Heavy Weight
Instrument of surrender. Brass and bold, the risk of regret stinks the past to be cleaned in the currents of present time.
School bullies flank me in the instrumental music room. ‘How come they’re here?’ I think, failing to produce bottle glass notes from the flute on my bottom lip. I barely kissed the cold metal. Flute was my first choice for concert band, but since that didn’t work (but did for one bully), the funny-looking instrument is next. It’s just shorter than me. The cornet conductor of the school concert band doesn’t burden my lap just yet with ‘buzzes’ of raspberries from lips to practice brass-blower techniques.
I’m ordered to buzz. An embarrassment in presence of school nemeses… My lips meet the mouthpiece-
EW!
It’s a French kiss of cold metal!
I blow a polite note. Mr. Cornet’s peepers widen. Something in my flash performance captures Mr. Cornet’s attention. He’s impressed with a complete lower brass section as the other bully blasts euphonium for Mr. Cornet. We band together for the Eisteddfods.
Years pass.
Fluted bully throws the bottle. Euphonium bully catches a cold’s blocked notes.
Grade Eight Gatekeepers of Science, Humanities and Information Technology signal ahead as Mr. Cornet’s words echoes to the effect of, “You can create a career out of this,” just for me to be embarrassed instead.