Chapter 14: Day of Destiny
Kasta awoke on the morning of June 12th slightly uneasy, until she remembered. Today was the day. The last two days had gone exceptionally well; both the legislature and courts had enjoyed the performances, but today was the day that the whole year seemed to have been leading up to. Day of destiny. Kasta looked out the window across the Washington Mall and watched the first rays of sunlight kiss the pink morning sky and glint off the pond water. It was her moment. Carpe Diem- Seize the day. She smiled a long, slow smile; the first real smile since that fateful day in October. No matter what happened today, for this fleeting instant, she was truly happy.
Turning from the window, Kasta began to prepare, pulling on jeans and her red band shirt. Upon finishing her preparations, she closed the door to her room quietly and walked downstairs. Out in the halls there was a frenzy of excitement. Everywhere, students were rushing around getting their band shirts from the laundry rooms, knocking on doors to awaken sleepy students, and borrowing valve oil and cork grease from friends to ensure that their instruments were in perfect working condition. Finally, in the midst of all the commotion, Kasta was able to find Mrs. Ochono watching over the procedures on the second floor. She called out a greeting and went over to chat.
“Are things all going according to plan, Mrs. Ochono?”
“Pretty much.” The band director paused to yell at a passing student. “JASON! I don't care how hot it is outside, you are NOT allowed to wear shorts to the performance! Anyway, Kasta, yes things should all be fine. You're not worried, are you?”
Kasta bit her lip before answering. “I don't know. I'm getting that funny feeling again like something big is going to happen. It's just the trumpet influencing me again.”
“I think we'll start to get some answers today, Kasta.” Mrs. Ochono smiled but it was quickly wiped of her face as cries of ''FOOD FIGHT! FOOD FIGHT!'' echoed down the hallway from the dining hall. “I'd better go stop that.” Mused Mrs. Ochono, who turned and sprinted of. Kasta followed at a more leisurely pace, wondering what she would find when she walked into breakfast.
Alex, Kristy, Sara and Jasmine were cowering at a small table in a corner when Kasta found them. “Who started it?” She asked, already knowing the answer.
Alex sighed. “Abby, that crazy trombonist. Poor Yovanna couldn't stop her.”
“First she threw a pancake at Carl, who retaliated by hurtling some syrup back at her, but he missed and it showered over half the band. And well, you can see how it would go on from there.” Continued Jasmine.
They could see Mrs. Ochono bobbing around here and there, trying to subdue the fight, but it wasn't working. As they watched, another pancake flew straight into her face, and a jug of orange juice was accidentally dumped on her head. “STOP THIS NONSENSE!” She screamed. A few last pancakes and pieces of toast fell to the floor. “I HAVE NEVER BEEN MORE ASHAMED OF ONE OF MY BANDS IN MY LIFE! CLEAN UP THIS MESS IMMEDIATLY AND THEN GET READY TO PERFORM!”
Kristy looked skeptically at her friends. “Yikes. Let's go see if she needs some help. Wait. Did I say 'if'? I meant 'Let's go help Mrs. Ochono because she's going to need some serious help after THAT episode!”
•••
Within a few hours, the students had assembled in the performance hall of the White House. Kasta stood with all the other trumpets in the back row, and surveyed the scene. The secretary of state, the first lady, the vice president, and the president himself were in the front row. Mrs. Ochono stepped up front and gave the starting signal and they began. The notes flowed easily out of the trumpet and in the final song, the Star Spangled Banner, Kasta had an idea. The puzzle pieces were coming together, and she was on the way to finding answers.
As soon as the piece and applause were over, Kasta jumped down off the risers and rushed down front to where Mrs. Ochono was standing.
“Kasta!” She said in an urgent whisper. “Get back up on the risers!”
“No, Mrs. Ochono.” Said Kasta breathlessly. “I think I have it all figured out. I think I have found the answers to our trumpet mystery.”
At this, the president stood up and walked over to the conversing pair. “If you would just excuse my interrupting, but what mystery exactly?”
“It's this trumpet you see, Mr. President. We've had many questions about it this year. It's appeared when the world is in turmoil, and keeps turning up in the worst parts of my life this year. We think it has powers of some sort, which I think I now know. If you would be willing for me to conduct a small experiment?”
The president looked flabbergasted. “Well, of course. Of course you may.”
Kasta's face broke into a wide smile. “OK then. First of all, your son was killed in a car crash last week, wasn't he?”
“Yes. It's been quite hectic around here lately. A lot of stress.”
“Time of great trouble...” Kasta murmured to herself. “That makes sense then. Now tell me. Did you feel apprehensive this morning? Like something really extraordinary and important would happy today?”
“Yes, as a matter of fact. Why does it matter?” His face wore a very confused expression.
Mrs. Ochono glanced at the leader of her country. “Wait and see. I think she's onto something.”
Kasta began again. “Now, what are your emotions right now, or no. What were they as we were playing?”
“Calm, peaceful, ready to help people.”
“That's what I thought. Finally, Someone make him really, really angry.”
After about twenty minutes, the president was in a towering rage. Kasta raised the trumpet and began to play. As the first achingly beautiful note escaped the instrument, the president began to relax, a smile once again playing across his face.
Kasta lowered her horn and turned to face her band director who was shaking her head in disbelief. The band behind her looked stunned, but Jasmine gave her a thumbs up from the clarinet section. Even Carl looked impressed. “It's just as I thought.” She said “This trumpet does three main things to make an impact. First, it comes to us in our times of great trouble. When we absolutely need it most. Second, it is able to take over our thoughts and emotions, to forewarn us of its coming, causing us not to behave as we normally would. Lastly, when this trumpet is played...” Kasta's voice trailed off. “When it's played, the people who hear it are instilled with such serenity, such good emotions that it becomes their desire to spread this peace. To help others. To help the world. There's a peace sign painted on the inside of the bell. It's symbol of power.” She paused and turned again to the president. “Do you see where I'm going with this?”
Solemnly he nodded. He turned to Mrs. Ochono. “I'll be in touch by tomorrow afternoon. I'll escort you out.”
•••
The next day the band students returned to South Portland full of excitement. No one could believe what Kasta had uncovered, and the day was filled with smiles and laughter. The day after was the last day of school. Near the end of the day, all the band students were called down for an assembly in the auditorium. Kasta and her friends hurried down to find Mrs. Ochono standing at the front, beaming at them. “You'll see.” Her eyes seemed to say.
When all the students had filed in, Mrs. Ochono gave her announcement. “You probably know what this is about. The president contacted me yesterday. He would like to send all of you who do not have anything planned for the summer across the world to use our trumpet to bring peace. Our world can be restored, and you will be the ones to do it.” The five girls in the front row smiled at each other. They had planned to spend the summer hanging out around home anyway. “It will be very dangerous though, so I must ask you to take one of these forms for your parents to sign. If you are able, we'll meet here in a week and begin our journey. I'm so proud of you. So proud....”
Realizing that the meeting was over, the students went to get their forms and then left. When she was finally the last student in the room, Kasta approached her band director and gave her a big hug. “Thank you.” She whispered through tears of happiness. “I've discovered my destiny, and I know who I am now, but if it wasn't for you....well, I don't know where I'd be.” She was silent for a minute as she recalled all that she'd lost on the road to finding herself.
Mrs. Ochono smiled down at her student as tears swelled in her eyes as well. “That's all a band director could ever ask for, Kasta Shepsheir. That's all I could ever ask.”
My friends, this is the end of Trumpet's Secret. I truly hope that you enjoyed each chapter- and comments are appreciated!
