Revenge Of A Band Geek Gone Bad by Naomi Rabinowitz Read Free Book Online

single one of my practices?"
    "Uh, no, sir," Josh replied.  "I, uh, just had a question."
    Mr. Francis didn't seem to believe him.  Still, he said, "Okay, let's hear it."
    "I, um, just wanted to know about uh, measure 42," Josh stammered.  "I'm not sure about the trumpet pickup..."  He went on for a bit, trying to buy me some time.  Meanwhile, I pretended to drop a pencil so I could snatch Jiminy.  But as I bent down, Kathy suddenly let out an ear-piercing, toe-curling scream that easily could've gotten her the lead in any horror movie.
    Jiminy was perched right on the back of her chair.
    ###
    The room suddenly became dead quiet, save for Kathy's shrieks.  " Ohmygod , ohmygod , GET IT OFF!" she wailed, as she jumped around.  "SOMEBODY KILL ITTTTT!"
    Mr. Francis came running —- well, waddling —- over to her and attempted to calm her down.  "It's just a little bug, Miss Meadows," he said, actually making a half-hearted attempt to show some compassion.  "It won't hurt you."
    "I think it bit me!"  Kathy cried.  She began to scream again.  I struggled to hold back my laughter, but Josh was having an even more difficult time.  He was hunched over his music stand, his shoulders bobbing as he giggled.
    Mr. Francis let out a loud sigh, then marched up to Kathy's chair and flicked Jiminy onto the floor.  He lifted his booted foot and plunked it right down on the roach.  There was an audible crunch and then silence.  Jiminy was no more.  I gasped.  Maya put her hand over her mouth and looked like she was about to puke.
    " Th -thank you, M-Mr. Francis," Kathy sobbed.  He handed her a tissue from his briefcase and she dabbed at her eyes.  He bent down to scrape away Jiminy's remains.
    "Miss Meadows, why don't you go to the nurse?"  our conductor suggested.  "This way, she can check you out.  It'll also give you a chance to get some water and calm down."
    "Okay."  She skulked out of the room with her head down.
    Mr. Francis returned to his podium and picked up a fresh baton.  "Alright, where were we?"  he asked.  "Oh yes, the flute solo in Annie ."  He looked around and realized Kathy was gone.  "Uh, Miss Rhodes," he said, pointing at me.  "Since Miss Meadows isn't here, why don't you take over?"
    I looked over at Josh, who was grinning in delight.  He winked at me, then gave me a thumbs up.
    He knew he had me.

CHAPTER 5
     
    After band, Josh offered to drive me home again.  As we walked to the parking lot together, I thought back on what a great day this had turned out to be.  I mean, sure I had to sit — ick !-- second chair and had to get up close and personal with a - blech ! —- giant roach from hell, but still; I had to hand it to poor, little Jiminy for coming through for me.  It had totally been worth it.  After I played the flute solo everyone, including Mr. Francis, complimented me.  Maya even told me that she thought I deserved to keep first chair.
    Now I was being driven home by Josh for the third time in a row!  For the first time in a while, I didn’t feel like such a geek.
     
    ###
    "Oh my God, Mel, that was awesome!"  Josh shouted once we were safely in his car and could openly discuss the scheme.  "Did you see the look on Kathy's face?"  He did a falsetto imitation of her.  "Oh, no, Mr. Francis, it bit me!  WAAH!"   I giggled as he pretended to wipe tears from his eyes.  "Boo hoo hoo , I'm a big baby. AAAAHHH!"
    "I'm sorry that I never actually caught Jiminy," I told him, "but he kept getting away from me!"  I laughed.  "Wow
    , I didn't know that cockroaches could run so fast."
    "That's okay, you made a good attempt.  And besides, it couldn't have worked out more perfectly."  He sighed.  "Poor, poor Jiminy.   I don't think he had any idea that this would turn out to be a suicide mission."
    "I know.  I'd almost feel bad for him ... if he weren't so gross ."  I stuck out my tongue.
    "Well, either way, Jiminy is a hero."  Josh mimed raising a glass.  "To Jiminy.