his new house to fetch his bike Later Dad Terence says to the drab little rent-a home as he rolls away With every bump stop and practically every pedal the bass guitar bounces hard against his back like some sort of punishment But he has to bring it First of all he preregistered for the after-school band program and couldn’t show up to the first day without an instrument Second wearing a gig bag attracts attention the kind of attention he’ll need if he has any hope of starting a band at Franklin like the band he had back at Hart Arts and entering the battle of the youth bands in the spring As Terence pulls up to the bike rack which is full he hears a school bell ring He quickly chains his bike to a No Parking sign and runs inside The halls are quiet Empty He’s late Inside the school’s front office a man behind the counter stares at a computer screen and speaks quietly into a headset Excuse me Terence says The man doesn’t look up Terence adjusts the strap on his gig bag and notices a
surly-looking girl slouching in the metal chair behind him She has dark skin short hair and a suspicious golden piercing in her nose He’s pretty sure she’s staring at him probably plotting when to knock him over the head and take his phone and wallet That’s what they do in public schools they beat you up and steal your stuff Um excuse me Terence repeats trying to get the man’s attention by waving his schedule around noisily It’s my first day and I’m late I don’t know where I’m supposed to be He won’t help you says a voice behind him Terence doesn’t turn around but he knows it’s the scowling girl All day every day he’s on that phone doing who knows what ignoring every student that walks in here Terence still doesn’t turn around Did I ask you he mutters under his breath No the girl says But I’m a very generous person so I’m helping you anyway How are you helping me right now Terence asks and he finally turns around to find the girl standing right
behind him She’s taller than him which is nothing new The Katos are a short family but Terence’s dad assures him that he’ll have a growth spurt any day now and catch up at least to the girls Although Terence doubts he’ll ever catch up to this particular girl Let me see that she says snatching his schedule Hey Terence says but the girl turns around and blocks him from getting the paper back while she reads it Terence Kato she reads aloud and then says over her shoulder Aren’t you a little short to be an eighth grader Give it back OK OK the girl says finally handing him the paper Anyway you missed advisory but your first hour is in the same room I can show you if you want help Terence glares at her a moment and then glances at the man behind the desk who still hasn’t looked up Fine Terence mutters and then even more quietly Thanks No problem Terry she says I’m Meredith Carson
by the way But you can call me Merry Terence interrupts as he follows her out of the office Eddie actually she says Anyone calls me Merry I knife em Terence flinches Eddie laughs I’m kidding newbie she says and then adds Or am I Terence isn’t sure really Eddie laughs again I take it from that Cadillac strapped to your back you’ll be joining our esteemed band It’s my bass guitar Terence explains his voice going higher and louder with excitement Are you in the band What do you play Easy eager beaver Eddie says You know band class isn’t until after school right It’s extracurricular I know Terence says But my bass didn’t fit in my locker and I didn’t know where else to put it She sizes him up Bet you would though she says Fit in your locker I mean
