laughed and I put my guitar back in the case and under the table again.  Up at the front of the room Ms. Trivento whistled to get everyone's attention.  I looked up to the front of the room.

     "Okay, so this first day is going to be a little hectic, but, it will all work out in the end.  You all gave yourself an assignemt last night, so I will have you break in a moment to talk that over.  The thing that I need to assign you guys is a recording room.  If you go behind this stage, there are 20 recording rooms that you will meet in and record in.  Today I'll assign you you're recording room."  She moved behind her desk and took out a clipboard with a piece of paper.  She pulled a freshly sharpened pencil from her back pocket and turned to the group that was sitting closest to her.

     "You guys will have recording studio number one.  To get there you go through this door and down the hallway until you reach a door with a one on it.  You producer can show you how."  The group got up and went over to the door and one by one they went through.  Slowly, Ms. Trivento moved through each group and gave them there studio.  We were number four.  After he had announced us we all got up and headed through the door to talk about the song's that we had picked.  Ed swung open the heavy wood door and allowed us all to pass through before he closed it.  We walked along an empty hallway and saw a long series of doors.  When we reached the one labled "four",  Ed opened it and we all went inside to check the room out.  When you first got inside the room there was an open area before you got to the spot where all of the fancy recording stuff was, and then there was a door before you got to the sound proof area where you actually record your music.   

 

 

 

 

 

The first morning of September is always a weird one. I mean, you never know what is going to happen during the school year ahead of you. That's how this year started off too. Normal, without excitement, and like every year before. But that changed very soon. It all started when my parents told me about their expedition to Ireland. You see, they work for National Geographic, and they ravel all over the world. That's how I got to C.A.M. (short for the New York City Academy of Music). And that's how I got into this position with Austin...

 

     “There was a time when you used to beam every single time you came here. Now it's- it's it's as if the light in your soul has gone.” Austin Victoria stared up into my eyes with a look of pleading. I quickly looked away and started walking around the empty classroom, dragging my index finger on the desks and looking sheepishly at the floor. Austin walked slowly over to me and raised my chin with his hand. “What happened? You said you loved this so much more. And now suddenly you don't have time for us.” I looked down at my feet.

     “The pipe burst though. You know how much of a setback that is to my school. Some people don't have millions of dollars to use as they please.”

     “Yeah, but you hate it there! You hate it there! I don't know how many times you told me that you hated it there, that everyone was so mean, that coming here was what made life worth living! What happened to her. What happened to the girl that laughed at things that weren't funny? The girl whose smile made everyone's heart flutter? What have they done to you there to make you be like this?” I looked into his eyes, flinching at the pain that I saw was truly there.

     “I guess I didn't realize that I had it pretty good over there. I never thought-

     “Alice. So many good things have come into your life from getting to go here. Think about the hoards of people that wanted to get that scholarship. And they picked you. You. Because you are the one that can sing better than Whitney Housten before her Bobby Brown days. You are the one that can make everyone laugh. It's you that everyone wants to be with. Do you know how many people just want to make one person laugh, much less the whole school?”

    “I know. This was everything that I ever dreamed of. But getting what you wish for can be overrated.”

    “Alice. Think about One More Chance. Before this year you and your friends dreamed about seeing them in person. You met them. You sang with them. You make them laugh. They asked you to be their tour mate. I've seen the way Rick looks at you. You don't know how much people admire you. Do you? YOU DON'T ALICE!! YOU JUST DON'T GET IT!!” He came over and shook me, thrashed me around. There were tears in his eyes. Austin never cried. Was this Austin Victoria that I was seeing?

     “STOP IT, AUSTIN!” I screamed. At the top of my lungs, I screamed. I felt his grip loosen, and through the warm salty tears running down my face, I saw him fall back into a chair. I slid against the wall all the way down to the floor and sobbed, gasping for air, wishing that it would all go away. But of course, life isn't easy. You don't always get your way. And when the sobbing died down, we just stared at each other. We looked each other up and down, and suddenly, it was like we knew. We got up and ran and embraced in a hug, and I could feel his tears on my shoulder, and I'm sure he could feel mine. And then he surprised me. Which isn't well, surprising for him, but I was shocked, none the less.

     “I love you, Alice.” I pulled away and looked at him again. I then went back in for another hug.

     “I love you, too.” I pulled away to see Moe eagerly peering through the window in the door. When he saw that I saw him he gave me a thumbs up. I couldn't help but laugh. I took one last look at Austin, bit my lip, and walked out the door. And so life goes on for another day in the wonderful world of Alice Mariner. Just barely. And that's how my regular school day goes. How about yours?