DIANE DAKERS a year older than we are and he goes to a different high school That’s one of the great things about playing in this orchestra we meet kids from all over the city Ella our sixth cellist is also new this year She’s only twelve but she’s pretty good She’ll move up quickly Grant and Jaron sit beside her in the back row They’re both sixteen so this is their last year in intermediate orchestra No way Jaron will get accepted into senior orchestra He’s too lazy and annoying Grant has a shot at it He’s a solid player and a reliable quiet guy You should be principal cello Colby says to me during our break today You’re just as good as Tawni And you never miss rehearsals I blush and look at Tawni’s empty chair beside me at the front of the stage I sit between Tawni and Colby I actually like playing second I tell him I don’t want to sit right at the front of the orchestra I like having Tawni between me and the audience Seriously You never think about it You never dream of being principal cellist Don’t you 4
STRINGS ATTACHED think it would be brilliant to be in that top spot knowing you’re the best in the band I lower my voice Well it has been kind of fun today playing first chair I mean I’m still sitting in the second chair but first chair is empty so I’m sort of playing first today Colby looks confused My words don’t always come out right when I talk to him Come on Brielle He laughs You know you’d love to play principal Admit it He pokes me in the ribs Okay okay I admit it Sometimes I dream about playing principal Just for a little while Just to see what it’s like to have the audience watching me for change instead of Tawni Just to see if it makes me play any better or feel differ ently about the music I take a deep breath But that’s one dream that will never come true as long as Tawni is in the orchestra She is so good So are you says Colby seriously Anyway I say quickly Tawni should be here any minute She’s only missing the first half of practice because it’s an important meet for her gymnastics team 5
DIANE DAKERS Colby wanders off to talk to one of the percussionists a girl who goes to his school I pretend to study my music But really I’m thinking about what Colby said The more I think about it the more I realize that I wouldn’t mind being cello number one for a change Just because Tawni has always played first doesn’t mean she always should play first Maybe I’ll get a chance one day Maybe at next year’s audi tions I’ll come out on top Maybe Five minutes orchestra Mr Holmes calls Oh who am I kidding The reality is no matter how hard I work how much I practice I will never be as good as Tawni She lives inside the music in a way I can’t I don’t know how she does it Mr Holmes interrupts my daydream Brielle Colby I need a moment he calls to us He makes a beeline for the cello section clutching his phone and frowning Colby rushes over I just heard from Tawni’s mother Mr Holmes says Bad news Tawni broke her wrist at her gymnastics event She’s not coming to rehearsal today I gasp Is she going to be okay When will she be back 6
STRINGS ATTACHED That sucks says Colby How bad is it It sounds like Tawni will be out of commis sion for at least three months says Mr Holmes He’s staring at me I can see the wheels turning in his brain By this time the other cellists have gathered around to find out what’s going on We have to shift the cello section around says Mr Holmes firmly I am holding my breath Congratulations Brielle You are now prin cipal cellist 7
